Good morning and Happy New Year, Broncos Country! 2025 is officially behind us. On behalf of Mile High Report, I’d like to wish you and yours all the best in 2026. Additionally, I hope you all had a wonderful
holiday season.
For today’s installment of Horse Tracks, I thought I’d ask you about things you would love to see with respect to the Denver Broncos in 2026. Obviously, the Broncos finding a way to earn their fourth Lombardi Trophy by winning Super Bowl 60 would have to top all of our lists as fans of the beloved orange and blue. That would be a great way to cap off their season.
After a decade of irrelevance, the Broncos are officially back in business. A formidable foe with a top-flight defense and a youthful offense that has one of the best offensive lines in the National Football League. There is no doubt their future is bright, but next year’s schedule (on paper) looks to be much harder than this year’s.
It’s highly unlikely Denver will get to the same win amount next season. Nevertheless, I think they are going to be extremely competitive next year and for years to come. They’re set up with a mostly full slate of draft selections and should have an ample amount of salary cap space to use to bolster their roster for the ‘26 campaign. I’m just thinking out loud a bit, but here are some things I’d like to see to make the Broncos much stronger for next season.
Establishing run game dominance by adding another back to the rotation
I’ve been impressed with the dual threat ability of RJ Harvey in his rookie season. Harvey’s ability to churn off big runs and make impact plays as a receiver has been a big asset for the Broncos’ offense. He has been a touchdown machine. However, it’s safe to say they need another back to shoulder the burden with him. Preferably a larger back with the ability to grind out tough yards in between the tackles.
This year’s free agency class of backs looks quite deep. Tyler Allgeier, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr, Brian Robinson Jr., and Kenneth Walker will all be available. In my opinion, would all be great additions to Denver’s running back stable. I could see Denver bring back J.K. Dobbins back on a one-year deal, but the injury history is a significant cause for concern.
There is also a chance they could opt to draft a running mate to go with Harvey. However, pursuing a veteran with NFL experience might be more apt for immediate impact and to help bolster Denver’s running attack in ‘26. I think that would give them a lot more flexibility approaching the draft in April and also help with Bo Nix’s development in his third season as a starter.
Addressing two major long-term needs in the 2026 NFL Draft
A lot of you have been diligent readers of my Future Broncos segments all season long. I appreciate that and all the feedback you have given. Expect a lot more on that front once the offseason begins. There will be a lot of discussion on how to attack free agency and this year’s draft.
Moving forward, I believe Denver needs to make a splash in this year’s draft. One of the premier strengths of this year’s draft is the playmakers at inside linebacker. I think there are at least four first-round caliber prospects. The Ohio State duo of Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles was magnificent this past season. Those two are likely out of reach, barring some major catapult propelling Denver up the draft boards.
Yet Texas standout Anthony Hill Jr. or Georgia’s C.J. Allen could very well be in the mix. Either of them would be fantastic additions to be long-term fixtures at off-ball linebacker. They could also help fix the Broncos issues with forcing turnovers, in particular Hill Jr., who has a knack for creating them.
On top of that, I’d really like to see them to continue to invest in the offensive line. Both Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey have had good seasons, but eventually Denver needs to draft a long-term placement to help protect Bo Nix. It’s been a long time since they’ve drafted a true tackle. I know quite a few people are down on this year’s class of offensive lineman but count me in as one who seems to be more optimistic about their potential than consensus indicates.
Historically, first-round hit rates for tackles are usually pretty good. It’s not likely Denver would be able to snag one of their top three rated players at the position. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if this is an area they really consider. If they move on from Ben Powers, finding a prospect who can kick inside to guard for a season or two before taking over at tackle would be wise to consider.
How about you, Broncos Country? What things would you like to see happen with the Broncos in 2026? Do you have a free agency or draft wish list you would like to share? Are you thinking of any potential coaching switches or changes for the staff? Is anything else on your radar? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.
As always, thank you for reading. Here is today’s slate of articles for Horse Tracks.
