Mile High Report
Unfortunately, Denver was not the only team to get better this offseason.
While the Broncos are getting acclimated to high altitude today, we are going to get acclimated with our competition (not that most of you aren’t already keenly aware of them).
But The Athletic chose one player to watch during training camp per NFL team, and I found the choices interesting ... and fun to discuss.
But first, let’s look at their pick for Denver’s “player to watch” — Dre Greenlaw.
Denver Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw
The Broncos believe they can produce one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2025, and signing Greenlaw in free agency was a move to improve the “spine” of that unit. If Greenlaw plays at a level that approaches his peak in San Francisco, the Broncos should be dangerous at every level of the defense, which includes a terrorizing front (league-high 63 sacks last season) and a secondary starting Defensive Player of the Year honoree Pat Surtain II. The big question is whether Greenlaw, who missed the spring with a quad injury, can get to the season healthy. — Nick Kosmider
Commentary: This is a solid choice. The free agent pickup was a stealth acquisition by the Broncos, and there is no question that a Greenlaw who returns to his 2023 form is going to be a major contributor to the Denver defense achieving its goal of being No. 1 overall this season.
Kansas City Chiefs: TE Travis Kelce
He’ll turn 36 in October. He regressed last season and was a non-factor in the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. He thought about walking away. He has about as busy a schedule away from football as any other player in the game. But Kelce is back, invigorated by the sour taste in his mouth from that game in February. “I feel like I failed my guys,” he said in June. Coach Andy Reid has vowed to keep a close eye on Kelce in training camp, guarding against overuse. “He doesn’t know he’s getting older, but I do,” Reid said. — Zak Keefer
Commentary: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Seriously, I’ll just be so happy when this guy is done playing football.
Las Vegas Raiders: QB Geno Smith
Smith has plenty of familiarity with coach Pete Carroll, but he’s still a newcomer working to learn offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s system and ingratiate himself with his teammates. The Raiders have had a revolving door at quarterback for a few years and made a significant commitment to Smith with the belief that he’s the answer. The offense surrounding him isn’t anything to write home about, which puts a lot of pressure on him to be at his best. Training camp isn’t the end all be all, but fans will start to get restless if he doesn’t have a strong one. — Tashan Reed
*Commentary: Not my choice but interesting. I get it (sort of). When you’ve had a carousel of QBs for...
