5.5. 

That was the preseason betting line for total wins for the Denver Broncos. A vast majority of preseason predictions had the team finishing as one of the worst in the league and potentially earning themselves the first overall pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history. That’s not all. Many analysts and fans alike believed that Bo Nix, the quarterback selected by Denver with the 12th overall pick in the previous draft, was a massive bust, with fans saying that “his footwork, in general, is not good” and that “he doesn’t have the arm” to compensate for his “horrible habits”. As the season progressed, however, the Denver Broncos managed to silence all doubt.

Fighting the odds throughout the season, the Broncos proved many people wrong. In addition to exceeding non-believers’ expectations, the team surprised some diehard fans, including senior Evan Rosen.

“This past season exceeded all expectations I had going into the season,” said Rosen, “I was thinking that it would be a transition year with a rookie quarterback but they ended up breaking a nine-year playoff drought.”

The team wasn’t the only thing that took the next step, however, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix showing early signs of blossoming into a star. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton even responded to Bo’s fantastic rookie season, telling doubters, “I told you so”.

 Nix put up phenomenal numbers, breaking decades-old franchise and league-wide records. Nix threw for the 2nd most touchdowns all-time by a rookie quarterback in NFL history with 29 (only one behind Chargers gunslinger Justin Herbert’s 30), and holds the record for the highest completion percentage in a game by a Broncos quarterback (a record previously held by Peyton Manning), threw for the most touchdown passes at home by a rookie all-time, and blew the Broncos record for most wins by a rookie quarterback out of the water. 

Nix impressed many fans across the league and provided hope to a franchise that had been floating in quarterback purgatory since Peyton Manning’s retirement. After nearly a decade, 13 quarterbacks, and a countless number of “fixes” at the position that exacerbated the problem, Nix was finally the one to bring Denver out of the dark.

Many players other than Nix took a big leap toward becoming superstars, including edge rusher Nik Bonnito who recorded a career-high number of sacks, wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. who was utilized in both the passing and running game more than ever before, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who finally recorded his second career 1,000-yard season. The team sent 3 players to the Pro Bowl and had 5 named to the AP All-Pro First or Second team.

Despite their miracle season, the Broncos didn’t put up much of a fight against the Buffalo Bills in their first playoff game since the Manning era. In a blowout loss, many of the team’s preseason critics came crawling back calling the Broncos frauds, claiming that the 9-8 Bengals were more deserving of the spot due to their star power. The many accomplishments of the season were all overshadowed by one game. The league is about to learn a tough lesson in the coming year, never count out the Broncos. 

The future looks blindingly bright in the Mile High City, with just over 48 million dollars in cap space heading into the offseason and a great foundation to build off of. Rosen is one fan that cannot wait for the team to make some moves.

“I’d love to see them make a move to get someone like Garrett Wilson or Tee Higgins so that Nix has another weapon to throw to,” said Rosen, “I’d also like to see them draft a tight end like Tyler Warren from Penn State to solidify a position that has been really weak for a while.”

With Higgins set to hit free agency and Wilson supposedly on the trade block for the New York Jets, both wide receivers sound like realistic possibilities to help bolster the position group. Warren has a high possibility of being selected before the Broncos are on the clock at pick number 20 but, even if he is taken off the table, Michigan tight end Colston Loveland will likely be a fantastic second choice. 

The team may also seek to crystallize the running back room, with big names like Heisman Trophy nominee Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State or Cam Skattebo from Arizona State being linked to the team in the upcoming draft. The Broncos can also seek to fill that hole in free agency, with big-name superstars like Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, or Najee Harris set to hit the open market this spring.

Denver has a few other positional needs that could be filled, including safety and inside linebacker, but the more glaring holes must be fixed first. Other moves regarding impending free agents like defensive tackle D.J. Jones and punter Riley Dixon, who both played phenomenally this past season, must also be a priority for the front office.

The offseason and upcoming season are something to be excited about, and it looks like Bo Nix and head coach Sean Peyton will be the ones to lead the team to the promised land (with a little bit of help from the supporting cast). 

“I think we see Bo take that next step forward and lead this team to the playoffs again, maybe even making a deeper run than this year,” said Rosen. 

With lots of unknowns this coming season, there is one thing that can be said for sure: the potential for this team is a Mile High.