INDIANAPOLIS — The process will begin anew.
When the Broncos return for their offseason program, the team will surely hold an increased confidence level and belief in its ability to make strides in 2025.
But the team's 2024 accomplishments — from the 10 wins to the first playoff berth in nearly a decade — won't matter as the Broncos look to return to the postseason.
"The one thing we have to avoid is this idea that we are going to pick up where we left off," Head Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday. "I don't like that, because our league has shown that the season ends and you take the proverbial game board, you take all the pieces and dump them and you start again. Certainly you are more confident, the experience has helped a number of players, but the journey begins."
As General Manager George Paton put it, the strides the team made in 2024 only matter if the team continues to build this offseason and beyond.
"It's only a team on the rise if we take advantage of this offseason," Paton said. "Like Sean said, nothing's guaranteed moving forward. We made the playoffs. We lost in the Wild Card. You start over, and that's what we're doing. We're starting over. Our sole focus is just upgrading this team each and every day."
Paton said each offseason presents its own challenges to fill the "needs" and "musts" of a roster, and that's no different as the Broncos continue their pre-draft evaluation process at the Combine.
"We're going to have to have a really good offseason," Paton said.
And yet, the Broncos have a key piece in place at the game's most important position. Twelve months ago, the Broncos came to the Combine searching for their long-term answer at the quarterback position. In Bo Nix, the Broncos believe they have found that player.
"Obviously, with a young quarterback in place, it's a little clearer than it was this time last year," Payton said. "I would say first off, it's a little clearer. There are still certain things that we have identified that we think are important. Then the puzzle is with free agency and the draft, trying to best meet those needs. We've had our front [draft] board meeting already with the draft. We're seeing these guys now this week, and then we've also had a good jump start in free agency, relative to the film study and the priorities. It's good to be in that position, and we have to be able to take advantage of it."
Paton said the Broncos will continue to add pieces to the roster, but he acknowledged the benefit of building with a young quarterback Denver looks toward the future.
"We have a few years obviously, but you always want to build and we want to build the right way, build the best team around the quarterback," Paton said. "That's just our process moving forward — the best defense, the best special teams, the best offense. Explosive elements, of course we want to do that, but just build the best team around the quarterback. Maybe you're a little bit more aggressive as you move on in [Nix's] career."
As Payton evaluated Nix's initial campaign, in which he led all rookies quarterback in nearly every passing category, he believes the Broncos' signal-caller still has room to improve.
"You had to watch the games," said Payton when asked why he believes Nix hasn't reached his ceiling. "You have to watch the athleticism and the learning curve."
With a still-improving quarterback, a young roster and a desire for more postseason success, the Broncos will now embrace the work that comes with another offseason.
"We don't shy away from it," Payton said. "Our expectations are high, and I am encouraged with some of the things that we did this past season, and yet, we are still hungry for more."
