Since Peyton Manning was a Denver Bronco, the franchise has been struggling to find a quarterback. Manning won Super Bowl 50 after he was wooed to Denver by fellow Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. But since then, Denver has gone through 13 different starting quarterbacks. That list would be significantly smaller if Elway had selected Josh Allen in the first round in 2018, instead of passing on him in favor of pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
Elway said recently that failing to take Allen was the “biggest mistake of my GM days.”
What might have been will haunt Elway. But Broncos fans and bettors are looking ahead to what might be with his year’s first-round draft pick, Bo Nix, who would be the 14th starting quarterback since Manning retired from the NFL.
Denver Postseason Odds
In what will be the second season of the Sean Payton era in Denver, expect some serious growing pains. The expectations in the Mile High City haven’t been this low in years. Just to make the playoffs, the Broncos are paying +700, with a bet on them to miss the postseason at -1100.
Denver is the biggest longshot to win the AFC West at +1800. They are at the very bottom of the AFC at +15000. They even have longer odds than the Carolina Panthers to win the Super Bowl. Denver is 32 out of 32 NFL teams, paying +30000.
The over/under on regular season wins for the Broncos is 5.5.
Offensive Award Odds
Former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is expected to begin the season as the starting quarterback in Denver, and everything about the 2024 season is geared toward his development. Wins are secondary in 2024 to making sure that he is a long- term starter in Denver.
Because of that, and because of the position he plays and the history of head coach Sean Payton with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, the betting markets are high on Nix as an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. A bet on him to win the award pays +1600, which is tied for the fourth-shortest odds on the board.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is the favorite (+135), followed by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (+550), Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (+650), and Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (+1600).
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is +8000 to win Offensive Player of the Year, and no one on the Broncos is inside +15000 to win the MVP.
Defensive Award Odds
In the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected outside linebacker Jonah Elliss, an All-American from Utah who comes from a family of NFL players. His father, Luther Elliss, was an NFL defensive tackle for 10 years, and he has three older brothers currently in the NFL.
Elliss is paying +6000 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, an award that was won by Broncos linebackers Von Miller in 2011 and Mike Croel in 1991.
In 1978, the Broncos had the Defensive Player of the Year in Randy Gradishar. But since then, they have not won the award. Their best hope in 2024 is Patrick Surtain II, who is paying +10000 to win the award. He was recently named the 52nd-best player on the NFL’s Top-100.
Linebacker Alex Singleton, now in his third season with the Broncos, is paying +15000 to be DPOY.
Because of the low win total expectations, the odds on a Sean Payton Coach of the Year award are very long. He is at +3000, which ranks him 20th in the league.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
