How far can the Broncos go in 2023?

From a new head coach to new helmets, what do the Denver Broncos look like heading into the new season? 

After all the high expectations of the 2022 season came crashing down in Denver, the Walton-Penner ownership group blew up their project and started from scratch. 

On Boxing Day last year, following their humiliating 51-14 loss at the hands of the LA Rams on national television on Christmas Day, the then 4-11 Denver Broncos parted company with first year head coach Nathaniel Hackett. 

Finishing with a record of 5-12, devoid of draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft after the trade for nine-time All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson in March, and without a head coach, 2022 was an unmitigated disaster for the Broncos. 

This offseason they had to make a seismic change to alter the ever-downward trajectory of the franchise ever since their Super Bowl 50 win in the 2015 season. 

A series of mediocre seasons finishing under .500 for six consecutive years has seen a franchise that once competed consistently in the post-season fall by the wayside into mediocrity. 

Payton the saviour for Denver

On Monday, February 6, however, the Walton-Penner family group announced their first big splash of the offseason, their head coaching search was complete and they announced that Super Bowl winning head coach Sean Payton would take the reigns at Mile High. 

After a lengthy process that saw a host of names passed around such as Jim Harbaugh and DeMeco Ryans, the Broncos got their head coach, first choice or not, and the mood in Denver was lifted.

The move cost the Broncos their 2023 first round pick, which they acquired from the Miami Dolphins in a trade with edge Bradley Chubb at the trade deadline in November, but top quality coaching will always come at a premium. 

Payton brings an considerable element of prestige to the role and many believe he can be the key to reviving Russell Wilson’s career, like he did with Drew Brees in New Orleans. 

Need to get the best out of Wilson

Wilson had an abysmal season in 2022 and after the Broncos gave up a considerable haul to get Wilson last offseason they will be looking for considerable improvements from the former Super Bowl champion quarterback. 

Under the interim coaching of Jerry Rosburg to close out the 2022 season, Wilson showed signs of improvement, more akin to his former self that we saw in Seattle, including a play in which he nicely extended the play by rolling out of the pocket left and finding Jerry Jeudy with a beautiful throw down the sideline to Jeudy inside the five yard line against the Chargers in week 18. 

We saw glimpses of Wilson’s ability throughout the season but he was never consistent in his production and had far too many turnovers, something that one would expect to improve under Payton.

Payton’s offensive mind will hopefully come to good use in Denver after years of sub-par offensive play calling from Pat Shurmur in the Vic Fangio era. 

Impressive free agency pickups

The offseason free agency pickups that the Broncos have made would suggest that they’re moving to a more run-heavy system that may open up vertical passing options later in the game to suit Wilson’s ‘gun-ho’ play style. 

The signings of good run blocking offensive linemen, tackle Mike McGlinchey, and guard, Ben Powers and blocking tight end, Chirs Manhertz suggest a more run first approach. 

However, historically, Sean Payton has used a more vertical west coast offensive play calling philosophy, a quicker and shorter passing game which allowed the smaller Drew Brees to get the ball out quickly and then open up the vertical passing game and longer running opportunities. 

Payton may look to adapt his offense from New Orleans to accommodate Wilson’s considerable arm and maybe try to add more running plays to his early down play calling sheet in Denver.

Little room to improve in the upcoming draft

In addition to the 2023, first round pick the Broncos also gave up a 2024 second round pick in the compensation package for Payton. 

Meaning, in the 2023 NFL draft the Broncos only have five total picks in the draft and their first selection isn’t until 67th overall (when they then pick back to back at 68th overall as well) at the top of the third round. 

George Paton is a strong drafter in the mid-rounds of the draft and has selected a number of valuable players for the Broncos in the middle of the NFL draft in his previous two drafts as the general manager of the Broncos. 

If the Broncos are going to compete deep in the season then he’ll have to work his magic once again in Kansas City.

More changes ahead

Off the field the Broncos have been teasing fans with the potential introduction of new uniforms from the 2024 season onwards, something which has gone down well in Broncos country. 

In a survey passed out to fans in autumn 2022, the fans could give their opinions on four concept designs that the team had come up with and make suggestions to help the team design new uniforms that reflected the fans’ opinions.

While there hasn’t been news regarding new uniforms yet the Broncos did unveil their teaser for new alternate helmets that will be debuting in ‘fall 2023’ this year. 

Many Broncos insiders later went on to confirm that the idea is to introduce alternate white helmets for the coming season, similar to those introduced by the Cincinnati Bengals last offseason.

Many have speculated whether this is the precursor for a uniform overhaul next offseason and whether Denver might see the return of their old ‘D’ logo. 

Although they’re only minor changes, uniform overhauls can transform the identity of a franchise and make the team more appealing to fans, and with team president Damani Leach getting involved with the uniform discussions on twitter with fans it feels like the franchise values the fans’ opinions on the matter.

Predicting how 2023 will play out

Whether it’s off the field or on the field the Broncos have begun to make steps this offseason to improve the team’s trajectory and appearance to hopefully see an upturn in performance and a return to the franchise’s past glory. 

While it’s too early to firmly predict how the Broncos’ season will pan out it would be safe to say we’d expect to see an improvement in their fundamental and disciplinary play (the Broncos were the most penalised team in the NFL in 2022) and there should be a marked improvement in their competitiveness late in the season.

They may not make a playoff run, or even make the playoffs at all, but they should be playing some competitive December football at the very least.