The Broncos enter their offseason with plenty of intriguing storylines to follow.

A loss in the AFC Championship Game to New England put a sour end to an otherwise successful year. The Broncos went 14-3, won the AFC West, secured a No. 1 playoff seed, and beat Buffalo in the divisional round. Now, the clock resets with plenty of changes for the 2026 season.

Here is a breakdown of what Broncos Country should know (plus key future dates) as the calendar flips to February and Super Bowl LX between the Patriots and Seahawks.

Payton-Nix cohesion

Do not ignore the timing of Bo Nix chatting with reporters last week. The starting quarterback spoke up after coach Sean Payton described his ankle fracture as “predisposed” and “going to happen sooner than later.” Nix corrected Payton. He called the fracture a “clean break” and said that “nothing was predisposed.” So, what gives?

It might appear troubling that they aren’t on the same page. But Nix taking control of his own narrative is also a sign of leadership. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, even when it contradicts the head coach. Their unique partnership will continue to evolve as Nix enters his third NFL season. I’m guessing Payton will start keeping more injury details to himself.

Davis Webb dilemma

Quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is on the fast track to becoming an NFL play caller. Will it happen in Denver? His football smarts and resume of developing Nix have opened potential doors across the league. Webb, 31, withdrew consideration as a candidate for the Raiders’ head coach.

The surest way to keep Webb in Denver is to hand him the offensive coordinator job with play-calling duties. But it’s unclear if Payton is willing to give that up. The Nix-Webb relationship is a key factor in the team’s overall success. Breaking up that pair might have significant consequences for his development.

Catch the football

Payton singled out a recurring issue: dropped passes. The Broncos totaled 43 last season with wide receiver Courtland Sutton (eight), tight end Evan Engram (eight) and running back RJ Harvey (seven) with the most among pass catchers. Payton said, “There’s a proper way to catch a football, and most of the time, it’s with your thumbs together.”

It came as little surprise when the Broncos parted ways with WR coach Keary Colbert shortly after those comments. General manager George Paton and Payton signaled confidence in their current wide receivers. But don’t be shocked if they use significant resources to improve that room this offseason.

Run it back?

Running back J.K. Dobbins is vocal about his desire to stay in Denver — “I’m a Bronco,” he said — before hitting free agency. Dobbins was extremely productive (when healthy), averaging 5 yards per carry. He also missed seven games to injury and did not return in the postseason.

Will the Broncos elect to re-sign the talented but injury-prone running back? That’s one of their many looming free agent decisions. The list of unrestricted players includes defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, inside linebacker Alex Singleton, inside linebacker Justin Strnad and wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Money to spend

The ghost of Russell Wilson no longer haunts Denver. The Broncos are free from the $85 million dead cap hit — $53 million in 2024 and $32 million in 2025 — they incurred from releasing the former starting quarterback.

That extra cash will certainly come in handy to address needs in free agency. Broncos controlling owner and CEO Greg Penner said the Broncos will be “opportunistically aggressive” to find the right pieces without adding “somebody that’s not right for this locker room.”

Draft capital

Remember the Devaughn Vele trade? The Saints acquired the ex-Broncos wide receiver in August in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round pick in 2027. The Broncos have plenty of draft capital with the following picks in April (and possibly two more late-round comp picks after losing RB Javonte Williams and P Riley Dixon in free agency).

Here is a breakdown of the Broncos’ projected draft selections: 1st round (30), 2nd round (62), 3rd round (94), 4th round (108), 4th round (130), 5th round (168) and 7th round (246).

Visualize Burnham Yard

Broncos Country will soon get a look at the proposed designs for a new retractable-roof stadium at Burnham Yard. The state-of-the-art facility with natural grass that anchors an entertainment district won’t open until 2031. But plans are taking shape.

The project schedule includes “plan concepts and alternatives” to be developed before a second community open house in February. The Broncos are using that feedback to help create a community benefits agreement before construction takes place.

New team headquarters

The Broncos’ current team headquarters opened in 1990 under late owner Pat Bowlen. The team won three Super Bowls in that building. But it’s time to upgrade. The locker room is too small and players must walk outside (even in winter) to access the weight room.

That all changes this spring. The Broncos will unveil a $175 million training facility and team headquarters adjacent to their current facility in Englewood. The entire first floor will accommodate players with a modernized locker room, weight room and meeting rooms.

Offensive staff turnover

Denver must replace several offensive coaches. Payton fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and Colbert. Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael left to take the Bills offensive coordinator job. It’s possible that Webb is not on staff in 2026.

Payton has created an impressive coaching tree with roots across the NFL. The best head coaches surround themselves with the right mix of assistants. It’s time to find out if Payton has more branches to grow.

Defensive staff turnover

It appears that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is staying put. There were 10 head coaching changes this cycle with Joseph considered a strong candidate. He produced back-to-back dominant defenses in Denver. Yet it never materialized for VJ (at least for now).

The Broncos still have spots to fill. They surprisingly fired cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. Defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard got hired as the Bills defensive coordinator. Joseph will get another shot to prove why he’s ready for a return to head coaching.

Key dates

Tuesday: Pro Bowl Games

Feb. 8: Super Bowl LX

Feb. 12: Second open house event at La Alma Recreation Center for community planning to develop Burnham Yard for a new Broncos stadium and entertainment district

March 11: NFL free agency begins

March 29-April 1: Annual league meetings

April 20: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs

April 23-25: NFL draft

May 11: Rookie football development program begins

Mid-July: NFL training camps begin