A typical Denver Broncos practice can feature more than a dozen reporters watching the team prepare, while the press box at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday is filled with a large media presence. To gauge how the reporters covering the Broncos felt about the team’s prospects this season, we polled some of the beat on five key questions. The story resembles an annual survey done by The Baltimore Banner. .

Pat Bryant began to emerge late last season as a player to watch in Denver’s receiver room after he posted at least three catches in the regular season’s final five games. But after the Broncos traded for star wideout Jaylen Waddle this offseason, Bryant’s path to significant playing time was narrowed.

The second-year receiver responded with an excellent offseason, emerging as Denver’s No. 3 wide receiver. Bryant’s caught a majority of the balls thrown his way, earning the nickname “Patty Ice” from offensive coordinator Davis Webb during training camp. He can line up on the outside or in the slot, and his strong technique and route running have made him a favorite target of quarterback Bo Nix. Expect Bryant to play a big role in the Broncos’ passing attack this season.

Breakout Bronco from training camp?

Denver returns an established roster, but a few unproven players emerged this summer.

Player
Votes

Pat Bryant
5

Eyioma Uwazurike
4

Riley Moss
2

Que Robinson
2

Denver enters the year as an established Super Bowl contender. It returns almost the entirety of a roster that was one win away from the NFL’s final Sunday. But as fans saw with Nix’s ankle injury in the Broncos’ playoff win over the Buffalo Bills, the margin for sustained success in the NFL is slim.

The reporters covering the 2026 iteration of the team had differing opinions on what could determine the Broncos’ fate this season. Some pointed to health, including the defense’s front seven and running back J.K. Dobbins, as key factors. After Denver’s defense finished tied for the fourth-lowest takeaways in the league last year, others thought turning opposing offenses over more was critical. And while the Broncos set the NFL record for second-half comebacks in 2025, two reporters pointed to Denver earning earlier leads as something to watch for.

What’s the swing factor for the season?

Here’s what reporters think could change the trajectory of Denver’s year.

Player
Votes

Health of the front seven
2

Turnover differential
2

J.K. Dobbins’ health
2

Building early leads
2

The pass rush
1

Running game
1

New O.C. Davis Webb
1

Bo Nix’s health
1

Jaylen Waddle’s health
1

As you can see, the reporters covering the Broncos are buying a leap from Nix. The third-year quarterback will be surrounded by the most talented core of his career and potentially the strongest running game of the Sean Payton era to aid him.

Several reporters said they envisioned Nix being in the MVP conversation, with one comparing Nix’s potential season to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s 2025 year. If Nix does take those strides, it’s not difficult to envision Denver playing far into the winter.

Team MVP for the year?

Several reports said they expect Bo Nix to be in the MVP conversation this season.

Player
Votes

Bo Nix
10

Nik Bonitto
1

Zach Allen
1

Pat Surtain II
1

Only four players from Denver’s seven-person 2026 class remain on the 53-man roster after the preseason. Fourth-round rookie running back Jonah Coleman earned ubiquitous praise from the media.

Ironically, Coleman’s been advertised as an ahead-of-schedule player this offseason. Payton said Coleman “doesn’t feel like a rookie,” and draft analysts said the former Washington running back’s pass-protecting skills could get him on the field earlier than anticipated.

Coleman’s joining a talented room. J.K. Dobbins was one of the AFC’s top backs when healthy last year and R.J. Harvey is a skilled receiver out of the backfield who will play a large role on third downs. Coleman might not get many carries in the early portion of the season, but multiple reporters said the running back might be Denver’s “RB1 of the future.”

Kage Casey, a fourth-round guard out of Boise State, won’t start along the offensive line to begin the year, but could be in the Broncos’ future plans at guard.

Best rookie from Denver’s 2026 class?

Jonah Coleman, a fourth-round pick out of Washington, could play a larger role than anticipated in Denver’s backfield.

Player
Votes

Jonah Coleman
12

Kage Casey
1

Every reporter predicted the Broncos would finish with a better record than the oddsmakers’ over/under win total prediction of 9.5 wins. Although both 11-6 and 12-5 would be a regression from last season’s 14-3 finish, the Broncos would almost assuredly make the playoffs with either record. Only two teams in the Super Bowl Era have missed the playoffs after finishing with 11 regular-season wins — the 2008 Patriots and the 1985 Broncos. Since the NFL expanded to a 14-team playoff in 2021, a team with 11 wins has never missed the postseason.

Record prediction for Broncos season?

Oddsmakers set the Broncos’ regular-season over/under win total at 9.5 wins.

Record
Votes

11-6
9

12-5
4

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