Denver

Broncos

This reinforces previous reports that Nix would be ready to take the practice field for the start of organized team activities, which are set to begin 2 June for the Broncos. That places the young quarterback well ahead of schedule following a broken ankle suffered in the team’s Divisional Round win last season. Nix being able to get additional practice reps before games matter is a big boost to the fantasy value of newcomer wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who arrived with the team via trade with the Dolphins earlier in the offseason. Head coach Sean Payton added, “We’re going to be the ones kind of holding back, if you will.”

Bryant was asked about the two concussions and two hamstring strains he suffered last year. He responded by saying he is focused on “becoming bulletproof so I don’t have to deal with any of those things anymore,” and later clarified that meant he has been “putting on a few pounds of weight.” We will leave the medical analysis to the professionals. Bryant was listed at 6'2/204 last year and worked his way into two-wide receiver sets by the end of the year. The Broncos’ front office acquired former Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle via trade this offseason, dropping Bryant out of the No. 2 spot behind WR Courtland Sutton. Perhaps Bryant’s weight gain helps him as a run blocker and gives him a chance to retain at least a minor role in two-wide receiver sets.

Paton has rebounded nicely from the disastrous 2022 Russell Wilson deal and has become one of the more coveted GMs in the league. There was some speculation that Paton could be open to a lateral move to the Vikings to replace former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but Paton won’t be going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Now under contract through the 2030 season, Paton, who helped get the Broncos within one game of the Super Bowl last season, will look to continue building a roster among the most formidable in the league. In addition to boasting a top-five defense, the Broncos also have quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie deal for at least two more seasons, and an assortment of offensive weapons that helped the offense finish 14th in scoring in 2025.

Joly earned first-team All-ACC honors while leading NC State with 49 receptions and seven receiving touchdowns last year. It will be tough for him to earn snaps in year one, with veteran TE Evan Engram in-house, but Joly could compete for a starting role in the long run.

Mr. Irrelevant gets a $122,600 signing bonus as he becomes the first of seven Denver draft picks to sign his rookie contract. Rookies report to mimi-camp in Denver this weekend.

Key, 28, earned first-team All-Pro honors as a special teamer last year. His 20 special teams tackles led the NFL by two last year. The Chiefs signed Key as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2021. He was waived, having played zero snaps, before being signed to the Falcons’ practice squad in 2022. He was signed by the Broncos later that and eventually earned his current role as a special teams and began contributing on the field in 2023. He notched seven special teams tackles in 2024. Credit goes to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for getting the most out of Key last year.

Nix had a schedule re-check of his ankle with Dr. Norman Waldrop last week, during which Rapoport reports he had a clean-up procedure. The 26-year-old initially broke is ankle in the Broncos’ divisional round victory and has been progressing as schedule in his recovery. The Broncos are expected to be conservative with Nix’s participation in the team’s offseason program but Rapoport adds he is “firmly on track to be ready for the start of training camp.”

“Normally, you have to project that,” Payton said of Coleman, the 109th pick in the 2026 draft out of Washington. “A lot of these guys, in college, maybe the protection plan’s different or limited. So you have to develop that, and that’s fine, but (Coleman’s) frame is such that, when you see him, he does a really good job in blocking pressure looks.” Denver front office officials and coaches have been effusive in their praise for Coleman. Broncos assistant general manager Reed Burckhardt compared Coleman favorably to JK Dobbins, who will return tot he Denver backfield in 2026. “We really like his run style, his ability between the tackles as a finisher,” Burckhardt said. Coleman’s tough running style — he produced a sky-high 71 percent of his college rushing production after first contact — could force Payton to use the rookie early in the 2026 season. Coleman will be a popular late-round fantasy stash this summer.

The Broncos used a fourth-round pick to select Coleman in this year’ draft. While it’s not a high enough pick to suggest he will see significant playing time out of the gate, it sounds like he will have a chance to prove himself in certain situations and earn a heavier workload as he progresses this offseason and into the regular season. While both JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey stand in the way of Coleman, Dobbins is on a two-year deal and would cost just $2 million to cut next offseason, and Harvey struggled on the ground as a rookie, averaging just 3.7 YPC and 2.72 yards after contact per attempt. Coleman will make for an interesting stash in redraft and best ball leagues this offseason, and could turn into a touchdown vulture that puts a hard cap on the fantasy upside of both Dobbins and Harvey.

York (5’10/226) is an undersized but high-motor MIKE whose 66 tackles, 8 havoc plays and 7 TFLs reflect his instinctive trigger and downhill urgency. He flashed situational pressure ability with 7 pressures on 43 rushes (16.3 percent pressure rate), showing quick acceleration to attack creases as a blitzer. York’s compact 5’10”, 226-pound frame and 5.17 RAS with poor agility metrics (4.48 shuttle, 7.32 three-cone) limit his range and change-of-direction consistency in space. His 84.6 percent tackle rate and modest 5 run stops underscore the issues stacking blocks and maintaining gap integrity against size at the second level. York projects as a depth linebacker and core special teamer whose instincts and urgency give him a chance to stick if he can mitigate his size limitations with improved processing and block avoidance.