The Denver Broncos are heading into the 2026 season with a chip on their shoulder. After falling just one game short of the Super Bowl—largely due to a season-ending injury to star quarterback Bo Nix in the Divisional Round—last season left a bitter taste in the Mile High City. There's no doubt about what this team is capable of; if not for that cruel twist of fate, they might have been the ones hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Now, the Broncos have their sights set on what they believe is rightfully theirs: a Super Bowl victory. And according to The Athletic's Austin Mock, they have a fighting chance. Denver's roster ranks No. 7 in the league following the draft, signaling that the front office has been busy building a contender.

The headline move of the offseason? A blockbuster trade to bring in dynamic wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. In exchange for draft capital, the Broncos landed a proven 1,000-yard weapon who instantly upgrades one of the team's thinnest positions. Waddle joins a retooled offense that also re-signed running back J.K. Dobbins and kept together a top-five offensive line. After a season of offensive inconsistency, Denver looks poised to be far more explosive in 2026.

But while the offense gets a facelift, the defense—which carried much of the load during last year's 14-3 campaign—has seen some key departures. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw left after an underwhelming season, and defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers walked in free agency. That means Denver will need younger players to step up in a big way.

Still, this remains one of the NFL's better defensive units. Edge rusher Zach Allen, alongside linebackers Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton, will anchor the run game, while the secondary continues to rank among the league's best in pass coverage. As the old saying goes, defense wins championships—and the Broncos are banking on that formula to carry them back to the promised land.