NFL teams most likely to go from worst to first in 2021

NFL teams to watch out for in 2021: Denver Broncos

2. Denver Broncos

If you take quarterback out of the equation, this Broncos side is a top-ten roster in the NFL. The defense is getting Von Miller back and has two new starting outside corners, with former Bears Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller and the most pro-ready guy in the draft in Alabama’s Patrick Surtain, to go along with being able to move Bryce Callahan into the slot again, as everything seems to fit together perfectly now.

Offensively, the Broncos get back their number one receiver Courtland Sutton, improved at right tackle with veteran Bobby Massie from Chicago, and added North Carolina’s Javonte Williams in the second round, who is kind of a younger, even more violent version of Melvin Gordon.

The Denver Broncos are shaping up nicely

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio should finally have all the pieces to successfully run his defense, which already created some issues for the Chiefs and Chargers in their second meetings, holding them to 22 and 19 points respectively. It'll be surprising if they are in the bottom-five in takeaways once again in 2021, with Fangio’s track record of creating those opportunities in the past.

The Broncos offense certainly had its ups and downs last season, but the style of attack Pat Shurmur wants to use is packed with dynamism, with a lot of inside zone and power to get those bruisers going downhill. They also have Sutton back now, who they can throw the ball up to when left one-on-one on the backside, the speed of K.J. Hamler to make safeties pay for having their eyes in the backfield and the route-running savvy of Jerry Jeudy to move the chains on third downs.

Plus, they have two legitimate seam-stretching threats at the tight end position in Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam. Now, it all comes down to the quarterback position, where Teddy Bridgewater might give them more consistency and avoid back-breaking, but caps their ceiling.

If they want to make a run at this division, the Broncos might have to give Drew Lock another shot because he has the arm talent to fling it around with Mahomes and Herbert, even though he will have to do a better job of avoiding unnecessary risks.

Where the Broncos' strengths lie

With steady investments into the offensive line, the Broncos can play the type of ball-control game to set the pace, but then also have the firepower to match the other teams in that division. If they get ahead in games, they have the pass-rush and coverage to close out games.

The Chargers should certainly make a jump with a capable coaching staff that won’t make as many errors managing games, a much-improved offensive line, and they should get back safety Derwin James, who was a first- and second-team All-Pro as a rookie and has looked like a Hall of Famer when healthy.

The Chiefs put their main focus on protecting their quarterback, spending big in free agency, trades and the draft to accomplish that, and should be the favorites to make it out of the conference again.

Finally the Raiders are somewhat in purgatory. They're heading in the right direction defensively with new DC Gus Bradley and really attacking the safety position, which was their biggest weakness last year. But, they lost three former Pro Bowlers on offense, as well as their leading receiver from a year ago.

While it would take a big jump from Lock to put these guys in the running, the talent is certainly there and the Chiefs face a very tough opening stretch of the season, while the Chargers have some demons they still need to overcome before becoming a winning team.

If the Broncos were to trade for Aaron Rodgers, they would be atop this list.

Chances: 20 percent