New NFL Power Rankings Cast Doubt on Broncos' Offseason Vision

PFF's post-free agency rankings have Denver at No. 12, despite the team's deep playoff run last season.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:05pm

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Despite the Denver Broncos making a blockbuster trade to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and signing safety Tycen Anderson in free agency, Pro Football Focus' Mason Cameron ranked them 12th in their post-free agency power rankings. Cameron cited the Broncos' relatively quiet free agency approach and questioned whether their 14-win 2025 season was a fluke, given the absence of top quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen from the playoff field.

Why it matters

The Broncos believe in the team they had last year, as evidenced by re-signing or tendering 17 of their 22 free agents. However, their reserved approach in free agency has led some national analysts to doubt whether Denver was truly as close to the Super Bowl as their 2025 results suggest.

The details

The Broncos made two notable outside additions this offseason - trading for Waddle and signing Anderson in free agency. However, PFF's Cameron was not overly impressed, citing the team's decision to prioritize retaining their own free agents over making splashy new signings. Cameron suggested the Broncos may have 'gotten lucky' with the absence of top QBs from the 2025 playoff field, and questioned whether their 14-win season was truly legitimate.

  • The Broncos finished as one of the final four teams in the NFL in 2025.

The players

Jaylen Waddle

A wide receiver acquired by the Broncos in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.

Tycen Anderson

A safety signed by the Broncos in free agency.

Bo Nix

The Broncos' starting quarterback, who went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.

Sean Payton

The Broncos' head coach, who led the team to a 14-win season in 2025.

Mason Cameron

An analyst at Pro Football Focus who ranked the Broncos 12th in their post-free agency power rankings.

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What they’re saying

“The Broncos were reserved throughout the first week of free agency, opting to prioritize their own pending free agents as opposed to adding new talent.”

— Mason Cameron, Analyst, Pro Football Focus

“The real splash didn't come until this week with the trade to acquire former Dolphins receiverJaylen Waddle, giving quarterback Bo Nix a highly efficient pass catcher who has ranked in the 88th percentile in yards per route run over the past three seasons.”

— Mason Cameron, Analyst, Pro Football Focus

What’s next

The Broncos will look to prove the doubters wrong when the 2026 NFL season kicks off.

The takeaway

The Broncos' reserved approach in free agency has led some national analysts to question whether their 14-win 2025 season was a fluke, but the team believes in the core they've retained and is confident they can build on last year's success.