The last time we saw the Denver Broncos, they were walking off their home field, downtrodden, after a miserable 10-7 loss in the AFC Championship game, which they were without their starting QB for.
Getting that close again to hoisting the Lombardi trophy won’t come easy, and will require serious contributions from the Broncos’ returning stars.
With that in mind, let’s set the table for this season’s recurring Broncos Player Power Rankings series by looking at where they stand now. Who are primed to be the best, most impactful players for the Broncos this season? Let’s look.
Recently named the best corner in the league by an ESPN poll of around 70 NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, PS2 has already put himself squarely on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Few players in the history of the game have shown his ability to neutralize opposing offenses’ top receivers. A pure blend of technique and physical dominance, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year has a vise grip on our list’s top spot.
There’s no way to go further on this list without mentioning Bo Nix. His impact has never been more noticeable than when the team was without him in their 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. While his game still has warts, his impact on and off the field cannot be understated. It remains to be seen how he will bounce back from ankle surgery, but it’s clear this team will go as far as Nix can take them.
One of the more underrated defenders in the league, Zach Allen has become a key piece of Denver’s staunch defense. In a game that is often won and lost in the trenches, Allen’s work allows the other stars on this defense to thrive. In 2025, Allen joined J.J. Watt as the only NFL players to log 40+ quarterback hits in consecutive seasons.
The 2022 second-round pick has put together back-to-back 13+-sack seasons, but what really sets him apart is his nose for the ball in the big moments. Whether it’s a key sack, forced fumble, or just simply creating pressure, Bonitto has developed into a player you can rely on to shine in the game’s most important spots.
A major part of Bo Nix’s success has been the consistency of his stalwart left tackle, Garett Bolles. Bolles was graded the 5th best tackle in the NFL last season by PFF as he went all 1,126 snaps he played without allowing a single sack. 2025 was also the first time in his career that Bolles earned a first-team All-Pro spot, and the first time he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Waddle was acquired in a blockbuster deal that saw the Broncos send their first-, third- and fourth-round picks in this year’s draft to the Dolphins for receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round pick. Expectations are sky-high for Waddle, who finished top-10 in the NFL in yards in 2022. While he has not been able to reach the same heights in recent years, the talent is clearly there, and the Broncos expect he will help take the team’s passing attack to the next level this season.
If there was a good run play for the Broncos in 2025, chances are it was behind two-time first-team All-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz. His ability to control the point of attack has been key to the success of Denver’s ground game, while also blossoming as a pass-protector. If the Broncos are going to create a more balanced attack this season, Meinerz will need to have another All-Pro season.
“The ball finds him,” was the way Sean Payton described McMillian this offseason, and there’s no better example than his overtime interception in the playoffs against the Bills that set up the Broncos’ game-winning field goal. Over the past three seasons, the formerly undrafted corner has racked up 5 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, and even 2 touchdowns as the slot corner. As he enters a contract season, we might be in store for McMillian’s best work.
In his first year as a Bronco, Hufanga made 106 tackles, which was good enough for second-most on the team, and his six tackles for loss ranked third, but was the best of anybody who wasn’t a member of Denver’s defensive front. His ability to play downhill, in the box, has given the Broncos much-needed versatility on the backend. Hufanga did fail to record an interception last season, which is frankly hilarious considering how often he found himself around the ball. If he capitalizes on those opportunities this year, he’ll likely earn a spot among the top five.
The addition of Jaylen Waddle might quietly be a major boon for Courtland Sutton, who is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season under Sean Payton. This will be the first year since 2019 that Sutton has been paired with another 1,000-yard receiver, which is especially notable considering that was likely Sutton’s best season to date. He’s always been a premier jump-ball receiver, and now the addition of Waddle should help create more space for the 30-year-old wideout.
Honorable Mentions: Riley Moss, Brandon Jones, JK Dobbins
