Can we expect any other major moves before the season kicks off? If so, what do you see happening during training camp? 

— Terry, Denver 

Hey Terry, I’m filling in for Parker Gabriel this week while he is on vacation. This is a great question. I’ve wrestled with this one since Denver signed Frank Clark.

At the moment, I don’t see the Broncos making a major move, but it wouldn’t hurt to add more depth at the defensive line or offensive tackle.

Coach Sean Payton has been optimistic about Javonte Williams’ recovery from a torn ACL. However, if the team feels Williams won’t be ready by Week 1, I can see them adding another running back despite having a handful of players in that position. Free agent Dalvin Cook would make the offense even stronger, but it’s highly unlikely they will sign him due to the cap situation. Running back Kareem Hunt or even Leonard Fournette would make more sense for Denver.

If the Broncos decide to make another move before the season, there are quality players on the market to choose from.

I am not sold on bringing Vance Joseph back to Denver. Change my mind, please, change my mind. 

— Rip, Aurora

I can understand the concern, especially after an unpleasant head coaching stint with the Broncos. But Joseph’s familiarity with the franchise and his aggressive defensive scheme make Payton’s decision to bring him back to Denver understandable.

Joseph’s last season with the Arizona Cardinals wasn’t great, as their defense ranked 31st in points allowed. In Denver, however, Joseph will have a more talented defense led by cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons. They also added Clark and defensive end Zach Allen and re-signed inside linebacker Alex Singleton.

The Broncos’ defense was solid for a good chunk of 2022, allowing 17 points in their first 12 games. If Denver can stay healthy, I’m optimistic that Joseph can make it work.

Wanted to see if there has been any talk about ownership updating the Broncos uniforms. Have always loved the old school D logo and hope they bring it back. Are you team old school or new school? 

— Trevor, Aurora 

Hey Trevor, thanks for writing. I’ve been a fan of the old school D logo even though the current design is pretty cool as well. It would be interesting to see the team’s alternate helmet design. I think incorporating the D logo would make sense.

What can we really expect here in Broncos Country this year, is saying making the postseason a bit much? Just feel like a slimmed down Russ and new staff have a lot to show us fans. 

— Matt, Denver 

Great question, Matt. I think eight to nine wins should be a reasonable expectation for Denver this season. In fact, I predicted the Broncos to finish with a 9-8 record. Denver should be in good hands under Payton, who has a track record for winning. Under Payton’s guidance and a revamped offensive line, I expect Wilson to bounce back.

Defensively, they will be solid, especially if Randy Gregory can stay on the field and young players like outside linebacker Nik Bonitto can make strides in Year 2.

Love the article and I am a first time inquirer. What is the current situation with the TE room? It appears they have numerous pass catchers so just wondering how it may pan out.

— Drew, Bangkok, Thailand

What’s up, Drew? Thanks for writing. Sean Payton is very high on second-year tight end Greg Dulcich, who showed promise as a rookie despite dealing with a hamstring injury. Payton referred to Dulcich as “The Joker,” meaning he can do multiple things on the field from blocking to pass catching. With that said, Dulcich will continue to be the team’s starting tight end. And if you are into fantasy football, he is one player to look at.

Payton mentioned Albert Okwuegbunam has made progress during the team’s offseason program. He also fits that mold as an athletic tight end who can make plays in the passing game. I think he and Adam Trautman, who the Broncos traded for during the NFL Draft, will be fighting for that second-string spot.

Chris Manhertz adds value in run blocking, pass protection and special teams.

This is an interesting position group to watch during training camp.

You shared a very interesting stat in the Mailbag that the Broncos were 4-9 in 1 score games last season. That should give Broncoland a lot of hope. To put it plainly, the Broncos were a poorly coached team last season. This was evident by silly things like delay of game penalties, frequent inability to get 11 players on the field, utter confusion on the o-line in pass protection (I believe one of the guards was making the line calls). On top of that, it seems like the player development was almost non-existent. These all seem to be areas where Sean Payton has excelled. Do you think this will be enough to overcome the “holes’ in the roster and at least yield a winning record? Mike Shanahan went 8-8 his first year as HC of the Broncos after Wade Phillips was fired after going 7-9. Not much difference on the W/L, but Shanahan’s first year had a very different vibe.

— Larry, Littleton

Hey, Larry. The Broncos having Payton in the building is huge, and players are already seeing the benefits from it. Payton doesn’t seem like a guy who’s trying to waste time, and he wants to win right away. I think that kind of attitude is needed after six straight losing seasons.

To answer your question, I think the Broncos have enough pieces in place to have a winning season. Now, I’m not expecting a 12-win season, but nine victories is realistic for this squad. I’ve said in a previous question that I think Wilson will have a better season with an improved offensive line and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick finally playing together on a consistent basis (fingers crossed).

I’m not too worried about the defense except for the depth at defensive line. They are really going to need guys like Matt Henningsen and Eyioma Uwazurike to take the next step.

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