The 2024 NFL Season is rapidly approaching. The season kicks off on Thursday, September 5 and every day through Monday, September 2 we’ll be going team-by-team as we preview the new season. Be sure to come back here every afternoon as we look at a new team and get your ready for the 2024 season. We’ll cover off-season changes, the fantasy prospects, and the prediction for how the team will fare this season.

Last off-season, following a disastrous 2022 season, the Broncos swung for the fences, acquiring Sean Payton to be the team’s Head Coach. He was supposed to come in and turn around the flagging franchise, rehabbing starting quarterback Russell Wilson. Instead, the Broncos started slow, rallied for a while, then flamed out. Wilson ended the season benched and the Broncos ended the season below .500 and out of the playoffs again. Now, the team is truly starting over with Payton heading into 2024.

The Broncos haven’t made the playoffs since Peyton Manning and Von Miller led the team to the Super Bowl 50 crown. Will the drought continue, or can Payton build this team back up in a hurry. Let’s dive into the Broncos’ 2024 story.

Off-Season Changes

To no one’s surprise, the Broncos parted ways with Wilson this off-season. The team ate an enormous cap hit to do it, one that will impact the team’s salary cap for two seasons. The Broncos also parted ways with defensive star safety Justin Simmons and saw starting linebacker Josey Jewell leave for the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos additionally traded starting receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns and lost starting center Lloyd Cushenberry to the Tennessee Titans.

In free agency, the Broncos added affordable veterans Brandon Jones at safety and Cody Barton at linebacker. The team also added defensive end Malcolm Roach and former Giants’ tackle Matt Peart. The team signed Josh Reynolds from the Detroit Lions to bolster the receiver group. Reynolds caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. Finally, the team bolstered its quarterback unit by trading for former Jet Zach Wilson.

In the draft, the Broncos made another move at quarterback, using the No. 12 overall pick on former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. Nix played the last two seasons at Oregon after starting his collegiate career at Auburn. He threw for 8,101 yards and 74 touchdowns, completing nearly 75 percent of his passes. He figures to be in the mix for the Broncos. The Broncos grabbed his Oregon teammate, receiver Troy Franklin, in the Fourth Round and snagged former Notre Dame back Audric Estime in the Fifth Round.

Fantasy Prospects

Quarterback will be an open competition. The Broncos have Jarrett Stidham—who started two games to close 2023—as the current starter on the depth chart. But Stidham will compete in camp with Wilson and Nix. I think Nix plays at some point, but likely not Week 1. I also think it’s possible that all three play at some point. Nix is the QB I want in dynasty, but for 2024 I wouldn’t trust any of them more than a low-end QB3 or a QB4. I think Stidham starts the season and ends up around QB33.

In the backfield, Javonte Williams projects as the lead back, with Samaje Perine, Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin back with the squad. So, what does it all mean for fantasy? Will all four be involved? I think only three make the active roster. It feels like a wide-open competition with one of these four being left out. For fantasy, I like Williams as an RB3, with Estime and McLaughlin ending up being depth and deep league flex considerations. Perine is one to watch, though he might be the most likely training camp cut.

Among receivers, the big question is whether Courtland Sutton is moved. The Broncos sweetened his deal in Training Camp, but I wouldn’t rule out a trade. If Sutton is there, he’s the only receiver I trust week-to-week for fantasy, and even then, more as a WR4. Franklin and Marvin Mims are good dynasty prospects, but I suspect both will be frustrating week-to-week. I’m not trusting Tim Patrick or Reynolds, either. I’m also staying away at tight end. The team has veteran Adam Trautman, prospect Lucas Krull, and still has Greg Dulcich. Dulcich hasn’t been able to stay healthy, so I don’t think any tight end is a good week-to-week play.

Prediction

The Broncos finally moved to really tear it down in 2024, and that is a needed thing. But it doesn’t bode well for the product on the field in 2024. I think the team will struggle, mightily, on offense and defense, and will look to use more cap space and better draft picks next off-season to take another step forward. It’s going to be a long season for Broncos’ fans.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.