Broncos Report Card: Grading the team’s surprises, dissapointments, and rookie performances through the first six weeks
The Denver Broncos season is well underway, here are our grades for the 2025 Broncos.
The Denver Broncos are six weeks into the NFL season, and things are becoming clearer for both the offense and defense. Plenty to clean up on both sides of the football heading into Week 7, but through the early portion of the season, Denver has surprised in more than one area.
Here are our first-trimester superlatives for the Broncos on both offense and defense, along with grades for the coaching staff for what they’ve been able to accomplish thus far.
Offensive superlatives
MVP: QB Bo Nix
Quarterback Bo Nix is the face of the offense, and a large portion of the success or failures rests on his shoulders. The second-year signal-caller has had some growing pains in his sophomore season, but has done enough to help the team win. Perhaps his best performance as a professional was the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles, putting the team on his back and showing the world that he has what it takes to help take Denver to the next level. Through six weeks, Nix is 133-for-206 with 1,277 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions. He’s even the team’s third leading rusher, with 33 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Glue guy: WR Courtland Sutton
The veteran receiver Courtland Sutton is the top option for the Broncos’ offense and has proven to be a reliable target for Nix. Through six weeks, Sutton has totaled 27 receptions for 382 yards and three touchdowns with no signs of slowing down. As the offense continues to find its identity, Sutton will ultimately benefit from working out some of the early-season issues.
Biggest surprise: RB J.K. Dobbins
Veteran running back J.K. Dobbins has been electric through the early portion of the season and was our biggest surprise for 2025 thus far. Dobbins has totaled over 400 yards on the ground, averaging just under five yards per carry while finding the end zone four times. He’s proven to be one of the best offseason acquisitions not just for Denver, but across the league. The one-two punch of Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey has been exciting for Broncos Country to watch, with no signs of slowing down.
Biggest disappointment: Lack of consistency
The Denver Broncos’ offense is still looking for their identity, which is par for the course when you have a second-year signal caller. Nix has had some growing pains, but overall, the team is set up for success long term, and the fans should be excited about what the team will be able to do moving forward. Nix and the offense have shown that in some of the biggest moments, they will rise to the occasion.
Turning point of the last six weeks: Week 5 vs. Eagles
Denver had its back up against the wall heading into the Eagles matchup, but a dominant fourth quarter from Nix and the offense allowed them to walk out of Philadelphia with a victory. The win was much more than just a win; it was a testament to the credit Payton has given his team, stating before the season began that they have what it takes to win a Super Bowl. While it was just one regular-season game, the confidence it gave the unit cannot be overstated.
Offense overall grade: B
Defensive superlatives
MVP: EDGE Nik Bonitto
Is there any introduction needed for Nik Bonitto? He’s the clear MVP on the defensive side of the football and should be getting some real Defensive Player of the Year nods for his performance. He leads the league in sacks with eight, and no signs of slowing down. He and his pass-rushing counterpart in Jonathan Cooper have combined for 12.5 sacks and 21 QB hits through six games. The Broncos traded away Von Miller for a 64th overall pick in the 2022 draft, which wound up being Bonitto, and Bonitto has a chance this season to break Miller’s single-season sack record.
Glue guy: CB Pat Surtain II
Superstar cornerback Pat Surtain II has been a true lockdown, and he looks worth every penny of the large extension he got from the Denver Broncos. It’s not just that, but after a game, listening to him speak, you can tell that his words hold weight in the locker room. He’s been cool, calm, and collected, all while locking down some of the best players on the planet. Surtain II is a good one, and the fan base has to be thrilled that he’s on their favorite team, not someone they have to worry about going against.
Biggest surprise: S Brandon Jones
Safety Brandon Jones has earned the respect from across the league with his performance through the first portion of the NFL season. In six games, Jones has 17 solo tackles with 21 assisted tackles, along with half a sack, three passes defended, and an interception to boot. With superstars like Bonitto and Surtain on the defense, some players like Jones or cornerback Riley Moss might be a bit overlooked with what they’ve been able to accomplish.
Biggest disappointment: LB Dre Greenlaw
It’s outside of linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s control, but his availability has been the biggest disappointment for the defense this season. Denver’s defense is still elite, leading the league in sacks by a wide margin and making life difficult for opposing coordinators. For Greenlaw, a calf injury has sidelined him for the early portion of the season. Not having one of the team’s biggest offseason acquisitions and a pillar for the defense is a bit of a disappointment for Broncos Country.
Turning point of the last six weeks: Week 5 vs. Eagles
Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper took over the fourth quarter, collapsing the pocket and frustrating Jalen Hurts into hurried throws. The late-game stand sparked belief in the locker room that this unit can win games outright. From that point on, Denver’s pass rush has looked like the most disruptive in football.
Defense overall grade: A+
2025 draft class superlatives
Overachiever: RB RJ Harvey
The rookie running back in RJ Harvey is an overachiever only in that he’s been on the field the most for his rookie class, maybe outside of punter Jeremy Crawshaw. While it’s clear the backfield is leaning heavily toward Dobbins, Harvey has still made an impact through the early portion of the season. Harvey is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has even found the end zone in front of an excited Broncos Country. Harvey still has a lot of work to do, but it’s an exciting one-two punch with both he and Dobbins in the backfield for the offense.
Rookie we need to see more from: EDGE Que Robinson
Edge defender Que Robinson got his first game as an NFL player due to the absence of fellow outside linebacker Jonah Elliss. He’s only appeared in one game for the Broncos, totaling one solo tackle and one assisted tackle in the team’s victory over the New York Jets in London. Denver is built for the future, and Robinson is a key part of the team’s future, although he might not get the reps in his rookie season.
Underachiever: WR Pat Bryant
The rookie wide receiver just hasn’t hauled in enough catches through the early stages of the season. The jury is still out, and likely will be until he gets some more reps on his plate. He’s totaled only four receptions for 40 yards. His average reception is for 10 yards, which has Broncos Country excited to see him become more of a difference-maker on the offensive side of the football.
Draft class overall grade: B-
Coaching report card
Grade: B+
Back-to-back last-second losses due to field goals are a bitter pill to swallow, but head coach Sean Payton and the Broncos followed it up with victories over the reigning Super Bowl Champs and a tough matchup in London. There’s plenty to clean up, and the offense needs to find its identity, but Payton and the front office have helped put the team in a place to succeed. The Denver Broncos are in second place in the AFC West, ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Denver Broncos News
Bo Nix gets brutally honest with postgame comments after squeaking out a win vs. Jets
The second-year signal caller didn’t hold back with his comments made after the game.
