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After the Denver Broncos made the 2024 NFL playoffs with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the way, fans are now excited to see the team build around Nix with more exciting playmakers on offense.
Building around Nix is not limited to skill players, though. Denver could use a starting running back, a long-term tight end and another playmaker at wide receiver, but the Broncos won't overlook the defense in this year's NFL draft.
“I’ve answered this before and referenced this -- I mean this -- there are two great allies that I think to help quarterback play," coach Sean Payton said during the team's pre-draft press conference last Thursday. "It’s really good defense and obviously a really good running game. I appreciate that term ‘weapons’, and yet… There will be focus on the running back position. It’s a pretty good draft for running backs. It’s a pretty good draft for interior defensive linemen. When we sign a good football player in free agency, [such as] Dre Greenlaw, we feel like we’ve helped our team, and in turn our defense and then in turn the quarterback position.
"How do we get him off the high dive? You don’t want to be third-and-long, you don’t want to be behind in games. Those are all things that make that position more challenging. … I think we’re focused on key positions. There are some positions that will be tougher to make on our team than other positions. One of the things that we did a good job of in free agency is put ourselves in a position to really look at — again, three years out — how do we like this player? Fortunately, there are some deep positions in this draft that I think can help, not only us, but a number of teams.”
Nix has three more years left on his team-friendly rookie contract, then the Broncos will have an option of adding on another season with a built-in option for 2028. There's a window to make splashes elsewhere while Nix has a manageable salary cap hit, but general manager George Paton downplayed that notion.
“We have a few years obviously, but you always want to build," Paton said at the NFL combine in February. "We want to build the right way and build the best team around the quarterback. That’s just our process moving forward — the best defense, the best special teams and the best offense. Explosive elements, of course we want to do that, but just build the best team around the quarterback. Maybe you’re a little bit more aggressive as you move on in his career.”
So, yes, Denver will likely look to add more weapons in this year's draft, but the team won't be limited to the offensive side of the ball. An elite defense is a QB's best friend, so if the Broncos can continue to add talent on defense, they will -- perhaps even in the first round.
Denver holds seven picks this year (before any potential trades). The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24-26.
These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos: Building around Bo Nix might not look like what fans expect
Continue reading...
Building around Nix is not limited to skill players, though. Denver could use a starting running back, a long-term tight end and another playmaker at wide receiver, but the Broncos won't overlook the defense in this year's NFL draft.
“I’ve answered this before and referenced this -- I mean this -- there are two great allies that I think to help quarterback play," coach Sean Payton said during the team's pre-draft press conference last Thursday. "It’s really good defense and obviously a really good running game. I appreciate that term ‘weapons’, and yet… There will be focus on the running back position. It’s a pretty good draft for running backs. It’s a pretty good draft for interior defensive linemen. When we sign a good football player in free agency, [such as] Dre Greenlaw, we feel like we’ve helped our team, and in turn our defense and then in turn the quarterback position.
"How do we get him off the high dive? You don’t want to be third-and-long, you don’t want to be behind in games. Those are all things that make that position more challenging. … I think we’re focused on key positions. There are some positions that will be tougher to make on our team than other positions. One of the things that we did a good job of in free agency is put ourselves in a position to really look at — again, three years out — how do we like this player? Fortunately, there are some deep positions in this draft that I think can help, not only us, but a number of teams.”
Nix has three more years left on his team-friendly rookie contract, then the Broncos will have an option of adding on another season with a built-in option for 2028. There's a window to make splashes elsewhere while Nix has a manageable salary cap hit, but general manager George Paton downplayed that notion.
“We have a few years obviously, but you always want to build," Paton said at the NFL combine in February. "We want to build the right way and build the best team around the quarterback. That’s just our process moving forward — the best defense, the best special teams and the best offense. Explosive elements, of course we want to do that, but just build the best team around the quarterback. Maybe you’re a little bit more aggressive as you move on in his career.”
So, yes, Denver will likely look to add more weapons in this year's draft, but the team won't be limited to the offensive side of the ball. An elite defense is a QB's best friend, so if the Broncos can continue to add talent on defense, they will -- perhaps even in the first round.
Denver holds seven picks this year (before any potential trades). The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24-26.
These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos: Building around Bo Nix might not look like what fans expect
Continue reading...
