INDIANAPOLIS — Armed with roughly $52 million in salary cap space and equipped with seven draft picks, the Broncos are positioned to climb into contention.
The process starts in earnest this week in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine, a footballapalooza of the top 300 draft picks, general managers, coaches and agents. This is where plans crystallize, sometimes during player interviews and other times at bars with ill-fated trades written on napkins.
To be a factor in January, the Broncos must excel in February and March.
“We know that this offseason will be a critical one for us to build for the future,” owner and CEO Greg Penner said last month. “We want to get back to competing for championships every year. That’s our goal.”
Snapping an eight-season playoff drought and a streak of seven straight losing seasons stabilized the franchise. So, too, did drafting a franchise quarterback in Bo Nix. But he needs help as the Broncos face difficult decisions in the draft and free agency, including who to keep internally.
Coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton are scheduled to meet the media on Tuesday afternoon. It will be their first availability since the end-of-season-presser five weeks ago after the Bills eliminated the Broncos in the playoffs. Payton is not about to reveal a strategy, but will likely provide insight on the draft classes at tight end, running back, defensive line and safety, positions with potential upgrades.
He classifies his offseason pursuits in terms of “musts, needs and wants.”
Paton, as the man responsible for making the cap fit and dealing with contracts, could cover ground on the wants. How much do the Broncos want Courtland Sutton back? Will Paton meet with the receiver’s agent at the combine? And who are the priorities internally in free agency? Nose tackle D.J. Jones? Linebacker Cody Barton? Special teamers Riley Dixon and Tremon Smith? Will he attempt to re-sign Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson as Nix’s backup?
Or will the Broncos allocate more money to make a run at Philadelphia All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun or Vikings running back Aaron Jones?
The Broncos have made significant strides over the past two years. They are no longer knee-deep in dead money or searching for a quarterback. But it does not make this offseason any less interesting or important.
“So what do we do? We just keep building. You draft and you develop,” Paton said. “You’re selective in free agency, but you may make a splash. We’re always trying to build this thing.”
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