{"id":226176,"date":"2025-07-22T04:42:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T04:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/226176\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T04:42:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T04:42:23","slug":"the-denver-broncos-have-one-of-the-best-starting-lineups-in-the-league-per-espn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/226176\/","title":{"rendered":"The Denver Broncos have one of the best starting lineups in the league, per ESPN"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Denver Broncos shocked the NFL would when they made the playoffs a season ago after being projected to be one of the worst teams before anyone ever put the pads on. Despite bowing out early in the playoffs in a game that was not very competitive after halftime, the orange and blue showed that they had a good amount of the necessary pieces to compete with the top dogs in the AFC.<\/p>\n

This offseason, George Paton and the rest of the Broncos\u2019 brass went out and addressed the issues that were glaring in Buffalo back in January. They got a linebacker in Dre Greenlaw<\/a>, they added secondary depth in Talanoa Hufanga<\/a> and Jahdae Barron<\/a>, they got a tight end in Evan Engram<\/a> and they found their potential running back of the future in RJ Harvey<\/a> along with a trusted veteran in J.K. Dobbins<\/a>. All they need is for the players who showed immense amounts of growth in 2024 to keep growing instead of plateauing.<\/p>\n

With training camp set to start this week for most teams around the league, including the Broncos, ESPN ranked every single roster in the league<\/a> from the best to the worst. The rankings were a pleasant sight for Broncos fans, as their squad slotted in at No. 6 on the list.<\/p>\n

The only teams ahead of Denver? Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, Buffalo and Kansas City. Not bad company to be around.<\/p>\n

ESPN listed the offensive line as the biggest strength after they dominated in both facets of the game win 2024, leading the league in both run and pass block win rate. The exact same five of Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz and Mike McGlinchey are slated to be starting in the trenches once again, and with another offseason to get familiar with each other and with their signal caller in Bo Nix, the Broncos are poised to have one of the league\u2019s best offensive lines once again.<\/p>\n

The receiver core was marked as the biggest weakness of the team, but young receiver Marvin Mims Jr. was also marked as the biggest X-factor for the 2025 squad. It\u2019s no secret that the Broncos didn\u2019t have a whole lot of talent around Bo Nix at the skill positions last year outside of Courtland Sutton. Mims was the only other receiver who recorded more than 500 yards, but over 38% of his targets were screens. He showed last year that he\u2019s able to be a deep threat as well on top of the screen game, but he just needs the ball in his hands more given how dynamic he is as a player.<\/p>\n

NIX. MIMS. 93 YARDS TO THE CRIB.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa: #CLEvsDEN<\/a> on ESPN
\ud83d\udcf1: Stream on #NFLPlus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pHzTvYKEoK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Engram will provide a much-needed boost to the pass game this season with his ability to move the sticks, especially with Sean Payton as his play caller. Rookie receiver Pat Bryant is a player who could be a difference maker with his big frame, and if second-year receiver Troy Franklin can improve his hands, he showed last year that he also has the tools to take the top off down the field.<\/p>\n

On paper, things are looking good in the Mile High City. The defense, led by Pat Surtain II and the elite pass rush, should be the unit that leads this team back to the playoffs, but, if Nix can avoid the sophomore slump and keep up his growth, the offense has the tools to sneakily be a very good group as well.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, last season showed that nothing on paper matters until people start hitting on Sundays. For the Broncos, training camp kicks off on Tuesday, with the first preseason game looming just under three weeks from now.<\/p>\n

Follow @trent_finnegan2<\/a><\/p>\n

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