6 Biggest Storylines To Watch at Broncos Training Camp

The start of Denver Broncos Training Camp is right around the corner, and before the end of the week, fans will be in attendance to get their first glimpse at the team for the 2025 campaign.

With that in mind, what are the biggest storylines that fans should monitor throughout the coming weeks, whether they’re in attendance or following remotely through local reporters? Let’s take a look.

6. How Raw is Caleb Lohner?

One late-round rookie storyline to keep an eye on is Caleb Lohner. 

Lohner is an even murkier projection than most first-year players, because of his incredibly limited football background. Prior to 2024, Lohner hadn’t played a down of organized football since he was in eighth grade.

So why draft him? His athleticism in his frame is remarkably rare for any NFL player, and he looked nearly unguardable at times during his one season with the Utah Utes.

Now, it’s fair to expect Lohner to be a project who will require some time to develop, but just how far away is he from being able to meaningfully contribute? Can he appear in some redzone packages this season, or is he going to have to spend the entire campaign on the bench as he develops?

We should get a better idea in training camp.

5. Can Que Robinson Build on His Stellar OTA Showing? 

The offseason hype for Denver Broncos rookie Que Robinson has been immense, thanks to his excellent showing during OTAs and the limited glimpses of his potential that he showed while at Alabama.

If Robinson can wow during his rookie campaign, it would ensure that the Broncos at least have a viable backup plan for their future at edge rusher. 

Now, while Jonathon Cooper is locked up for the future, Nik Bonitto is entering a contract season. Bonitto will likely remain in Denver, but that situation remains uncertain, so it would be valuable for Robinson and Jonah Elliss to demonstrate they can buoy the unit if extension negotiations go south.

It’s one thing for a trench player to shine during the near-contactless OTA period, when blocking is practically non-existent. It’s slightly more meaningful if that player continues to make plays as contact begins to amplify.

4. How Have P.J. Locke, Alex Singleton Recovered From Devastating Injuries?

Denver’s defensive spine has some legitimate questions to answer, particularly on the backend.

Starting with the secondary, although Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones should solidify a solid starting safety tandem, it’s unclear how much P.J. Locke will be able to contribute as the third safety. Considering Hufanga’s injury history, that depth role could be incredibly important.

If Locke has fully recovered from his spinal fusion surgery, Broncos Country can rest easy with a backup plan who has already proven to be a solid injury replacement in the past. The unprecedented nature of Locke’s injury among NFL players does bring that projection into question, though, and Denver’s other options in the safety room are inexperienced and unproven.

Similarly, Alex Singleton is looking to bounce back from last season’s torn ACL, at age 31, and immediately re-enter the starting lineup. That has to pan out, as Denver doesn’t have any enticing alternatives behind him, unless Drew Sanders takes a massive leap.

3. What is the State of the Broncos’ Future at WR?

The two cemented facts of the Broncos' wide receiver group are that Courtland Sutton is the top option and he’s the team’s starting X receiver. 

Beyond that, everything is up for grabs, and the scramble for positioning in the pass-catching hierarchy will only be amplified by the fact that Sutton is primed to enter free agency immediately after the 2025 campaign.

Who is the next man up if Sutton departs? Who is the starting Z receiver opposite Courtland Sutton? Who emerges as the top option among a crowded field of pass-catchers who operate best from the slot? Can Troy Franklin become a more regular contributor? How will Pat Bryant fit into the mix? And, of course, does Sutton get extended?

So many massive questions that will have wide-ranging implications for Bo Nix and the Broncos’ attack for the next several seasons, and the answers should begin to come into focus over the next few weeks.

2. Who Emerges at RB & Who Fades into the Background?

Much like wide receiver, so much is up in the air for the Denver Broncos at running back, both for 2025 and for the long-term future. The key difference is that the backfield doesn’t have a known commodity like Courtland Sutton, nor does it have a similarly stabilizing presence.

The main event will be the battle between R.J. Harvey and J.K. Dobbins for the starting job and the lion’s share of the team’s carries. Harvey offers the higher ceiling of the two options and is a dramatically more explosive back, but Dobbins is a proven veteran and a much better pass-protector than Harvey. 

In Payton’s complex offense, that veteran know-how is incredibly valuable. Even with Alvin Kamara scampering to the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Sean Payton gave Mark Ingram more touches. 

Behind them, the quartet of Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson is battling for one or two roster spots, and one or two practice squad spots. Odds are, at least one of those four won’t be in Denver come September.

1. Where Will Jahdae Barron Play & What Ripple Effects Will That Cause?

Despite his immense talent, Jahdae Barron was a stunning first-round selection by the Denver Broncos, simply because the team’s defensive backfield was already loaded with high-end players.

That leaves Denver’s defensive coaching staff with a good problem to have – determining how to get Barron on the field.

The questions start in base defense. Who is playing cornerback opposite Pat Surtain II when there are only two on the field? Riley Moss was excellent last season before his injury, and should be the favorite to retain that role, but Barron experienced his breakout campaign as a boundary cornerback, and could push Moss for that role.

Although the Broncos’ coaches have expressed that they don’t view Barron as a safety, does that perception change at all if Moss fends him off on the outside? If Barron can play safety, it would greatly alleviate the aforementioned concerns about Locke’s recovery, and it could even limit the Singleton concerns by potentially enabling Hufanga to drop into the box and play like a linebacker, which he did in bursts during his stint with the 49ers.

In nickel looks, Barron will likely kick inside, where he’s at his best, and Moss will take the boundary spot back over, which would leave Ja’Quan McMillian as the odd man out. The Broncos will then have to choose between the depth McMillian provides and the draft capital he could yield in a trade.