The Broncos’ linemen understand the onus on their position group going into the 2025 season, especially considering the unit’s continuity goes back to ’23. Wattenberg was the only new starter up front in ’24.

As Bo Nix reflected on his rookie season, the chance to gain valuable lessons from 18 starts across the regular season and playoffs was among the biggest takeaways from a prolific first campaign.

They signed safety Brandon Jones, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach and inside linebacker Cody Barton to modest deals. During the NFL draft, they traded a future sixth-round pick for John Franklin-Myers and quickly signed him to a reworked, two-year deal worth $15 million.

Bo Nix's stellar rookie season with the Broncos ended in disappointment on Sunday with Denver's playoff loss to the Bills, but it took on even more shine Monday when he revealed he played through a transverse process fracture of the lumbar spine.

Tops on any list from the 2024 season has been the emergence of rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

He’s one of the best left tackles in the league,” Von Miller said of former teammate Garett Bolles, who he will face on Sunday.

Payton is not the only Bronco selected as a finalist for an end-of-the-season award. Quarterback Bo Nix is a finalist for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year while cornerback Pat Surtain II has been nominated for AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Nix unexpectedly led the Broncos to the playoffs and accounted for 33 TDs in his rookie season. But he knows he has plenty to work on in 2025.

The Denver Broncos will have the No. 20 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft after losing to the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the playoffs earlier this month. On Monday, ESPN's Matt Miller detailed the two "dream" options for the Broncos in the first round.

The Broncos were hamstrung due to the record amount of dead money they had to deal with as a result of the Russell Wilson contract. As a result, the team was forced to be frugal in free agency, selecting lower-tier players with the potential of some upside.

During the season, the Broncos gave 32-year-old left tackle Garett Bolles a four-year extension. Will Denver do something similar with Sutton? According to Spotrac, the 29-year-old has a market value of $22.9 million per year. He will have a cap hit of $20.2 million in 2025.

With that answered, where might Sean Payton and his Broncos team go in the draft? To truly kick off the offseason, ESPN ’s long-time NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his first official mock of the 2025 cycle. Projecting for the Broncos, Kiper mocked Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty to the Broncos at pick No. 20 overall.