Next up is the Denver Broncos, the second place team in the AFC West. Champ Bailey is the leader of this team, but it all depends on how Jay Cutler plays as the starter for a full season.

2006 Season: 9-7, 3rd AFC West
Missed Playoffs

Offense: Multiple West Coast

Quarterback: Jay Cutler
I loved watching this kid while he was at Vanderbilt and I think he may be something special in the NFL. Cutler was good enough to unseat Jake Plummer late in the season last season and almost lead the Broncos to the playoffs. This year should be his breakout season…look out world, here comes the kid from Santa Claus, Indiana. Maybe he’ll do to the NFL what 2 small town Indiana kids have done for the NBA and MLB(Larry the Legend and Scott Rolen) Grade: 4 out of 5.

Running Back: Travis Henry
The free agent signee from the Titans is a great signing for a team that normally churns out 1,000 yard rushers at will. However, last season proved they needed a good workhorse back and they decided that that person was not Tatum Bell or Mike Bell. Henry’s best seasons were in Buffalo and he should be able to run wild with this line. Grade: 4 out of 5

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: Key Player-Javon Walker
This group of receivers should make Jay Cutler look like John Elway. Walker, Rod Smith, Brandon Stokley(an Ed McAffery clone), and Daniel Graham should be spreading the field all day long. Walker is the deep threat out of the 4 and should have a career year. Grade: 5 out of 5.

Offensive Line: Key Player-C Tom Nalen
Well, this offensive line still has the stalwarts of Nalen and Matt Lepsis and they still block with the zone blocking technique that made Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, Mike Anderson, and Rueben Droughens look like Jim Brown. Grade: 4 out of 5

Defense: 4-3

Defensive Line: Key Player-DE Ebenezer Ekuban
Ekuban had 7 sacks last season and is opposite Kenard Lang, who had 6 sacks. In the middle, Gerard Warren is back to being a beast in the middle of the D-Line. Ekuban should have double-digit sacks this season. Grade: 4 out of 5

Linebackers: Key Player-MLB D.J. Williams
With the retirement on OLB Al Wilson, D.J. Williams has become the leader of this crew. Williams played opposite Jonathan Vilma at Miami and now has the great Ian Gold playing next to him. Grade: 4 out of 5

Cornerback: Key Player-Champ Bailey
What an upgrade! Instead of having 1 shutdown corner, the Broncos now have 2. Dre Bly was acquired from Detroit for RB Tatum Bell. Now Bly is used to taking on the #1 receiver for the opponent, now he will have the face the #2, which will make him even better. Grade: 5 out of 5

Safety: Key Player-John ####
#### is still laying people out from safety. He’s lost a step from his time with the Bucs, but he’s still the rock in center field. Grade: 3.5 out of 5

Special Teams
K: Jason Elam
P: Todd Sauerbrun
Elam has lost a little bit of length on his kicks and Sauerbrun is nuts. Elam is still accurate as hell, he just make the 60 yarders like he did earlier in his career. Grade: 4 out of 5

Overview
The Broncos would be a championship-caliber team is they didn’t play in the AFC West. They’ll battle with the Chargers for the division and will fight to the end against the Titans for the final wild card spot.