The 2025 Broncos under head coach Sean Payton, though not quite as white as last year, are once again one of the most white-friendly teams in a dark league. With a strong defense, a great offensive line, a veteran coach, and a promising young QB, preseason hype had them looking to improve over last season's 10-7 finish. The Broncos opened with an ugly win over a weak team; let's hope they can settle down as the season progresses.
Quarterback Bo Nix was thrown into the fire early last year, and all things considered learned quickly on the job and improved rapidly in the second half of the season. With a high ceiling, an experienced coach, and a lot of upside (actual upside), his sophomore year prospects look bright. Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger back him up. Nix is protected by an excellent offensive line that by complete coincidence also just happens to be a snow plow, with all 5 starters returning from last season and 4 of the 5 entering their 3rd year as starters together. Lunch pailers are stacked at the 2/3/4 strings at TE on this offense with Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Nate Adkins. Fullback Adam Prentice, after 4 years with the Saints, was signed by the Broncos, cut in the annual white purge, signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the 53-man roster.
On defense, fans (and not just here) will be focusing on stud CB Riley Moss, one of the best corners in the league and a true Dodgers #42 style color barrier breaker. Strong defensive lineman Zach Allen and tackling machine Alex Singleton round out the blue collar defensive starters. Talented but frequently injured LB Drew Sanders is out again, this time with a tendon injury in his foot, for an "extended" period of time.
I wish this team success this season; their relative White-friendliness is in the top tier by the standards of this dark league. Expectations to deliver are much higher this year than last, should they fall short the scapegoating will begin sooner or later. The head coach is the most common target but Payton's resume may buy him an extra year or two. Wishing the best for all the lunch pailers but particularly Nix and Moss.
2025 Denver Broncos (starters in bold):
QB - Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger
FB - Adam Prentice (starter? only FB on the active roster but played only 20% of snaps in Game 1)
TE - Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman
OT - Garrett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey, Frank Crum
G - Quinn Meinerz, Ben Powers, Alex Palczewski
C - Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth
DL - Zach Allen
LB - Alex Singleton, Jonah Elliss (mixed but looks White)
CB - Riley Moss
K - Wil Lutz
P - Jeremy Crawshaw
LS - Mitchell Fraboni (probably mixed but casual fans will perceive a long snapper as White)
Injured - G Nick Gargiulo, FB Michael Burton, DE Matt Henningsen, LB Drew Sanders
Practice squad - WR Michael Bandy, WR Thayer Thomas, TE Caleb Lohner, C Joe Michalski, G Calvin Throckmorton, LB Garret Wallow (may be mixed)
Total White starters: 9-10
Total White players on 53-man roster: 20-22
Overall grade: C
Quarterback Bo Nix was thrown into the fire early last year, and all things considered learned quickly on the job and improved rapidly in the second half of the season. With a high ceiling, an experienced coach, and a lot of upside (actual upside), his sophomore year prospects look bright. Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger back him up. Nix is protected by an excellent offensive line that by complete coincidence also just happens to be a snow plow, with all 5 starters returning from last season and 4 of the 5 entering their 3rd year as starters together. Lunch pailers are stacked at the 2/3/4 strings at TE on this offense with Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Nate Adkins. Fullback Adam Prentice, after 4 years with the Saints, was signed by the Broncos, cut in the annual white purge, signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the 53-man roster.
On defense, fans (and not just here) will be focusing on stud CB Riley Moss, one of the best corners in the league and a true Dodgers #42 style color barrier breaker. Strong defensive lineman Zach Allen and tackling machine Alex Singleton round out the blue collar defensive starters. Talented but frequently injured LB Drew Sanders is out again, this time with a tendon injury in his foot, for an "extended" period of time.
I wish this team success this season; their relative White-friendliness is in the top tier by the standards of this dark league. Expectations to deliver are much higher this year than last, should they fall short the scapegoating will begin sooner or later. The head coach is the most common target but Payton's resume may buy him an extra year or two. Wishing the best for all the lunch pailers but particularly Nix and Moss.
2025 Denver Broncos (starters in bold):
QB - Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger
FB - Adam Prentice (starter? only FB on the active roster but played only 20% of snaps in Game 1)
TE - Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman
OT - Garrett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey, Frank Crum
G - Quinn Meinerz, Ben Powers, Alex Palczewski
C - Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth
DL - Zach Allen
LB - Alex Singleton, Jonah Elliss (mixed but looks White)
CB - Riley Moss
K - Wil Lutz
P - Jeremy Crawshaw
LS - Mitchell Fraboni (probably mixed but casual fans will perceive a long snapper as White)
Injured - G Nick Gargiulo, FB Michael Burton, DE Matt Henningsen, LB Drew Sanders
Practice squad - WR Michael Bandy, WR Thayer Thomas, TE Caleb Lohner, C Joe Michalski, G Calvin Throckmorton, LB Garret Wallow (may be mixed)
Total White starters: 9-10
Total White players on 53-man roster: 20-22
Overall grade: C
