Broncos QB Bo Nix turned heads with a blistering rookie finish in the second half of the 2024 season, dragging Denver to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. In the process, he showed flashes of franchise-QB potential. No wonder NFL insiders like Kay Adams are excited about his performance in the upcoming season. Adams even shared a hot take in her newest episode of ‘Up & Adams’: The QB will pass for at least 4,000 yards this season.

Bold take? Yes! But here’s the real test: The AFC West is a gauntlet of MVP-caliber arms—Patrick Mahomes and Herbert, for instance. The question is, are these big names going to end up torching him? It could be possible if we go by ESPN’s latest list of elite quarterbacks, which features Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson. But noticeably missing is 2024 first-rounder Bo Nix. Yet, Nix will go head-to-head with these MVP-caliber passers in 2025.

That might be a cause for concern for Denver fans. Hence, on the July 17 episode of Denver Sports 104.3, hosts Josh Dover and Danny Williams broke down how Denver’s defense fared last season against these elite arms. The matchup numbers were revealing, especially when it came to the Broncos’ defensive efficiency against top-tier quarterbacks or, as they like to put it, “Broncos D versus elite quarterbacks.”

Josh Dover: “These quarterbacks are Patrick Mahomes, only once, because he sat in Week 1,8, and the Broncos played backups. Lamar, Burrow, and Herbert, who they did play twice in the regular season.”
Danny Williams: “So these defensive numbers again, are the Broncos defense against Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Burrow, and Herbert, twice last year.”
Josh Dover: “The numbers aren’t great. 28.8 points per game allowed versus those quarterbacks. 295.8 passing yards per game, two passing touchdowns a game. Did get a forced interception. 3.4 sacks per game. So that’s good. They’re getting after him, but not enough to slow him down about 300 yards passing per game. And then the biggest one that jumped off the screen, at least to me, 0-5. 0-5  in those games. They were swept by the Chargers last year, as I said, they beat the Chiefs once, but Mahomes wasn’t the quarterback. Lost to Lamar, and then we know about the shootout that was there in Cincinnati, where they couldn’t hang with the Bengals’ offense. So 0-5, giving up damn near 30 points and 300 yards to those quarterbacks.”

Danny Williams dug deeper into the meaning of those numbers. He emphasized that the Broncos weren’t just losing—they were getting outgunned. “There was no shootout victory where the Broncos got to 31 and beat Lamar or Burrow 31-28,” he said. The team gave up nearly 300 yards in the air each time and never came close to flipping the narrative. “They got torched through the air by elite passers,” Williams said. Or as he put it bluntly, “they got cut up.”

And Denver will have to do something about it because in the upcoming schedule, they might hit a rough patch from Weeks 3 to 5, where they will face the Chargers on the road, the Bengals in a Monday Night Football game, and then, the Eagles. However, many analysts also predict that those matchups will be particularly difficult for Denver’s opponents because their defense will be ready to cause trouble from the very start. After all, people will have major expectations from Denver’s defense now that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has access to Jahdae Barron (drafted by them in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft). They also have Patrick Surtain II (two-time All-Pro ), while D.J. Jones and Zach Allen form powerful interior rushes.

And this year, Sean Payton will be counting on his new signal-caller to rewrite the script. With training camp underway, Denver hopes the incoming talent can finally flip the scoreboard in their favor.

How will Jahdae Barron help the Broncos from getting “cut up”?

Rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron officially joined the Denver Broncos’ training camp on Wednesday. He reportedly worked alongside the rest of the rookie class after finalizing his rookie deal. The first-round pick, selected 20th overall, agreed to a four-year contract worth just over $18 million. It includes a $9.8 million signing bonus. Sources confirmed the only delay in the process was a back-and-forth over the payout schedule. With Barron signed, Shemar Stewart remains the only first-rounder from April’s draft still unsigned.

Danny Williams addressed the rookie’s arrival during his segment on Denver Sports 104.3. He said, “So what I’m taking from this is, hey, anyone who’s surprised that they drafted Barron, well maybe you shouldn’t be so surprised because they got killed through the air by the most elite of passers.” His comment ties back to Denver’s secondary struggles against high-powered QBs last season. Adding Barron gives the defense a much-needed answer in coverage.

Barron played several roles at Texas, including cornerback, nickel, safety, and even linebacker in specialty sets. But during the Broncos’ offseason workouts, he stuck to playing corner. Coach Sean Payton explained the move was to help him settle into the system. Furthermore, Broncos safety Brandon Jones praised the rookie’s mentality. “[He’s] super smart, I would say that is the first thing,” said Jones. “Especially from a rookie. You always ask a lot of questions as a rookie, but he asks the right questions — very eager to learn, super athletic obviously.”

Barron made 37 starts in 55 games at Texas. Last season, he won the Jim Thorpe Award with 67 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. So, the Broncos are banking on Barron’s stellar resume to move fast.