The Denver Broncos are gearing up for another run, and fans have plenty of reasons to be excited—but there's one glaring hole in the roster that could make or break their season.
After a stellar 2025 campaign that saw the Broncos win the AFC West for the first time since 2015 and advance to the AFC Championship, the team decided to keep things mostly intact. Instead of a major overhaul, Denver focused on continuity, re-signing key free agents and making one blockbuster move: trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. That addition alone has the offense looking sharper than ever, with a versatile deep threat to complement an already potent passing game.
But while the offense appears set, the defense—which nearly set a record for most sacks in a single season last year—has a significant question mark. The Broncos lost defensive end John Franklin-Myers to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, and that leaves a gaping hole on the right side of the defensive line.
On the left side, Zach Allen is a force to be reckoned with. The first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler racked up seven sacks, six pass deflections, and a career-high 47 QB hits in 2025. He can stop the run, disrupt passing lanes, and get to the quarterback with ease. But even the best need help, and right now, the Broncos don't have a proven starter opposite him.
ESPN's Aaron Schatz recently highlighted this as Denver's biggest remaining roster hole. "First-team All-Pro Zach Allen holds down the left end spot in Denver's 3-4 base defense, but who will be on the right side?" Schatz wrote. "Eyioma Uwazurike is in his fifth season with the Broncos and has started only one game. He played 36% of Denver's defensive snaps last season. Last year's third-round pick, Sai'vion Jones, played only 2.9% of snaps."
For a team that prides itself on a dominant defense, that's a risky bet. The Broncos are essentially running it back with a championship-caliber roster, but if they can't find a reliable right defensive end, opposing quarterbacks might have just enough time to exploit the weakness. Whether through a trade or a late free-agent signing, Denver's front office will need to act fast to keep that defensive line as formidable as it was last season.