In the 10th of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Denver Broncos.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
The biggest change in Denver in the offseason is at head coach, as Sean Payton of San Mateo, California is joining the Broncos after 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021. While with New Orleans, Payton had a record of 152 wins and 89 losses for a winning percentage of .631. Payton guided the Saints to a Super Bowl title in 2010.
Payton was linked to Drew Brees in New Orleans. Now he will be linked to Russell Wilson. There is no doubt that Wilson did not meet expectations with the Broncos last season, as Denver was last in the AFC West at five wins and 12 losses.
The Broncos had three significant offseason signings in the offseason. To help protect Wilson better, they signed right tackle Mike McGlinchey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a five-year deal worth $87.5 million and guard Ben Powers of Wichita, Kansas to a four-year deal worth $51.5 million. Powers spent the last four seasons with the Denver Broncos and McGlinchey spent the last five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
On defense, the Broncos signed defensive end Zach Allen of New Canaan, Connecticut to a three-year deal worth $47.75 million. In 2022, he had 47 combined tackles (23 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles), 20 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for a loss, eight pass deflections and 5.5 sacks.
The Broncos also acquired tight end Adam Trautman of Williamsburg, Michigan from the New Orleans Saints on April 29. The trade was significant because it occurred during the NFL Draft.
Fantasy Star
Kicker Brett Maher of Kearney, Nebraska had a great season last year with the Dallas Cowboys as he made 29 of 32 field goals and 50 of 53 converts. Denver is a great place for kickers, but Maher is still battling Elliott Fry in training camp for a roster spot.
Projected Finish
Expectations were high in Denver last year, but the coaching-quarterback connection of Nathaniel Hackett and Wilson did not equate to victories. We like the Broncos to move into third place in the AFC West this season, but a playoff spot may be too challenging for Denver to achieve.
