Top 10 Denver Broncos Players Going Into the 2025-26 Season
The Broncos experienced a renaissance season. Many people, myself included, thought 2024 would be a long season for Denver. However, the Broncos were able to prove all the doubters wrong, and they surprised a lot of people.Sean Payton has rounded this team into being decent again. They made the playoffs for the first time since they won the Super Bowl in Peyton Manning's final season.
Turns out Bo Nix is pretty good. If you're a Broncos fan, you have a lot to be excited about. They have a legitimate chance to take back the AFC West for the first time in years.
I wouldn't call them Super Bowl contenders just yet, but they're certainly close to it.
Honestly, the most clear-cut best player on the Broncos has to be the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Nobody else even has a case.
Surtain is arguably the top cornerback in the entire league. He was First Team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. He was a complete menace week in and week out, just locking down the opposing wide receivers he faced every week.
The Broncos have themselves an elite cornerback for years to come and a potential Hall of Fame candidate. The scary thing is he's only 25 and is entering just his 5th season in the league. So far, he's made 3 consecutive Pro Bowls and 2 First Team All-Pro appearances.
Quinn Meinerz has started every game over the last 2 years and was named First Team All-Pro in 2024. He was among the highest-graded offensive guards in the NFL last season.
He signed a contract extension, and for very good reason. He is arguably the best player on the Broncos' offensive line. A true diamond in the rough draft pick from the 2021 draft class, which is so far looking like it's paying off in dividends for the Broncos.
Meinerz is just another example. I got a good feeling he will be staying with Mile High for a long time.
Nik Bonitto broke out in a big way in 2024. He finished the 2024 season with 13.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits, 33 solo tackles, and 48 total tackles.
He was named to the Pro Bowl and was named Second Team All-Pro last year. Safe to say he's hit his stride and should continue to be an elite defensive player for years to come. I'm sure the Broncos will give him a nice contract extension.
I thought Bo Nix would struggle in his rookie season. Turns out he proved me wrong. He threw 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and totaled 3,775 yards. Honestly, very respectable numbers for a rookie quarterback.
He proved that he can be the Broncos' long-term quarterback of the future with a cast of weapons around him that were mediocre at best. Denver has been looking for their next franchise quarterback for a long time. They may have finally found one.
As long as Bo Nix is healthy, the Broncos will have a competitive team. Funny what having a solid quarterback can do for a team. It's honestly not outlandish to say that Bo Nix is flirting with being a top 10 quarterback across the league.
Garett Bolles has started every game over the last two seasons. He's become one of the most steady and consistent players on the team.
He finally got things going in late 2019 and had his breakout season in 2020. Since then, he's remained one of the better left tackles in the NFL. Sure, he's a bit underrated and doesn't have the accolades, but he's still a reliable left tackle, which is a pretty important position.
A good left tackle can make all of the difference.
Jahdae Barron was a highly regarded draft prospect for a reason. This guy can play multiple positions, making him very versatile. The Broncos are counting on him to be a true stud in their secondary.
He has a very high ceiling, and he has the accolades to back it up (First Team All-SEC, a Consensus All-American, and winner of the Jim Thorpe Award). He had 67 tackles last year for the Longhorns, 46 being solo tackles, and a career-high 5 interceptions.
Now he gets paired with Patrick Surtain. Look out, AFC West. The Broncos have themselves a No Fly Zone.
Courtland Sutton isn't really talked about enough. He always seems to fly under the radar. He's been their undisputed Wide Receiver 1 for years now, and that will continue to be the case in 2025 as well.
Sutton is coming off a strong 2024 season (his best since 2019) with a career-high 81 receptions, over 1,000 yards, and 8 touchdowns.
There isn't a whole lot to say here. He's just quietly been one of the most consistent and productive wide receivers in the NFL. He's not necessarily elite, but he's been a reliable, steady contributor for Bo Nix to throw to.
Zach Allen had the best season of his career for Denver in 2025 with career highs in sacks (8.5), solo tackles (32), and total tackles (61), and the most quarterback hits of his career (40).
He was one of the more underrated defensive linemen in the league and was named Second Team All-Pro. I bet the Broncos try and extend his contract, which expires at the end of this season.
Mike McGlinchey is a solid starter. He's overall decent at both run blocking and pass protection. His 2024 season looked a lot better than his 2023 season.
The Broncos boast one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and McGlinchey is a big reason why.
Marvin Mims has really thrived as the Broncos' punt return specialist. He was able to make a Pro Bowl and was named First Team All-Pro last season.
He's also made significant strides as a wide receiver too, with 6 touchdowns and 500 yards, a big improvement on his rookie season.
He still has a ton of upside and has done enough to earn a starting spot. The question remains, in what capacity?