ESPN hands Broncos a massive offseason victory that should terrify the rest of the AFC and NFL alike
ESPN was more than a fan of what Denver has built.
The Denver Broncos are on a mission to get to the Super Bowl. When head coach Sean Payton took over the organization, and even last season, he said that this team has what it takes to get to the big game. They were a healthy Bo Nix away from getting to the big game.
With that, Denver has spent the offseason building from within, while taking a more than big swing to land wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. Outside of Waddle, the team has made it clear that they mostly want to run it back with the players that they had last season.
The biggest moves outside of Waddle were bringing back J.K. Dobbins, Alex Singleton, Adam Trautrman, and Justin Strnad. Denver was the only team in the league to not sign anyone from an outside club during the free agency period, a clear sign that they are more than happy with what they had in front of them, and are looking to build upon their successes from 2025.
It’s not a bad idea by any means, and ESPN was gushing about the Broncos’ offseason decision. In a recent article, the company ranked the most improved rosters in the NFL while naming a move that they loved, and a move that they disliked.
ESPN gives the Denver Broncos their flowers
For Denver, they landed as the No. 5 overall best roster in the NFL in the midst of free agency chaos and just weeks ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. A huge boost for the organization. To no one’s surprise, the biggest move that ESPN and Ben Solak liked was the acquisition of Waddle.
“The Waddle trade. This is the sort of move that contending teams in rookie QB contract windows should make. With the 30th pick in a weak draft class, the Broncos were unlikely to get a needle-moving player for 2026. Instead, they used that pick (and a middle-round pick) to get Waddle. He’s a sudden playmaker with great deep speed, and he’s only 27 and comes with three years of team control. Waddle gives Denver more punch — not just for one season but for multiple years to come. Bo Nix needed a better target against zone coverage and a more dangerous YAC receiver. Terrific trade for Denver.” – Ben Solak
Waddle is going to give this offense a much-needed vertical threat that can be Nix’s go-to guy. He elevates the entire room, and Waddle was a player that Denver was trying to get at the trade deadline last season. Waiting was worth it all as Waddle finally landed in Denver. His teammates seem more than thrilled to have him with them, and we can’t wait to see what he does on the field.
It wasn’t all good news from ESPN
Despite their ranking and the glowing response to the Waddle acquisition, ESPN attacked the Broncos for running it back at linebacker. Even after having a stout defense in nearly all three phases last season, Solak is worried about running it back with Strnad and Singlleton, given how they were exposed at times in man coverage during the 2025 season.
Fortunately, the draft is almost here, so if it’s really a concern with Payton and the front office, they still have time to bring in some more bodies to compete.
“Running it back at linebacker. My biggest complaint about the Broncos’ offseason was the lack of aggressive moves pre-Waddle trade. Now that they’ve made their big change, I’m largely pacified. I do think that the Broncos’ linebackers were often exposed in man coverage last season, and with both Singleton and Strnad back in-house, teams with good pass-catching backs will continue stressing Denver’s second level. But this was a great defense last season and should be a great defense again, even with that wart considered.” – Ben Solak
Denver didn’t need a full overhaul; they needed a difference-maker, and they got one. If Waddle delivers the explosive element the offense has been missing, the Broncos won’t just justify ESPN’s ranking; they’ll make it look too low. Strnad and Singleton should head into next season with a massive chip on their shoulder. We have faith in them, even if ESPN doesn’t.
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