ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Denver Broncos’ offensive slump has gone on longer than the team’s playoff drought.
For the 9th consecutive year, the Broncos failed to reach the NFL’s top 15 in total yards and points.
The team’s playoff drought is only eight years old. Only.
A season-by-season look at the Broncos’ offensive production going back to record-setting season of quarterback Peyton Manning in 2013:
Year: Yards per game (Rank) - Points per game (Rank)
- 2023: 298.4 yards (26th) — 21.0 points (19th)
- 2022: 325.1 (21st) — 16.9 (32nd)
- 2021: 330.5 (19th) — 19.7 (23rd)
- 2020: 335.6 (23rd) — 20.2 (28th)
- 2019: 298.6 (28th) — 17.6 (28th)
- 2018: 350.1 (19th) — 20.6 (24th)
- 2017: 324.1 (17th) — 18.1 (27th)
- 2016: 323.1 (27th) — 20.8 (22nd)
- 2015: 355.5 (16th) — 22.2 (19th)
- 2014: 402.9 (3rd) — 30.1 (2nd)
- 2013: 457.3 (1st) — 37.9 (1st)
The average rank in total offense the past 9 seasons: 22nd. The average rank in scoring the past 9 years: 25th.
“I don’t know if you’d say, ‘Laid the foundation,’’’ Sean Payton said about his offense after his first year as head coach. “Were we as good as we expected or wanted to be offensively this year? Absolutely not. … I would say clearly heavy-duty work in progress. I would say we’re not building on that foundation yet; we’re still putting the pilings in based on what I saw.”
The Broncos had a $42.5 million quarterback in Russell Wilson and reportedly the second-highest paid NFL head coach in Payton and yet the Broncos averaged 26.7 yards less per game than they did in 2022 with Nathaniel Hackett directing the offense.
The Broncos paid $20 million for a right tackle. $14.5 million for a receiver, $15 million for a left guard and $14 million for a left tackle and yet their 2023 offense averaged 12 percent fewer yards than during the two-year Pat Shurmur era.
It’s way past time. FIX THE OFFENSE!
Here’s how the Broncos sit at each position group heading into the offseason:
QUARTERBACK
For several reasons, Wilson will be moving on, the biggest of which is Payton doesn’t think he fits the offense he wants operated. The poor overall offensive production in yards and points suggest changes must be made and just like you can’t fire the whole team when the move is made to dismiss a head coach, you can’t bench the whole offense when a quarterback is sent to the clipboard.
No. 2 quarterback Jarrett Stidham will return to compete for the starting job. As Stidham has just four NFL starts in five seasons, the Broncos could well add a free agent quarterback with starting experience on a discount (Ryan Tannehill, Sam Darnold, Jameis Winston) or use their No 12 overall draft selection on a quarterback (Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy). Or both.
RUNNING BACK
No. 1 running back Javonte Williams and No. 2 Samaje Perine each have one, nonguaranteed year left on their contracts. No. 3 running back Jaleel McLaughlin is under team control for three more years. What the Broncos need is either another back like Jaleel plus 20-25 pounds, or Williams to rest his legs for a couple months and come back with renewed burst.
RECEIVER
Sutton had 10 touchdown catches through 14 games to earn his $14.5 million but this group as a whole hasn’t been good enough since the transition from Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in 2018-19. Losing Tim Patrick to season-ending injuries before he played a game the past two seasons was a significant blow.
After entertaining the possibility of trading either Sutton or Jerry Jeudy last offseason, the Broncos are expected to move on from one this offseason. Sutton, 28, has two, nonguaranteed years of $13.5 million and $14 million left on his contract. Jeudy, 24, has a one-year, fully guaranteed $12.987 million left on his deal.
Marvin Mims Jr., had a great year as a rookie, Pro Bowl returner and an encouraging season as a rookie receiver. He seems to have what it takes to double his production from 22 catches for 377 yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Lloyd Cushenberry III was a four-year starting center but he is now a free agent. Is seventh-round rookie Alex Forsyth, who was inactive for all 17 games, ready to become a starting center in 2024? Matt Paradis made the same jump for the Broncos in 2015. So maybe.
The Broncos are expected to trigger right tackle Mike McGlinchey’s $17.5 million salary guarantee for 2025 by March 17. The team also has their two guards, Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz, safely under contract for 2024.
That leaves left tackle Garett Bolles, who has one, nonguaranteed year at $16 million left on his contract.
Bolles didn’t have an All Pro season in 2023 but he did get a couple votes and he graded among the top 5 left tackles by Pro Football Focus. For all the talk the Broncos will have to release high-priced veterans because of the dead-cap ramifications from Wilson’s contract, they could also extend players like Bolles that with the use of a signing bonuses would lower the cap hits.
TIGHT END
Adam Trautman is underrated but the Broncos could use more of a receiving threat from this position. Back-to-back injury-plagued seasons by the talented Greg Dulcich has been such a major disappointment, the Broncos have to make plans without him in 2024. If he can make it back healthy, great. A bonus. But just like the Broncos couldn’t rely on speedy, oft-injured receiver KJ Hamler last year, they must add a receiving threat at tight end for 2024.
FULLBACK
Michael Burton is again about to become a free agent. He had a good year. Might as well bring him back.
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