ClutchPoints
Fresh off their first postseason appearance since the 2014 NFL season, the Denver Broncos are looking to build off their success from Bo Nix’s rookie season as they head into 2025. But fighting an uphill battle in the league’s toughest division won’t make things easy for Denver.
Their offense is dependent on Nix taking a jump in his second season, even after his standout rookie campaign. Entering the NFL as an older rookie, things had to click early for Nix, and so far they have. But a 10-win season, an outcome that was once seen as a goal, now needs to be Denver’s baseline moving forward, and reaching that weighs heavily on the shoulders of Nix.
Expectations weren’t super high for Denver last season, as they were undergoing a transition at quarterback. Head coach Sean Payton was entering his second season, and after weathering the final season of Russell Wilson, Payton finally earned a chance to put his fingerprints all over the offense.
Nix was thrown right into the fire as a rookie, as Payton believed in the former Oregon Duck coming out of training camp. Throwing for 29 touchdowns and running for four more, Nix showed just how efficient he can be, even if he needs to cut down on his 15 turnovers.
It was a pleasant surprise to see how Nix acclimated to the speed of the NFL, especially when the running game was no help. The gross combination of Javonte Williams, rookie Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Tyler Badie made this backfield inoperable most weeks, meaning that Nix had to orchestrate most of the offense through the passing game.
His relationship with receiver Courtland Sutton started strong, as he was targeted 11-plus times in two of the first three weeks. Even though 27 targets across Weeks 1-3 only turned into 12 receptions, it was clear early on that Nix understood where the ball needed to go more often than not.
Having only drafted three offensive skill players in the 2025 NFL Draft, Payton and the front office focused on continuing to build their strong defense, specifically at cornerback and pass rusher. While Harvey and rookie receiver Pat Bryant figure to factor into the offense in 2025, Nix is the catalyst that makes this wheel turn, and he will be tasked with doing even more this season.
Evan Engram was the key addition in free agency for Denver, as he will likely fill Payton’s much-discussed Joker role in the passing game. The tight end room for the Broncos has been without a strong option for quite a few seasons, especially after Noah Fant failed to live up to expectations before he was included in the Wilson trade.
It would have been good to see another pass catcher added as WR2 alongside Sutton, whether through the draft or free agency. While Payton has talked highly about Bryant this offseason, the Illinois rookie...
