Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images A new era. Again. But this one feels different. For the last several years, I’ve been saying that “it’s been a long time” since Broncos Country has been rewarded with a winning season — especially the ultimate fans. It keeps getting longer and we keep getting our hopes up. Because that’s what ultimate fans do. They believe. And that last few seasons that hasn’t worked out so well. The thing is, this season definitely seems different. I still think it will be tough to get eight or nine wins with such a hard schedule and an inexperienced team, especially at the most important position. But that inexperienced QB is looking pretty darn good, the team got better overall, and the coach is enjoying himself. Plus, everyone knows Sean Payton has never won fewer than seven games in a season, and the Broncos came pretty darn close last season to a winning record and even had an outside shot at the playoffs. And that wasn’t even with Sean Payton’s guy. But now he has his guy and loves his young team, and things feel like they are falling into place. So whether that translates into wins or not this season, it has great promise in coming years. And either way, this season should be fun! We just have to BO-lieve. And I know all you ultimate fans are already doing that. So LFG!!! Bo Nix dropped back to pass 34 times this preseason, which is the equivalent of roughly one full game. – 6.1-yard average depth of target– Zero sacks– Four scrambles The Broncos produced 3 TDs, 205 yards passing, and 110 yards rushing with Nix on the field this preseason. pic.twitter.com/JD5p9eL8SW — Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 26, 2024 As usual, there are a few ground rules for this adventure. INTERACT with each other. No more lurking. No more treating this post like a junior high dance where everyone just stands by the wall and sways and sings by him/herself. Get out there and dance. And that goes MAINLY for the writers. I love having new people use this series as a jumping off point to get into the scrum, but you don’t just get to post your answers to me and then leave. YOU ARE OBLIGATED (by me) TO RESPOND to all the awesome fans that are going to give you props! BE RESPECTFUL. That shouldn’t have to be stated and it’s probably not an issue with the UFG, but given the contentious state of so much else, I’m just stating it as a warning 🙂 BE HONEST. I understand there is a certain amount of pressure from me to be “optimistic” about the team (because, yeah, I’m usually predict 17-0, but whatever). You be you. I mean if you want to be the downer and pick a loss, who am I to stop you? lol. Just kidding. All critiques welcome. Except if yours is stupid and predicts a loss. No, I’m really just kidding. Mostly. And here’s how the whole thing will work: • In the comments below, name the game/week that you’d like to “preview” (please scroll through the comments to make sure the game/week you want is still available). I will update the list throughout the process as much as I can before it’s complete! • First come, first served for the assigment! • Up to two people per game (but fill in all the games first before adding your name to a game that already has someone, please!) • Bye Week is a legit week to comment. • Expect an email from me the week of your preview with the questions. THIS ONE IS SUPER IMPORTANT…You have to check the email that is listed with your SBN account because that is where I will get in touch with you. If you don’t hear from me by Thursday (and let’s be honest, it will come at the last minute) you are more than welcome to email or DM me on twitter to remind me I am late 😉 [[email protected] or @docllv] • Once again, I’m adding some “backup QBs” in case the person signed up doesn’t respond…so sign up for that role if you don’t mind having to jump into the game mid-quarter. *And since Brahncos had to email me to remind me it was time to get this post out, he gets first dibs and chose Week 2! OK, on your mark, get set, go! Game Commenter Week 1: Broncos at Seahawks TwoPolesOneChain Week 2: Broncos v. Steelers Brahncos Week 3: Broncos at Buccaneers Week 4: Broncos at Jets NYCBronx Week 5: Broncos v. Raiders SickBoy67 Week 6: Broncos v. Chargers Week 7: Broncos at Saints on TNF jlfreck Week 8: Broncos v. Panthers joebeggs43 Week 9: Broncos at Ravens pootflute Week 10: Broncos at Chiefs WarpathU Week 11: Broncos v. Falcons BoomSauce18 Week 12: Broncos at Raiders TheOmen Week 13: Broncos v. Browns iknowftbll Week 14: BYE Week 15: Broncos v. Colts TopherDoll Week 16: Broncos at Chargers jeffrod Week 17: Broncos at Bengals TheGueroLoco Week 18: Broncos v. Chiefs DBforlife Backup QB bill2975 Backup QB Alexander Wall On to the UFG Selection via THE COMMENTS!

