4 Broncos That Must Step Up As Leaders in the 2024 NFL Season

The Denver Broncos could use these voices to lead the way for the locker room.

Oct 29, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) after the / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The departure of Justin Simmons didn’t just leave a hole in the safety room; the Denver Broncos also lost a true leader. The absence of an on-field leader has been keenly felt since the departures of Von Miller and Peyton Manning from the Mile High City, and with Simmons gone, the need for someone to step up and command this team is more pressing than ever.

Sean Payton may be the head coach, but a coach on the field is invaluable. Here are a few candidates who could inspire the locker room and fill this leadership void.

Courtland Sutton

Courtland Sutton, a Broncos member since 2018, is well-versed in the organization. Despite not having played in a playoff game, his experience on and off the field could be a valuable asset to a locker room that has undergone significant changes, particularly in terms of offense.

With Russell Wilson now in Pittsburgh, Sutton's potential to inspire the locker room becomes even more crucial. He’s also going into his second season in Sean Payton’s offense, meaning he’ll be able to guide Josh Reynolds and any other receiver Denver adds to their roster. 

Garett Bolles

Like Sutton, Bolles hasn’t sniffed a playoff game in his tenure with the Broncos, but he’s a hardened veteran. Bolles went from holding every other snap to being a blindside blocking machine for numerous quarterbacks in Denver. He’s also known for being a bit of a hothead, a quality that, when reigned in, can be a powerful motivator for an offensive lineman. 

Bolles knows the hardships in Dove Valley post-Manning, and just like Bane, he was born in and molded by the darkness. If he can use his experience and mean streak to inspire the rest of the offensive line, he and his teammates will run over any opponent across them. 

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Zach Allen

Zach Allen was an outstanding signing last year. Easily the best player on the Broncos defensive line, he fought for five sacks, sixty combined tackles, and fifty-plus pressures despite little help around him. Despite the Denver defense being a liability much of the season, Allen's willingness to battle on is an infectious quality essential to firing up the rest of the defense. Allen needs to step into a leadership role to inspire the rest of the defense to rise above the abysmal 2023 effort.

Patrick Surtain ll

Post Von Miller and Justin Simmons, Patrick Surtain ll is the face of the Broncos' defense. In his three-year career, Surtain has received Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and shows no signs of slowing down. His knowledge and skill can’t be matched; however, Surtain must show he can be a leader on the gridiron. He’s more of a lead-by-example type of player, but if he could be a bit more vocal, he could make a world of difference in the Broncos' defense. 

The Broncos must find a handful of leaders on their roster to help build the culture and create a spark on gameday. Having players to lean on and inspire the entirety of the roster is imperative to sustained success. Without a star quarterback, the pressure to find a voice to lead the locker room is officially on.

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