What are the Broncos’ biggest offseason needs?

Denver Post Broncos writer Parker Gabriel posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season and periodically during the offseason. Click here to submit a question.

Who would you like to see us pick up in the offseason? I think we need more weapons for Bo Nix. We need a legit WR1 — I love Courtland Sutton, but he’s a WR2 — and a tight end because Evan Engram was underwhelming this year. Who’s out there that you’d like to see us get?

— Mark, Arvada

Hey Mark, thanks for writing in and getting us going for an offseason rendition of the mailbag.

The Broncos have a nearly full complement of draft picks — plus an extra fourth-rounder from New Orleans, which should hover just outside the top 100 — and a good amount of cap space to work with this offseason. They can create quite a bit more space based on extension decisions, potential roster trimming, restructuring and more.  The normal offseason house-cleaning stuff.

I’m not the only one who agrees with your assessment that the Broncos need more playmaking offensively. Left tackle Garett Bolles said it after the season and head coach Sean Payton acknowledged it in his own way after the season. He and general manager George Paton each continue to say they like the young talent they’ve got at receiver and running back, but each also said last week that Denver will look to upgrade anywhere possible.

All three of the offensive skill positions look in need of upgrade, whether that’s development of players already on the roster or additions from the outside. In a perfect world, you’re talking about receivers Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant all taking big steps in 2026. Same for running back RJ Harvey in Year 2.

Realistically, though, Denver could stand to add external options at all three.

Pie in the sky, I’d put the order of impact this way: Top-flight, all-around TE first. Then a No. 1 receiver. Then, a high-quality running back.

The best tight ends in football make such a difference across an entire offense. Of course, a Brock Bowers or a Trey McBride can set the course for an entire passing game. Imagine what the Broncos offense would look like with George Kittle or one of last year’s first-rounders in Indianapolis’ Tyler Warren or Chicago’s Colston Loveland.

The rub, of course, is that recognizing the value of that player and finding him are two different matters entirely. Same goes for a top-flight receiver to pair with Sutton or a difference-making running back. At least in the backfield, the Broncos can entertain bringing J.K. Dobbins back, hope he stays healthy and then work on perhaps finding a new face to fill out the room.

Receiver-wise, Stefon Diggs has said the past couple of weeks that the Broncos almost landed him last offseason before he signed with New England. Denver reportedly checked on Miami’s Jaylen Waddle around the trade deadline. There will be trade speculation about Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown this offseason, along with perhaps a few others. The top of the free agent market is George Pickens — at least until he signs an extension with Dallas — and then players like Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce and Green Bay’s Romeo Doubs, though of those three only Pickens is a true, proven No. 1.  The question for any player, naturally, is the acquisition cost in dollars, draft capital or both balanced against production and also whatever other baggage might come along with the player.

At tight end and receiver, the Broncos don’t need more bodies. They just need one real difference-maker at each. That can actually be the bigger challenge than finding several guys who fit into a mold or a role in the offense.

How will the field-goal decision be treated in Broncos history?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Not kindly, for starters. I’m not sure it’ll go down in the sort of all-time franchise lore, but certainly it will be remembered by a lot of people for a long time.