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images The Broncos rookie QB sits at +1,100 at FanDuel to win the award. Good morning, Broncos Country! The Bo Nix hype train is full steam ahead. And we’re seeing the shift in the odds as well. Before the first preseason game, Nix was at +2,000 to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year at FanDuel Sportsbook. Now, the Denver Broncos rookie quarterback sits at +1,100. That’s a major shift in just a few week’s time. Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is the favorite to win NFL OROY at +120. He’s followed by Jalen Daniels at +600 and Marvin Harrison Jr. at +650. Nix is followed by Drake May at +1,400 and Malik Nabers at +1,500. A lot will have to go right for Nix to win the award this season. But the way he looked and played in the preseason, as well as training camp, is why Nix was named the Broncos starter. And you know that Sean Payton has the offense that will allow Nix to put up the numbers that he would need to win the award. Some other notable odds for Denver: Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain is +10,000 to win the Defensive Player of the Year. Denver futures odds have shifted since before the first preseason game. At that point, the Broncos were +760 to make the playoffs. Now, Denver is +540. Broncos news ‘I think it just allows you to play free’: Why the Broncos believe their youth will be advantageous in Week 1 and beyondVeteran players John Franklin-Myers and Mike McGlinchey believe the energy and positivity of Denver’s younger players can fuel the team to success this season. Jonas Griffith announces he will have another ACL surgery | 9news.comDenver Broncos inside linebacker Jonas Griffith is undergoing a season-ending ACL surgery for a second consecutive year. Bronco notes: All 3 QBs to dress against SeattleBo Nix, Jarret Stidham and Zach Wilson will all dress when the Broncos open their season against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sept. 8. in week 1 of NFL. Youth served in Broncos’ running back, wide receiver corps – ESPNThey might not be quite the Baby Broncos, but Denver will have six first- or second-year skill-position players when the season opens. Brandon Aiyuk re-signing with 49ers: Broncos a main reason why Steelers didn’t land WR via trade, per report – CBSSports.comWe reportedly almost had a three-team trade in the NFL NFL news National NFL fans believe Detroit Lions have most promising future – Pride Of DetroitIn our national NFL survey, the Detroit Lions came out #1 when it comes to franchise’s future outlook. Details here: 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall ‘stable’ after attempted robbery shooting – ESPNSan Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall is in “serious but stable” condition after being shot in the chest during an attempted robbery. Which teams might pursue Dak Prescott? – NBC SportsTeams will be looking for quarterbacks in 2025, and everyone knows Dak will be available. Ravens vs. Chiefs prediction, odds, time, betting lines: 2024 NFL Kickoff Game picks from expert on 48-20 roll – CBSSports.comSportsLine’s Mike Tierney just revealed his Chiefs vs. Ravens picks for the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, Sept. 5 Brazil X ban ahead of NFL game sparks calls to cancelA week ahead of the first NFL game in Brazil, the country has banned X/Twitter. That’s sparked even some calls to cancel the game. NFL restricts Brady as analyst while Raiders deal is pending – ESPNBrady is not permitted to be in another team’s facility, is not permitted to witness practice and is not permitted to attend broadcast production meetings, either in person or virtually.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images It helps that this movement towards youth has been led by a promising first-round quarterback selection. Fans are bo-lieving in this team. Earlier this week, I dropped a survey about the youth movement this team has experienced heading into Week 1 compared to last year. In 2023, Denver entered Week 1 as the third oldest team in the NFL and today they are the 10th youngest. That is a rapid shift towards youth. 71% of fans are loving the move and 28% are neutral on it. Then we have a Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs fans filling out the last 2%. The movement to get younger has not gone unnoticed by the local media. In fact, veteran defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was asked about what it means for a team to be ‘young and hungry’ in the NFL. Myers actually had a really good explanation of how a young team feels different from a more veteran-heavy one. “I think there’s a different level of physicality [and] there’s a different level of effort playing with guys who are young and hungry,” Myers explained. “What’s kind of understood is that when you first get into the league, we’re all excited. We all just want to run and hit. You see that a lot here. Guys just want to run, they want to hit and they play with extreme effort and physicality. Those are the two things [I said] in my first press conference [that] if you ask anybody about my game, that’s what they’re going to tell you I play with. So I fit right in with these guys, and [I’m] looking forward to the season.” The seven-year veteran enjoys the kind of atmosphere this young locker room has in Denver this season and he went on to say that the hunger to win is always there with him. “It’s been a while,” Myers said of winning. “I went to the Super Bowl my rookie year, and I’m in year seven now. The hunger is [there].” As a rookie, Myers was with the Los Angeles Rams when they lost to the New England Patriots. He ended up with the New York Jets every year since and that franchise has been stuck in a long rut just like the Broncos have. Hopefully that changes this season for Denver. However, if you ask most NFL fans the optimism that Denver is heading in the right direction is about 50-50. While that might seem like a bad number, its actually the 13th best rank out of all 32 teams. This survey was of all NFL fans, not just Broncos fans. Obviously, we’re about as close to 100% as we can be after two un-bo-lievable preseason games. What did you think of these results? Share in the comments section below.

