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An Overview of the Denver Broncos Defense
No team was more full of surprises in 2024 than the Broncos. No one outside of the organization expected much from them. Not only did they put out the dumpster fire that was their 2023 season, but Denver became a contender. The offense clicked under their young signal caller, and the defense, which was a disaster in 2023, played championship-caliber football.
The 2024 Broncos were 14th against the pass. That was their worst statistic, and it was up from 28th the previous year. The run defense improved from 30th to 3rd, their 25 turnovers ranked 7th, and Denver led the league with 63 sacks. All of that added up to a stingy unit ranking third at 18.3 points per game.
As we would expect after such a successful campaign, the team made only a few personnel changes on the defensive side. The moves they did make stand to further improve the starting lineup. Free agency brought in linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga, both of whom could be starters, and the draft netted first-round corner Jahdae Barron, who is expected to be on the field early. The organization went on to add depth on the edge in rounds three and four.
Everyone keeps talking about the Chiefs going back to another Super Bowl. If the Broncos' defense plays better than it did last year, Kansas City might not make it out of the division.
Denver Broncos Defensive Linemen
Great defense starts with the battle in the trenches. Denver won that fight last year. The Broncos were one of two teams to hold opponents under four yards per carry. That kind of success doesn't happen unless the interior line dominates much of the time, and every team would love to get 49.5 sacks from the guys up front. So, what can we expect in 2025? Let's just say that all five starters and the top backups are returning.
When it comes to fantasy value, one big plus for Denver defenders is that they stay on the field. Edge defensers Jonathon Cooper and Nick Bonitto, and tackle Zach Allen all played more than 760 snaps last season, with Allen logging 1031. All three of these guys were significant fantasy contributors.
Allen emerged as an IDP candidate in his third season with the Cardinals (2021). When he signed with Denver in 2023, there were concerns that it could have a negative impact on his numbers. Instead, we have seen him continue to improve statistically each year. With 60 combined stops, 5 sacks, and a forced fumble, he broke into the top 20 in his first year with the Broncos. Allen built on that last season, going 32-29-8, and climbing into the top ten for the first time.
Allen is a great fit in Denver's penetrating, disruptive 3-4 scheme, but his numbers have to level off sometime. If that happens in 2025, he is still a solid DT1. If he has not finished climbing the ladder, Allen has a shot at elite status this season.
John Franklin-Myers lines up at the other outside tackle spot with D.J. Jones seeing most of the action at nose tackle, and Malcolm Roach rotating in equally. There is enough production available for one of these guys to become an IDP consideration. The problem comes back to that snap count thing again.
Franklin-Myers finished last season with 40 tackles and 7 sacks on 569 plays. Give him 200 more opportunities, and he becomes at least a good second starter for us. Jones had 40 tackles and a sack on 510 plays, while Roach went 18-25-2.5 on 524, and Jordan Jackson had 17 tackles and a sack on 329. This is a strong rotation of veteran players who were a big part of last year's success for their team. Unless something changes, they are all doomed to come up short on the stat sheet for our needs.
In Jonathan Cooper and Nick Bonitto, the Broncos have one of the league's great tandems at the edge position. The organization stole Cooper in the seventh round in 2021, adding Bonitto in the second round in 2022. Cooper spent his first two seasons working in a rotational/backup role. he earned the starting job in 2023. When that year started, he was a little-known, former third-day pick who was seen by many as a stopgap until the team could better address the situation. When the season ended, he was the seventh-ranked edge defender with 72 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 turnovers, 2 batted passes, and a score.
Cooper's tackles and overall point total slipped slightly in 2024, but he managed double-digit sacks for the first time. With 58 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, he checked in at DE11. That would be a reasonable expectation for 2025.
The curve was a bit sharper for Bonitto. He played sparingly as a rookie. In 2023, he had a significant role in the rotation, leading to 36 stops and 8 sacks. Bonitto broke out in year three with 13.5 sacks, 4 turnovers, 4 swatted passes, and 2 scores, but he remained on the short side in the tackle columns at 33-15. The touchdowns inflated his point total to land him third in the final rankings. We can't count on a return to the endzone, but 45-50 tackles and double-digit sacks could very well be his norm for the next several years.
All things considered, Cooper might be the safer pick with better week-to-week consistency. While Bonitto's big-play production gives him a higher ceiling on any given week. I consider them both to be quality second starters.
Rookie Jonah Ellis landed the third-man role in 2024. With no one else seeing much action, he managed a solid 24-13-5 on less than 450 plays. He will not challenge for a starting job, but if Cooper or Bonitto miss time, Ellis could be a great replacement for his team and ours.
The Broncos were lucky when it came to injuries at the edge position. After Ellis, the depth chart was rather bare. You know a team has arrived when they can afford to use third and fourth-round picks on depth. Rookies Sai'vion Jones and Que Robinson will be groomed for bigger things, just in case the team can't resign Bonitto when his contract is up at the end of this season.
- Edge Jonathon Cooper – Quality second starter
- Edge Nik Bonitto – Quality second starter
- Edge Jonah Elliss – Injury sleeper to jump on if one of the starters are lost
- Edge Sai'vion Jones – Developmental rookie/dynasty prospect
- Edge Que Robinson – Developmental rookie/dynasty prospect
- DT Zach Allen – Solid DT1 with top five upside
- DT John Franklin-Myers – Injury sleeper who can be productive with enough snaps
- DT D.J. Jones – Marginal value
- DT Matt Henningsen – No impact expected
- DT Malcolm Roach – Injury sleeper with limited upside
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