The Denver Broncos will be ushering in a new era in 2024, led by the vision of head coach Sean Payton. The eventual debut of first-round pick Bo Nix will of course inspire that.
But the Broncos made several great moves this offseason, many of which have not gotten the praise they deserve from the outside media. Winning in the NFL takes a giant collaboration, and many of the best moves don't include the players on the field.
Looking at the entirety of the Broncos' offseason to this point, the fanbase should be most excited that the team has acquired these four individuals, in addition to its new quarterback.
4 offseason transactions that Broncos fans should be most excited about
Troy Franklin, wide receiver
It wasn't just that the Broncos were able to get Nix's top target from college, but that they got him in the fourth round of the draft provided terrific value.
Courtland Sutton will be the top option in the passing game as long as he's there, but Franklin could be the team's future No.1 option in the passing game. He brings speed and big-play ability and the chance to continue what he and Nix started at Oregon is exciting.
Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator
This is one of those moves that won't get the team much notoriety, but the Broncos got one of the best coaching prospects in the game at any level when they brought in Jim Leonhard to coach the defensive backs.
Leonhard played for the Broncos in 2012 and then went on to play under Payton in New Orleans in 2013. He is a player's coach and one that will bring out the best in young guys like P.J. Locke, Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis and JL Skinner, just to name a few.
"It's pretty crazy that he doesn't have a defensive coordinator job in the NFL"
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) February 13, 2024
The Broncos got a STAR in Jim Leonhard, @HenryChisholm believes. pic.twitter.com/rOOpvB5wbw
This is one of those moves that is a huge net gain for the team in terms of what it will do for overall production and growth. Payton has worked on tweaking the coaching staff to his liking every bit as much as he has the roster, and this was one of his best moves.
David Shaw, senior personnel executive
As I discussed here, the hiring of David Shaw to the team's front office was a fantastic choice. He will work hand in hand with George Paton to evaluate talent and find the best players for this team going forward.
Shaw coached at Stanford for 12 seasons and interviewed for the Broncos head coaching vacancy last year before the job was ultimately given to Payton.
Shaw has long been rumored for a return to the NFL and with his knowledge and understanding of today's game, he is a great guy to have on your side.
The Broncos know that getting back to winning football is a marathon, not a sprint, and the hiring of Shaw should bring forth positive effects for the future.
John Franklin-Myers, defensive lineman
The Broncos needed help along the defensive line in a big way and during the NFL draft, they traded a future sixth-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for Franklin-Myers.
This was a solid move for the team as it cost next to nothing to obtain a productive defensive end still in the prime of his career. The trade didn't elicit a huge response because Franklin-Myers doesn't have that superstar name recognition, but it was a move that made a lot of sense and instantly made the defensive line a lot better.
