Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos

In the NFL, rebuilding teams are often given 3-5 years to transition from bottom-feeders to contenders—a timeline built around drafting, developing young talent, and refining schemes. But the Denver Broncos have shattered that mold. Entering the 2024 season, most analysts pegged the Broncos as a “work in progress”: a team still sorting out quarterback Russell Wilson’s fit, rebuilding its defense, and lacking the depth to compete in the tough AFC West. Instead, they’ve emerged as one of the league’s biggest surprises—clinching a playoff spot by Week 15, leading the division, and establishing themselves as Super Bowl dark horses. Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos examines how the Broncos defied expectations, the key decisions that accelerated their rebuild, and why their success isn’t just a fluke but a sign of a franchise operating at peak efficiency.

Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos first looks at the pre-season projections that make their 2024 success so remarkable. Leading up to the season, major sports outlets like ESPN, NFL.com, and CBS Sports uniformly predicted the Broncos would finish 3rd or 4th in the AFC West. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gave them just a 28% chance of making the playoffs, while NFL Network’s Peter Schrager called them “a team still figuring out who they are” on his pre-season preview show. Even local Denver media tempered optimism: The Denver Post’s NFL beat writer Ryan O’Halloran wrote, “Broncos fans should expect progress in 2024, but a playoff berth is likely a 2025 goal.” These low expectations weren’t unfounded: the Broncos had gone 5-12 in 2022 and 8-9 in 2023, struggling with inconsistent quarterback play, defensive lapses, and special teams issues. But what made the projections even more notable was the focus on “timeline”: analysts agreed the Broncos’ rebuild would take at least another year to bear fruit. Instead, they’ve flipped the script—turning “next year” into “this year” with a combination of smart moves and unexpected breakout performances.

A critical driver of Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos was the team’s aggressive yet strategic off-season roster construction, which avoided the common rebuild pitfall of overspending on aging free agents. Instead of chasing big-name veterans, general manager George Paton focused on three areas: complementing existing talent, filling specific holes, and adding young players with upside. The biggest move was signing wide receiver Brandin Cooks to a one-year, $11 million deal—a low-risk addition that turned out to be transformative. Cooks joined Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy to form one of the NFL’s deepest WR rooms, giving Wilson the weapons he’d lacked in his first two seasons in Denver. Paton also addressed the defensive line by re-signing Von Miller to a two-year deal (after his 2023 rental) and drafting defensive tackle Matt Henningsen in the third round—moves that strengthened a unit that had ranked 22nd in sacks in 2023. Perhaps most importantly, Paton avoided long-term contracts that could handcuff the team later: 70% of the Broncos’ 2024 free-agent signings were for one or two years, keeping salary cap flexibility intact. “We didn’t want to rush to win now at the cost of future success,” Paton said in a March interview. “But we also didn’t want to wait—we wanted to find that middle ground where we could compete while still building for the future.” That balance is why the Broncos are ahead of schedule: they won now without sacrificing their long-term plan.

Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos also owes much to the impact of head coach Sean Payton, who has accelerated the team’s growth by fixing systemic issues that had plagued the Broncos for years. Payton, hired in 2023 after a year away from coaching, brought a level of discipline and strategic clarity the Broncos hadn’t seen since their Super Bowl 50 days. He simplified Wilson’s role in the offense, focusing on quick reads and play-action passes that played to Wilson’s strengths (rather than forcing him into a pocket-passing style that didn’t suit him). On defense, Payton worked with coordinator Ejiro Evero to refine the scheme, emphasizing gap discipline and ball stripping—changes that led to a jump from 18th to 6th in points allowed per game. Payton also transformed the team’s culture, implementing strict practice schedules, holding players accountable for mistakes, and fostering a “win-now” mindset that had been missing. For the Denver Broncos, Payton’s influence can’t be overstated: he turned a team that lacked direction into one with a clear identity, and he did it in just two seasons—half the time most coaches need to implement a new system. “Sean changed everything,” Wilson said in a November interview. “He gave us a plan, and he made sure everyone bought in. That’s why we’re winning faster than anyone expected.”

Another factor in Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos is the unexpected development of young players, who have stepped up to fill key roles far earlier than projected. Second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., a 2023 second-round pick, was expected to be a “project” in 2024—someone who would contribute on special teams and see limited snaps on offense. Instead, he’s emerged as one of the NFL’s top deep threats, averaging 21.3 yards per catch and scoring 5 touchdowns. Rookie defensive tackle Matt Henningsen, drafted in the third round, was supposed to be a backup behind Miller and Dre’Mont Jones, but he’s started 10 games and recorded 4 sacks—proving to be a reliable run stopper and pass rusher. Even third-year running back Javonte Williams, who was still recovering from a 2022 ACL tear in 2023, has returned to Pro Bowl form, rushing for 1,100+ yards and 7 touchdowns. These players weren’t supposed to be impact contributors this soon—yet they’ve become integral parts of the Broncos’ success. For the Denver Broncos, this accelerated player development is a sign of a healthy organization: it means the coaching staff is maximizing talent, the scouting department is drafting well, and the veteran leaders are mentoring young players effectively. “We knew we had talented young guys, but we didn’t expect them to be this good this fast,” Payton said. “That’s the difference between being on schedule and being ahead of it.”

The final piece of Way Ahead of Schedule: The Denver Broncos is how their success has reshaped the franchise’s future—turning a rebuild into a “win-now” window that could last for years. Because the Broncos avoided long-term, high-priced contracts in free agency, they have over $50 million in salary cap space for 2025—enough to re-sign key players like Sutton and Jeudy (both entering the final year of their deals) and add more talent. Their young core—Mims, Henningsen, Williams, and cornerback Pat Surtain II—is under team control for at least the next two seasons, providing stability. And with Payton signed through 2027, the Broncos have a long-term coaching leader to guide the team. Perhaps most importantly, the Broncos have reconnected with their fan base: ticket sales are up 30% from 2023, and Empower Field at Mile High has been sold out for every home game—something that hadn’t happened since 2019. For the Denver Broncos, being ahead of schedule isn’t just about winning games in 2024—it’s about building a sustainable winner that can compete for Super Bowls for years to come. “We didn’t just want to have a good season,” Paton said. “We wanted to build a team that Broncos fans could be proud of for a long time. Right now, we’re on track to do that—and we’re doing it faster than anyone thought possible.” As the Broncos head into the playoffs, they’re not just a surprise contender—they’re a franchise that has rewritten the rules of NFL rebuilding, proving that with the right plan and execution, success doesn’t have to wait.