Predicting Broncos' 3 Big Offensive Statistical Leaders in 2023

The Denver Broncos will be a more explosive offense in 2023.

It has been too long since the Denver Broncos have had an explosive offense. With Sean Payton overseeing the offense, Dove Valley will have a higher standard. 

Payton knows exactly how to use the talent on hand and help them reach their potential. Barring an injury or complete meltdown, Russell Wilson will lead Denver in passing yards and touchdowns. 

As for the other significant offensive categories, there are a few different players who could help rejuvenate the Broncos' offense. Here are three players set to finish the 2023 season as statistical leaders in Denver. 

Receiving Yards: Jerry Jeudy

Jeudy had his best season in Denver in 2022, racking up 972 yards and six scores. His combination of crisp route running and speed makes him a threat to any cornerback he lines up against. Jeudy had a slow start to the season primarily due to the incompetence of former head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

Through the second half of the season, Jeudy started to come into his own as he took over the No. 1 wideout designation. The transition was natural, and he will remain Denvers’ top wideout going forward. 2023 is the year that Jeudy breaks into the 1,000-yard conversation. 

Prediction: Jeudy finishes the season with 1,100-plus yards.

Receiving Touchdowns: Greg Dulcich

Dulcich came into the 2022 season with a lingering hamstring injury that prevented him from seeing the field until Week 6. In that game, he caught a 39-yard strike from Wilson and took it to the house. His long strides make him deceptively fast. He can be a matchup nightmare for linebackers.

Dulcich quickly became Wilson's safety blanket, which bodes well for his production. Dulcich is a big body in the red zone and does a fantastic job stretching the seam for long gains. Payton is a creative offensive mind, and he will have fun scheming up plays for Dulcich.

Drew Brees had Jimmy Graham? Perhaps the Wilson/Dulcich combo could yield similar results. Dulcich showed that he was further in his development than rookie tight ends tend to be and will continue to shine. 

Prediction: Dulcich catches 10 touchdown passes this coming season.

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Rushing Yards/Touchdowns: Samaje Perine

While Payton believes Javonte Williams will be ready for training camp, it’s hard to imagine he’ll hit the ground running. Tearing three different ligaments in his knee in Week 4 last season will make it hard to get cleared in time. Due to this injury, Perine must carry the running game while Javonte gets back up to speed.

Pernine has a strong lower body, allowing him to plow through defenders who dare to try and tackle him. Arm tackles are simply not enough. He sat behind Joe Mixon in Cincinnati, so he still has the tread on his tires to handle a full-time workload.

Denver made it clear that the running game would power the offense with the signings of offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers, who both excel at run blocking. Pernine will still split touches with Williams, but he’ll run the show, pun intended. 

Prediction: Perine finishes the season with 850-plus yards on the ground and six scores.

Payton is leaps and bounds better than Hackett when it comes to building an offense. The three players listed above will be the driving forces that help Payton turn around this offensive nightmare and make gameday more palatable for Broncos Country than in years past.

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