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images This collegiate football season is underway which means this year’s series of Future Broncos begins. This year’s collegiate football season is underway—which means my annual series of Future Broncos is back as well. For all you Colorado locals, I’m sure you watched the Buffalos take down the North Dakota State Bison on Thursday night. That was a tough one for me being a Bison alumnus, but it was a fun game to watch. Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter sure looked pretty awesome, and I’ve got to say Hunter would be a great selection for the Broncos to bolster their offense. For my initial Future Broncos entry, I’ll take a look at what the Broncos have for selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Moreover, pontificate on some early potential needs now that the 53-man roster and practice squad has been set. Feel free to give your thoughts on what you feel are Denver’s top needs for next offseason in the comments section. The Broncos’ 2025 Slate of Draft Selections The franchise doesn’t have a full slate of selections for the 2025 NFL Draft, but the good news is that they have all their premium selections after several seasons without them. The Broncos are without their original fifth round pick which was sent to the Miami Dolphins in the Bradley Chubb trade. Additionally, they lack a pick in the seventh round due to the Albert Okwuegbunam trade to the Philadelphia Eagles but will receive their sixth-round selection from that trade. General Manager George Paton and Head Coach Sean Payton are known for making a lot of trades, so it’s very likely the franchise will have more picks than what is on deck here. 1st Round Selection 2nd Round Selection 3rd Round Selection 4th Round Selection 6th Round Selection 6th Round Selection (via Philadelphia) What are the Broncos’ biggest future needs on the roster? The Broncos scratched their biggest long-term need of their list when the drafted Bo Nix with the 12th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. While Pro Football Focus and several outlets ranked the franchise’s roster as one of the worst in the National Football League, I don’t think that it’s as bad as it appears. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work to be redone to make them a formidable contender worthy of hoisting another Lombardi Trophy. My top three choices for early round draft investment are definitely focused on upgrading their trenches on both sides of the ball. Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey will be in the fold for at least this season and the 2025 campaign based on his contract structure. Though I’d argue it’s almost a certainty the team cuts ties with him after 2026 to save a gargantuan amount of cap space (over $17 million) to help retool the roster. However, if his play drastically improves, his $23 million dollar deal might not look so bad a few years down the road when other players at his position eventually reset the market. That being said, the biggest wildcard along the offensive line and perhaps the entire team is Garett Bolles’ future with the franchise. Bolles has been the team’s starting left tackle since he was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft but is in the final year of his extension. It’s entirely possible the team is able to come up with a multi-year extension to keep him in the fold and be Nix’s blindside protector, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team decides to move on and subsequently utilizes their top selection in 2025 on a franchise caliber left tackle. LSU standout Will Campbell and Texas product Kelvin Banks Jr. are the top two names too watch, but the only shot Denver has at getting either of them is by picking in the Top 10 next April. Another player to scout this year is Arizona Wildcat Jonah Savaiinaea. He has played right guard and right tackle, but definitely has the tools and traits to be a fantastic left tackle in NFL. Top 15 Offensive Linemen in the Big 12 in 2024 3. Jonah Savaiinaea – Arizona 2. Dalton Cooper – Oklahoma State 1. Wyatt Milum – West Virginia Who should’ve made the list? Follow for more #Big12 content. pic.twitter.com/jztZRsiiZh — Week-to-Week CFB (@CFBW2W) August 26, 2024 Defensive Line The Broncos added some beef to their offensive line by trading for John Franklin-Myers during last year’s draft and signing Malcolm Roach in free agency. Zach Allen is an ascending and underrated player, but D.J. Jones is in the final year of his deal and the Broncos desperately need top-tier talent for the long haul at the position. Michigan’s Mason Graham and Kentucky’s Deone Walker are two high-profile players to watch that would certainly beef up Denver’s defensive line. Tyleik Williams of Ohio State and Graham’s teammate Kenneth Grant (Michigan) are also two players to watch that have preliminary first-round grades in my book. Edge Rusher The Broncos have a nice foursome of pass rushers in Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, and rookie Jonah Elliss. But it’s important to keep in mind both Cooper and Browning are free agents at the end of this season. There is no such thing as having too many good pass rushers and team lacks an alpha in that room as is. If the Broncos stumble in 2024, utilizing their top selection on a premier edge rusher would be a smart move. Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. is the top prospect at the group in 2025, but Georgia’s Mykel Williams might have something to say about that when it is all said and done. Don’t sleep on Nic Scourton of Texas A&M (previously with Purdue) and Abdul Carter of Penn State. They all have traits to become top-notch players at EDGE in the pros. Could Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton blossom into the state’s best defender? My full breakdown #GigEm: https://t.co/9p4lE8d0PN pic.twitter.com/rIEIrutZsQ — Carter Yates (@Carter_Yates16) August 26, 2024 Honorable

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images Bo Nix is a rookie first-round pick, but Mike McGlinchey already sees a veteran composure in how he carries himself. We have officially entered Week 1 of the 2024 regular season and the Denver Broncos begin an entirely new era. The Bo Nix era. The first-round rookie has impressed all through training camp and looked impressive in two preseason outings completing 76.7% of his passes for 205 yards and two touchdown passes. He also added 29 yards rushing. Now he has to prove it against real competition and that starts Week 1 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. Earlier this week, right tackle Mike McGlinchey was asked about Nix and how he has shown such poise and maturity for being a rookie and after an offseason with the rookie he is convinced there is no moment that is going to be too big for him this season. “I don’t know if it’s a specific example, but certainly the rapid improvement has been super impressive to me,” McGlinchey said. “From OTAs when he first got here in May to where he’s at now, he’s a different football player. It’s a great sense of who he is as a pro and who he is as a competitor to learn that fast and put himself in a position to lead our football team. Everybody is excited for him to do that. There have been so many examples of him showing composure and his collection in the huddle. His ability to stay calm no matter the situation out there. He was the same on the practice field as he was in the two games that we’ve lined up so far. That speaks to his composure as much as anything. The moment isn’t too big for him. He’s ready for it, and he’s ready to go attack it.” “The moment isn’t too big for him. He’s ready for it, and he’s ready to go attack it.” – Mike McGlinchey on Bo Nix. Probably the most difficult part to being a rookie first-round quarterback in the NFL is instantly becoming the head of the franchise. If you are not up to the task, like say a Paxton Lynch type, then the NFL will chew you up and spit you out. In many ways, you’ve got to come in and be good and be a leader right away. Leadership was another quality that McGlinchey spoke of. Called him a great person and a natural fit for the quarterback leadership position of the offense. “I think he’s been great,” McGlinchey said. Bo [Nix] is a great dude. He’s a great guy to hang out with [and] a great guy to have a conversation with. I think he’s fit in unbelievably well, and he has come in and been authentically himself. I think that’s all you can ask for from him. For us, he doesn’t have to be somebody that he’s not just because he’s the quarterback of an NFL franchise. He’s a homegrown dude that really likes playing football and really likes being a teammate. That’s definitely shown through to the rest of us in the way that we appreciate his work so far.” That’s really what leading a team is all about. You are authentic and your teammates respect you. It sounds easy, but a lot of rookie quarterbacks come in and struggle to assume those responsibilities. Those that do thrive. Hopefully Bo Nix follows in that mold and thrives this season like C.J. Stroud did last year. Horse Tracks Terrell Davis tours Broncos’ stadium artist series | Salute to Broncos CountryOn this episode of “Salute the Broncos Country,” Terrell Davis and James Palmer tour the Broncos’ stadium artist series and try their hand at some artwork of their own. Owner & CEO Greg Penner encouraged by Broncos’ camp“I’m encouraged by what I saw in training camp,” Penner said Thursday. Broncos officially break ground on new Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit“I believe this new facility — like the one we opened 34 years ago — will mark the beginning of the next great chapter in Broncos history,” Owner & CEO Greg Penner said. Jonas Griffith announces on Instagram he’ll have another ACL surgeryCut by the Broncos earlier this week, linebacker Jonas Griffith announced Friday that he would undergo another ACL surgery. LB Levelle Bailey returns on practice squadBroncos rookie linebacker Levelle Bailey survived the waiver wire and will now join the team’s practice squad. Riley Dixon remains Broncos’ punter regardless of whether competition was ‘close’Riley Dixon has won the punting competition against Trenton Gill to become the Broncos’ punter.