Denver

Broncos

Cooper was arrested last week and charged with two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief. The 28-year-old linebacker now has a jury trial set for July 22nd, which could cut into the beginning of training camp. Whether Cooper faces any disciplinary action from the league will likely be determined once his case is settled, but he could be in line for a suspension at some point in 2026 or 2027. Cooper totaled 50 tackles, eight TFLs, and eight sacks for the Broncos last season.

Astute readers might notice that Evans did not put the Broncos’ longtime WR1, Courtland Sutton, on that list. The cost to acquire Waddle from the Dolphins was not cheap, so anointing Waddle as the WR1 makes sense. The former Dolphin spent his career in Miami playing sidekick to WR Tyreek Hill, so it was fair to wonder if he might be slated for a WR2 role in Denver as well. If anything, this could be a 1A/1B situation, with Waddle operating as the 1A. Regardless, Sutton appears unbothered by Waddle’s presence, saying the Broncos’ offense is comprised of “guys that are willing to put their pride aside,” and celebrated the importance of selflessness. Waddle profiles as a WR2 while Sutton is perhaps best viewed in the WR3/FLEX tier.

Lohner did not play at all in his 2025 rookie season. He began his football career in 2024 at Utah, after playing basketball at BYU (2020-21) and Baylor (2023-24). He is unlikely to be on the fantasy football radar for the 2026 season. 9NEWS’ Mike Klis notes that head coach Sean Payton “singled out Lohner for his impressive second-year development” earlier this spring.

Cooper was arrested on Thursday night and booked into a Douglas County jail on Friday. Few details are known about his arrest outside of the charges, but the veteran pass-rusher is reportedly scheduled to go before a judge on Friday with another hearing scheduled for Monday, per an article put out by TMZ. Cooper totaled eight sacks for the Broncos last season and is in the second year of a four-year extension he signed in 2024.

Per Payton, Nix has been throwing before practice, but is not actually participating in organized team activities with his teammates. The Broncos’ mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 16-18. Payton’s phrasing indicates Nix might not be a full participant during that three-day stretch, but it sounds like he will participate in some capacity. If he can do so successfully, he should be on track for training camp in July.

He gets a $5 million raise this year and has a chance to make $5 million more next year if he makes the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams. The “good player pay bump” is getting more and more common in NFL circles. Surtain has been on one of the two All-Pro teams in three of his first five seasons in the NFL, so there’s a good shot he makes it again this year if he stays healthy.

Nix is still recovering from the broken ankle he suffered in the divisional round of last year’s AFC playoff matchup against the Bills. While it’s too early to be overly concerned about Nix’s availability come training camp, his absence for OTAs is a bit disappointing given that Broncos co-owner Greg Penner said earlier this offseason there were “no concerns at all for OTAs.” Of course, this was nearly a full month before Nix underwent a procedure in late April to “clean up” his ankle. Head coach Sean Payton expressed confidence that Nix will be ready to go by training camp, which begins in just under two months. The Broncos are set to have a mandatory three-day minicamp from June 16-18, which we wouldn’t expect Nix to be available for. For now, backups Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will handle most of the snaps under center while Nix remains sidelined.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was quick to point out that Wilson “may not be retiring,” but it would be surprising if the former ten-time Pro Bowler and 2013 Super Bowl champion returned at this point. Wilson was on a Hall of Fame trajectory early in his career, earning the starting job for Pete Carroll’s Seahawks over Matt Flynn as a third-round rookie in 2012. With the help of the legendary Legion of Boom defense, Wilson and the Seahawks dominated the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVII to bring the franchise their first championship title, and fell just short of repeating as champions in 2014. A trade to the Broncos in 2022 didn’t work out as either side had hoped, as Wilson’s five-year, $245 million contract quickly turned into one of the worst deals in the league. After officially moving on to the Steelers in 2024, Wilson played marginally better in his 11 starts, but not well enough to come back in 2025. A forgettable six-game stint with the Giants last season, in which he threw for 831-3-3 on 119 passes, may be the last we see of Mr. Unlimited on the gridiron, as he now prepares to join CBS as a member of their Sunday pregame show. Wilson and the Jets were rumored to have interest in one another earlier this offseason, but this move to TV had been foreshadowed for a while, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

The sale is not yet complete. Broncos ownership has until June 30, 2027, to exercise their option to buy the former railyard for $45.8 million. The deal is expected to close this fall. Ownership reportedly has plans to build a new stadium and an adjacent entertainment district. The state purchased Burnham Yard in 2021 for $50 million and hoped “to use some of the land for transportation-related purposes,” but those plans “fizzled.” Broncos ownership is hoping that the new stadium will be ready for the NFL’s 2031 season.

Miller mentioned he has lobbied publicly and privately for a return to the Broncos, but knows it is out of his control. The 37-year-old edge rusher tallied nine sacks for the Commanders last season, showing he still has something left in the tank as part of a pass-rushing rotation. He added that he would “love to assist and be a vice president to Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton.” The Broncos don’t necessarily need an addition at outside linebacker but having a veteran return to his original franchise could add some value from a leadership standpoint. Miller has not received much interest as a free agent, though he is still looking to return for his 17th NFL season.