ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos' 2025 training camp runs from Tuesday to Aug. 14 at the team's training facility in Englewood, Colorado.
For the first time since 2016, just five months after they won Super Bowl 50, the Broncos will arrive at camp coming off a postseason appearance. Last year's 31-7 wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills was the first playoff game for the team after an eight-season drought.
And while the postseason breakthrough was a welcome sign of progress, Denver coach Sean Payton has made it clear he has bigger aspirations in 2025 and beyond.
"The one thing we have to avoid is this idea that we are going to pick up where we left off," Payton said. "I don't like that ... you take the proverbial game board, you take all the pieces and dump them and you start again. Certainly, you are more confident. The experience has helped a number of players, but the journey begins.
"We don't shy away from it. Our expectations are high ... we are still hungry for more."
Here's a closer look at what we are watching in camp -- and a 53-man roster projection:
Are the Broncos truly ready to slug it out with the league's best?
With one of the NFL's best defenses, the Broncos showed plenty of backbone last season, and then-rookie quarterback Bo Nix was a welcome solution at a position that has vexed the franchise since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. But Denver took advantage of a friendly schedule to make the playoffs.
Eight of the Broncos' 10 wins came against teams with a losing record, with the Week 18 playoff-clinching win coming against a Chiefs team that sat most of its starters and several top backups. The Broncos' wins came against teams that finished a combined 64-90 (.415), while their seven losses were to teams that finished 67-35 (.657). They played five teams which made the playoffs, and their Week 3 win over the Buccaneers was their only victory over a postseason team playing its full allotment of starters.
Based on last season's results, the Broncos have nine games against playoff teams, including two against the AFC champion Chiefs and one against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. Denver also plays a Bengals team that just missed the playoffs in 2024.
Three players to watch
QB Bo Nix. Nix's head-down, do-the-work approach last season won over his teammates and coaches, helping him throw 29 touchdown passes. He has been seen early and often at the Broncos' complex this offseason. Nix is aware that defenses will adjust their approach to him, trying to take away the quick throws and reads he relied on as a rookie along with better accounting for his athleticism on scrambles and designed QB run plays.
WR Marvin Mims Jr. Mims' usage has been a consistent riddle for Payton. Mims is gifted with the ball in his hands, as shown by his first-team All-Pro selection last season as a punt returner and two Pro Bowl appearances in that role. Despite that, he started last season with nine games with one or zero receptions before getting more action down the stretch. Mims said during minicamp that the coaches have big plans for him and that he's ready for more, and the Broncos need another receiver to step up opposite Courtland Sutton.
S Talanoa Hufanga. Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw were signed in free agency from the 49ers. Both players have fought injuries in recent seasons and carry that question mark into their first year with the Broncos. But if healthy, they could make an already top-tier defense even better. Hufanga, a first-team All-Pro in 2022, could have a particularly strong impact, bringing physicality, versatility and the game-changing plays the Broncos need to prevent offenses from avoiding cornerback Pat Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Key position battles
Running back. The Broncos had the highest roster retention in the league this offseason, so they don't have many of the traditional positional battles that many teams do. But with Javonte Williams -- last season's leader in carries and rushing yards -- departing in free agency, there will be a running back battle. The primary combatants will be second-round rookie RJ Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins -- who was signed during the Broncos' June minicamp -- though Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson will also compete.
Jahdae Barron. The first-round rookie isn't a position, but the No. 20 overall pick is the athletic, intelligent, versatile playmaker the Broncos want on their defense. His ability to play outside corner, nickel, safety and dime linebacker will get Barron on the field and create several battles between himself and others for snaps. The coaches have said they want to dial him into cornerback (where he'd battle Riley Moss), but Barron is a quick study who could be ready to play nickel (where he'd compete with Ja'Quan McMillian) or safety (where he'd mix in with Hufanga and Brandon Jones) upon request.
Keep an eye on: The business of conducting business
Payton often says things on the contract front get done when the time is right, but the Broncos approach training camp with some significant contract extensions hanging over their head. The three most notable are Sutton, edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive tackle Zach Allen. After staying away from the voluntary portion of the team's offseason program last year, Sutton was a full participant this offseason. Bonitto is on the last year of his rookie contract and will be an unrestricted free agent. He's coming off a season in which he finished third in the NFL with 13.5 sacks. Allen is looking for a bump after a career season in which he earned second-team All-Pro honors.
53-man roster prediction
QB: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham
RB: J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin
FB: Michael Burton
WR: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Devaughn Vele, Trent Sherfield Sr.
TE: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull
OL: Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Alex Forsyth
DT: Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike
Edge: Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Sai'vion Jones, Que Robinson
LB: Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton, Drew Sanders, Justin Strnad
CB: Pat Surtain II, Jahdae Barron, Ja'Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Draine
S: Brandon Jones, Talanoa Hufanga, P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Delarrin Turner-Yell
Special teams: Wil Lutz (K), Jeremy Crawshaw (P), Mitchell Fraboni (LS)