The Broncos enter 2025 in a different place entirely on offense than this time a year ago.

Bo Nix is entrenched as the starting quarterback and has the potential to be a long-term solution at the position.

The offensive line played well and stayed healthy in 2024 and now stays together going into this fall. Young receivers like Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin showed promise last year and Courtland Sutton put together maybe the best season of his career.

This spring, Denver upgraded substantially at tight end by signing Evan Engram and at running back by adding RJ Harvey in the draft and J.K. Dobbins as a free agent.

There aren’t many starting jobs that are truly up for grabs, though there are roles aplenty to battle for at the skill positions.

So, with that in mind, here’s a two-deep projection that serves more as a starting point than a clean picture of where Sean Payton’s offense will stand when Tennessee comes to town for Week 1 eight weeks from now.

Quarterback

1. Bo Nix

2. Jarrett Stidham

Starting point>> A year ago, Payton spent the offseason program and opening weeks of camp batting away questions about a purported three-man quarterback battle. Now, there’s no reason for any such cat-and-mouse game. Nix is the man and Stidham’s back on a two-year deal to provide continuity in the room and also give the Broncos a chance to stay afloat should Nix miss time.

It will be interesting to see how Sam Ehlinger looks as training camp progresses — there was a point about midway through camp last year where Zach Wilson really came on strong — but Stidham got $7 million guaranteed, so he’s essentially a lock to make the roster. It’d be a stunner if Stidham wasn’t the No. 2 on gamedays behind Nix, who started all 17 games his rookie year and accounted for 34 total touchdowns.

Running back

1. J.K. Dobbins

2. RJ Harvey

Starting point>> The more interesting question is what the running back room will look like in Week 7 or Week 17. Dobbins, just signed last month, got a one-year deal to come in, be a veteran presence in the room and provide juice both in the running game and as a pass protector. He got off to a blistering start with the Los Angeles Chargers last year and should end up the favorite to be the top option to begin this year for Denver.

However, it’s clear Payton’s got big plans for Harvey, the second-round draft pick. Given his explosiveness and also Dobbins’ injury history, expect the Broncos to get Harvey on the field early and often assuming he proves he’s up to the task in camp. That will help his learning curve and also could help keep Dobbins fresh for a stretch run.

There are a host of others like Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson who will be fighting for roles and roster spots.

Wide receiver

1. Courtland Sutton

2. Pat Bryant

1. Marvin Mims Jr.

2. Troy Franklin

1. Devaughn Vele

2. Trent Sherfield

Starting point>> This group looks from here like a pretty straightforward set. Of course, last summer felt the same before the Broncos released Tim Patrick at the end of a productive training camp and then saw Josh Reynolds play in just five games. So there’s always room for surprise. The real question for the Broncos is who separates between Mims, Franklin, Vele and Bryant in the pecking order. If Mims continues on the trajectory he took late in the 2024 season, he could end up leading Denver in receiving yards. Franklin enjoyed a strong offseason program heading into his second pro season. Bryant and Vele each have their own strengths and each do some similar things to Sutton, who still is waiting on a contract extension as he enters the final year of his deal. Sherfield is a special teams guy all the way but is likely to make the roster after getting a nice, two-year contract this spring. So, where’s the surprise going to come from?

Tight end

1. Evan Engram

2. Adam Trautman

Starting point>> There will probably be plenty of times when Engram and Trautman are both on the field — Engram essentially as a slot receiver and Trautman in his normal, in-line alignment. They are very different players with very different strengths.

Engram’s usage will at times look basically like that of a receiver. He projects to be one of Nix’s most-targeted players in the passing game. Trautman, meanwhile, carries on as a longtime trusted Payton player. He saw his offensive work drop from 70% in 2023 to 52% last year, so it will be interesting to see where he checks in this fall. Nobody else in the room approaches Engram’s ability in the passing game — that’s the reason he was such a key free agent addition this fall — though Caleb Lohner could have long-term upside after barely playing football in college and getting drafted in the seventh round. In terms of roles for the 2025 Broncos, however, Nate Adkins is likely next in line after Engram and Trautman.

Offensive line

LT: Garrett Bolles, Matt Peart

LG: Ben Powers, Calvin Throckmorton

C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth

RG: Quinn Meinerz, Alex Palczewski

RT: Mike McGlinchey, Frank Crum

Starting point>> The Broncos return their entire starting group from 2024, when they ranked first in ESPN’s win rates for both run blocking and pass blocking. The continuity is remarkable — four of the starters have been in place for Payton’s entire tenure, with only Wattenberg joining the starting lineup last year. For this exercise, one player is listed as the backup at each position. In reality, it’s Palczewski could be the first man in at either guard spot or right tackle. Crum could show enough developmental potential to be the swing tackle, though Peart held his own in short stints last year, too, and was rewarded with a two-year free agent deal for it. This is going to be a tough group to crack in terms of the 53-man roster. It’s possible or even likely that one of the above players doesn’t make it right out of the chute. Palczewski filled in pretty well for McGlinchey last year, though there’s an open question about how well-equipped Denver would be to fill a long-term injury void at tackle.

Still, as Denver opens camp it should feel like it’s got one of the best groups in football and the kind of functional depth not many teams can boast.