ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It has been perhaps the most common refrain during the Broncos' 2025 offseason among both media members and Denver's fan base.
Get Bo Nix more weapons.
The sentiment conjures up images of a top-tier pass-catcher or explosive runner, a player that can add to the stable of offensive threats Denver already has on its roster.
Head Coach Sean Payton, though, has a slightly different perspective. Can a wide receiver or running back be a weapon? No question. But so can a veteran inside linebacker. Or a talented offensive lineman. Or, presumably, even a special teams standout.
Any player that improves the Broncos' roster — and, in turn, reduces the pressure on Nix — can be viewed as a weapon.
"There are two great allies that I think help quarterback play: It's really good defense and, obviously, a really good running game," Payton said Thursday during the Broncos' pre-draft press conference. "… There will be focus on the running back position. It's a pretty good draft for running backs. It's a pretty good draft for interior defensive linemen. When we sign a good football player in free agency, [such as LB] Dre Greenlaw, we feel like we've helped our team, and, in turn, our defense. And then, in turn, the quarterback position."
Barring a creative trick play, Greenlaw will never take a snap alongside Bo Nix — and he'll almost certainly never catch one of his passes. But if Greenlaw can help the Broncos' third-ranked scoring defense improve, Nix and the offense will play more with a lead. The offense will take over with better average field position and perhaps attack more short fields after turnovers. The impact may be less direct, but it doesn't make it any less important. The same is true of preventing sacks or finding yards on the ground on first down to prevent difficult down-and-distances.
"How do we get him off the high dive?" Payton said of Nix. "You don't want to be [in] third-and-long, you don't want to be behind in games. Those are all things that make that position more challenging."
Still, it remains possible the best available "weapon" for the Broncos to add to their roster will still come at a skill position. Asked directly about the potential of taking a running back in the first round, Payton said "it's all about your vision" for that specific player.
"There are a lot of runners in this draft," Payton said. "Certainly it's an opportunity, but there are different types of runners. Some of them are physical, downhill runners, and some of them are guys who can take a misdirection, scissors-type run and go the other direction with it. It just depends on what you are looking for."
At wide receiver — another position that has been linked to the Broncos in a slew of mock drafts — Denver still plans to add, but it may not be through a premium pick.
"We drafted two receivers last year," Payton said. "The good news is, after their first year, we really like their progress. Just take [WR] Marvin [Mims Jr.] for a second from Year 1 to Year 2. We saw the return ability, and we saw glimpses of it in his rookie year. [He had] more production obviously in his second year. [WR] Troy [Franklin], the same way. [He] came in, picked things up. [WR] Courtland [Sutton] is such a positive role model and leader for these guys. [WR Devaughn] Vele, I could even hit on all these guys, just relative to our overall depth. We're going to add numbers to the position when you look at what we take to training camp, whether that's through the draft or free agency. I would say we're happy with the two we selected a year ago, the one we selected two years ago and the guys that are already here."
The value at any position — whether receiver or running back or inside linebacker — must always be top of mind, though.
"Now, if one of those players arrives in a round where we're looking at it, that's the trick to this," Payton said. "You can target guys sometimes. We're all guilty of really liking a player and then trying to [acquire them]. But let's not bypass the crystal for a blender if we need a blender. So I think you're still looking at value. It's the value-[vs.]-need discussion, and I think that exists in every draft room today. Sometimes you can manipulate that yourself. Certainly in tiebreakers it's important. There are a number of good, young receivers in this draft, and we'll see how that unfolds. I do feel good about that group we have, and I think that they've shown obviously last season, the jump we took offensively from where we were at to scoring on offense and all of those things. Obviously, the addition of Bo, those all contribute to that [jump]."
In less than a week, the Broncos will add more talent in hopes of taking another step offensively. And they can do so via a number of weapons — at a number of different positions.
