The Denver Broncos were considered one of the big winners of the offseason ahead of the 2022 campaign because they traded for future Hall of Fame QB Russell Wilson. Except things definitely didn’t turn out as planned. Here’s an analysis of the 2023 Denver Broncos.

A Closer Look at the Denver Broncos 2023 NFL Season

"We've got a good group of receivers. … They work hard."

WRs Coach Keary Colbert impressed with veteran-heavy room as #BroncosCamp approaches » https://t.co/PAKEicVl6j pic.twitter.com/dmibmsJxdG

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 23, 2023

• NFL Week 1: vs. Las Vegas Raiders — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 2: vs. Washington Commanders — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 3: at Miami Dolphins — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 4: at Chicago Bears — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 5: vs. New York Jets — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs — 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• NFL Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 8: vs. Kansas City Chiefs — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 9: BYE
• NFL Week 10: at Buffalo Bills — 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• NFL Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings — 8:20p.m. ET (NBC)
• NFL Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns — 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 13: at Houston Texans — 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 14: at Los Angeles Chargers — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 15: at Detroit Lions — TBD (TBD)
• NFL Week 16: vs. New England Patriots — 8:15 p.m. ET (NFLN)
• NFL Week 17: vs. Los Angeles Chargers — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 18: at Las Vegas Raiders — TBD (TBD)

What happened last season?

In March 2022, the Broncos traded tight end Noah Fant, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive end Shelby Harris, 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, 2022 and 2023 second-round picks and a 2022 fifth-round pick to Seattle for Wilson and a 2023 fourth-round pick. It’s early… but a huge loss for Denver as both the Broncos and Wilson tanked to a 5-12 record last year.

Broncos ownership is hoping that former coach Nathaniel Hackett was the problem. The offense was in such disarray under Hackett that he wasn’t even allowed to finish his first season, canned at 4-11. It was the shortest tenure of any non-interim head coach in franchise history. Josh McDaniels had the previous shortest tenure as the team’s non-interim head coach in the post-AFL-NFL merger era. He was fired in 2010 with four games remaining in his second season on the job. The Broncos were 3-9 when he was fired.

Last year, Denver missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, the longest playoff drought since the franchise’s earliest years, when it missed the playoffs between 1960 and 1976. Wilson started 15 of the Broncos’ 17 games last season after being traded from the Seahawks, taking a career high in sacks (55) and registering career lows in TD passes (16) and completion percentage (60.5).

The new head coach is Sean Payton, considered one of the most gifted offensive minds in the sport who won a Super Bowl in New Orleans with Drew Brees. Payton went 152-89 in 15 seasons as Saints head coach. The Saints got the Broncos’ 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) and their 2024 second-round pick for Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third-round selection.

“Here’s what I know: (Wilson is) a hard worker,” Payton said. “I know he’s an extremely hard worker. That’s important. And I think you take that skillset, he’s won a lot of games in Seattle. … Then you go from there.”

Latest Upgrades

The team upgraded in front of Wilson by adding free agent offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers. McGlinchey spent the first five seasons of his career with the 49ers, for whom he started all 69 games in which he appeared. McGlinchey posted the 10th-best run-blocking grade among all NFL tackles with at least 1,000 snaps in 2022 and also allowed the ninth-fewest quarterback pressures among that same grouping.

Powers allowed just one sack in 2022 with Baltimore according to Pro Football Focus. He was one of just 10 guards with at least 1,000 snaps to allow one or fewer sacks. He was also just one of six guards to play at least 1,000 snaps and be whistled for just one penalty. Powers also gave up just one quarterback hit (tied for second fewest among guards with 1,000 snaps) and 13 quarterback pressures (second fewest). His pass-blocking efficiency of 98.8 was the second highest among guards who reached those snap totals.

McGlinchey (five years, $87.5 million) and Powers (four years, $51.5 million) signed two of the four largest contracts awarded in the league to offensive linemen who switched teams this offseason. One big offensive question is whether running back Javonte Williams will be ready for Week 1 off a torn ACL suffered during his second season. Just in case, the team signed Samaje Perine in free agency.

The 27-year-old hasn’t carried the ball more than 95 times since his rookie year in 2017 and has had fewer than 65 carries in four of those seasons. But at 5-foot-11, 240 pounds, Payton said he envisions Perine as an “every-down back’’ who could both be the team’s No. 1 ballcarrier if Williams isn’t ready for the start of the season or a back who can play in any situation in any rotation the Broncos have.

Does Denver have a tough season ahead?

Denver’s schedule is ranked as the 12th toughest in the NFL this season as its opponents combined for a .512 winning percentage last year. The Broncos are -3.5 for their opener at home vs. Las Vegas on Sept. 10. The Raiders have won six straight in the series. It was 22-16 in OT in Denver last year as Derek Carr hit a wide-open Davante Adams with a 35-yard touchdown pass on the third play of overtime. Carr is now with the Saints.

The Broncos will play back-to-back home games on four occasions this season, including a Week 2 meeting with the Commanders. Denver last opened the season with two consecutive home games in 2018, and the Broncos won both of those matchups to start 2-0.

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READ MORE: Denver Broncos 2023 NFL Season Betting Guide