The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role.
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Denver Broncos and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Denver Broncos Defense
The Broncos were strong against the run in 2024, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry to running backs (3rd).
They were seventh in yards before contact allowed per RB carry and sixth in yards allowed after contact on those runs.
The entire core of the defensive line from last season is back after D.J. Jones signed a three-year extension.
All three of Zach Allen, John Franklin–Myers, and Malcolm Roach are heading into the final year of their deals, but Denver did add Sai’vion Jones in the third round.
The Broncos consistently harassed the quarterback in 2024, finishing second in pressure rate (40%) and first with a massive 63 total sacks.
The defensive line group above played a big role in those numbers, but the group on the edge was even better.
Nik Bonitto erupted in his third season, logging 13.5 sacks on a 15% pressure rate.
Jonathon Cooper was not far behind with a 14.1% pressure rate (21st) and had 10.5 sacks of his own.
Both 2024 third-round pick Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman finished with 5 sacks a season ago, but Tillman did it on fewer attempts and a much better pressure rate, albeit on a small sample.
Denver made a big addition at linebacker this offseason, signing Dre Greenlaw away from the 49ers.
Greenlaw missed almost all of last season after suffering a freak Achilles injury in the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss, but he has been one of the top linebackers in the league when healthy.
He should upgrade the defense, assuming he gets back to that level, but he has already suffered an injury this offseason.
Denver allowed 6.8 yards per pass attempt in 2024, the sixth-best rate in the league.
They finished fifth in touchdown rate allowed (3.6%), fourth in big play rate allowed (7.0%), and eighth with 15 interceptions.
As it turns out, Pat Surtain is pretty good at football.
He finished first among all qualified corners in yards allowed per coverage snap last season and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Because Surtain is so good, it was surprising to some that the Broncos went with a corner in the first round (Jahdae Barron), but the spot next to Surtain was not solid last year.
The unknown in the corner group is 2024 fifth-round pick Kris Abrams–Draine, who got some run late in the season and allowed just 5.3 yards per target, albeit on a very small sample.
Not done raiding the 49ers after acquiring Greenlaw, the Broncos also added Talanoa Hufanga at safety.
Hufanga has struggled to stay on the field, playing 17 games over the last two seasons, but he was a deserved All-Pro back in 2022 when he played 17 games.
Added last offseason, Brandon Jones had a great first season with the Broncos and will pair with Hufanga if everything works out the way Denver hopes.
P.J. Locke did not have as good of a season, but he should slot in well as the No. 3 option who can help out in sub packages.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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