The Denver Broncos' next phase of their offseason program kicks off on Tuesday, moving the team another step closer to a return to action for the 2025 NFL season. Organized Team Activities (OTAs) kick off the third phase of offseason workouts, allowing teams to get into some more simulated football activity as they try to prep for the season ahead. But for the Broncos specifically, some questions loom across the roster that create plenty of intrigue and upside for an upstart nucleus from 2024.
Who are the potential breakout players? What position battles loom large? Are there any new deals coming?
Here is everything you need to know as Denver starts OTAs this week.
Which wide receiver steps up to the plate to absorb vacated snaps?
The departure of Lil'Jordan Humphrey vacates nearly 550 offensive snaps at wide receiver for Denver. Between the draft investment in Pat Bryant with a top-100 draft selection, the free agency addition of Trent Sherfield, and last year's mid-round pick in Troy Franklin, the Broncos have some options.
The writing on the wall with interest in physical players like Sherfield and Bryant doesn't necessarily bode well for Franklin, especially given how Humphrey was a big, physical blocking presence for the Broncos at the position last year.
The competition should be healthy regardless and Denver would certainly benefit from someone else evolving into a reliable target for their young quarterback, Bo Nix. Nix being so out of sync with Franklin last year was surprising given their pre-existing chemistry from joint time with the Oregon Ducks before arriving in Denver. If Denver is content to let Evan Engram be their middle of the field receiving upgrade, look for one of the big-bodied receivers to gain traction. Sherfield has a good body of work as a valuable ancillary member of wide receiver rooms but Bryant has the backing of a bigger investment on his side.
How fast can rookie running back RJ Harvey master the little things?
RJ Harvey is an explosive play waiting to happen with the ball in his hands if you get him in the open field but it will be the little things that he'll need to show he's gotten under control if he's going to be the player Sean Payton hopes he will be.
Harvey was credited with 25 pressures on just over 200 pass protection snaps across his last three years at UCF and fumbled six times in 576 rushes across those three seasons, too. The ball security was better in 2024, which is the good news. But issues with ball security and protecting the quarterback have put a great number of running backs in the coaching doghouse early in their career — making it a critical element of Harvey's onboarding process to master.
Will a young offensive lineman emerge to bolster the depth up front?
Denver is on a generational run of durability up front. All five starters from the 2023 season played at least 946 offensive snaps. The sixth offensive lineman that year was Cameron Fleming, who played just 126 snaps. Then, last season, the Broncos had three starting offensive lineman log over 1,060 snaps — while Mike McGlinchey and Luke Wattenberg played between 825 to 850 snaps apiece.
That much consistency up front is rare. Alex Forsyth was Denver's sixth offensive lineman in 2024 and still played less than 300 snaps.
With all of that in mind, the Broncos added Clay Webb from Jacksonville State and Xavier Truss from Georgia as two undrafted linemen that many draftniks felt could hear their name called on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Will one of them emerge to help further bolster one of the league's least tested offensive line depth charts the last two seasons?
Is the time now for Drew Sanders?
Sanders was dealt an awful hand for the start of his NFL career. The Achilles injury he suffered last spring cost him nearly all of the 2024 season — he clearly has talent as a hybrid player but has yet to settle in to a full offseason install and prep. Denver brought in star linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency to serve as Alex Singleton's running mate off the ball. Can Sanders find a niche role as a hybrid rusher?
Will the Broncos hand out any extensions before training camp?
There are a number of very gifted players in Denver prepping to go into a contract year in 2025. Zach Allen is an underrated star who is entering the last year of a three-year agreement. Nik Bonnito has become a disruptive force off the edge and set to play the final year of his rookie contract. John Franklin-Myers was an absolute steal for the Broncos last offseason via trade with the New York Jets. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton's contract is set to void after 2025. Mid-level starters like Alex Singleton and Luke Wattenberg are also in the final year of their respective deals.
Denver is projected to have plenty of cap space and has the luxury of a starting quarterback on a rookie contract for another four seasons — an eternity in the NFL. So the question is who garner's the front office's attention first and will they take advantage of being together in the building these next few weeks to make a deal come together?
