The 2020 season was the Denver Broncos' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 61st overall and their second under head coach Vic Fangio. It also marked the team's 20th season playing their home games in their current venue, Empower Field at Mile High, as well as the 10th and final season with John Elway serving as the general manager.
The Broncos failed to improve on their 7–9 record from 2019, while decimated by numerous injuries and struggling with poor offensive performances, ranking in the bottom quarter in several statistical categories. The Broncos suffered their fourth consecutive losing season—the team's second-longest streak behind 1963–1972, and missed the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season—tied with 2006–2010 for the second-longest streak in franchise history, behind 1960–1976. In addition, it was the Broncos' second season of 11 or more losses in four seasons, after only having two such seasons from 1990 to 2016. For the first time since 2010, the Broncos were unable to win two consecutive games in consecutive weeks without a bye.
Coaching changes January 10: Outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley departed to become the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. January 12: Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was fired after only one season, following a 2019 season in which the Broncos ranked in the bottom five in several offensive categories, including scoring offense and total yardage. Two days later (January 14), Scangarello was replaced by Pat Shurmur, who served as the New York Giants' head coach during the previous two seasons. Shurmur will become the Broncos' fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons. January 15: Quarterbacks coach T. C. McCartney was fired after only one season. January 28: Mike Shula, who served as the Giants' offensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019 alongside Pat Shurmur, was named quarterbacks coach. February 6: John Pagano was named outside linebackers coach, replacing Brandon Staley. Pagano worked in the same position with the Houston Texans during the previous two seasons.
Roster changes
Future contracts All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts on December 31, 2019, unless noted otherwise. The signings include all ten players who were on the practice squad of the final roster at the end of the 2019 season. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 18—the first day of the 2020 league year. Position Player Notes OT Ka'John Armstrong waived April 28 WR Trinity Benson waived September 5, assigned to the practice squad on September 6 LB Malik Carney waived September 5 RB Jeremy Cox waived September 5, assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on October 31 LB Tre' Crawford waived July 27 P Trevor Daniel waived April 23 TE Bug Howard waived April 27 OT Tyler Jones signed January 15, waived September 5 S P. J. Locke waived September 5, assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on September 24 WR Kelvin McKnight waived July 27 RB Khalfani Muhammad waived July 27 S Tyvis Powell waived April 27 QB Brett Rypien waived September 5, assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on September 25 S Kahani Smith waived July 27 DT Jay-Tee Tiuli waived April 27 LS Wes Farnsworth waived August 27
Free agents
Unrestricted Position Player 2020 team Notes QB Brandon Allen Cincinnati Bengals signed with the Bengals on August 1 LB Jeremiah Attaochu Denver Broncos re-signed March 23 CB De'Vante Bausby Denver Broncos originally an RFA, re-signed March 20, waived September 5,assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on September 18, released October 24,claimed off waivers on November 10 RB Devontae Booker Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on May 7 DE Adam Gotsis Jacksonville Jaguars signed with the Jaguars on August 2 CB Chris Harris, Jr. Los Angeles Chargers signed with the Chargers on March 18 NT Shelby Harris Denver Broncos re-signed March 27 DE Joel Heath originally an RFA, re-signed March 27, waived July 27,re-signed and placed on the Reserve/Higher Risk Opt-Out list on August 25 CB Cyrus Jones LB Joseph Jones Denver Broncos originally an RFA, re-signed March 27 LS Casey Kreiter New York Giants signed with the Giants on April 1 G Ronald Leary C Connor McGovern New York Jets signed with the Jets on March 18 LB Corey Nelson S Will Parks Philadelphia EaglesDenver Broncos signed with the Eagles on March 21,claimed off waivers from the Eagles on December 2 DT Kyle Peko originally an RFA, placed on the Reserve/Higher Risk Opt-Out list on July 28 RB Theo Riddick Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on August 23 S Justin Simmons Denver Broncos assigned franchise tag on March 13,signed one-year franchise tag on July 15 DE Derek Wolfe Baltimore Ravens signed with the Ravens on March 28 Note: Unrestricted free agents who were originally Restricted Free Agents (RFA) had three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season, and did not receive a qualifying offer before the start of the 2020 league year on March 18.
Restricted and exclusive-rights Position Player Tag 2020 team Notes S Trey Marshall ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 17 WR Tim Patrick ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 17 DE Mike Purcell RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 18, placed on injured reserve on October 27 OT Jake Rodgers ERFA assigned tender on March 18, waived September 5,promoted to the active roster on October 10, waived November 25 WR Diontae Spencer ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 17 CB Shakial Taylor ERFA TBD assigned tender on March 17, waived July 27 S Dymonte Thomas ERFA OT Elijah Wilkinson RFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 17, placed on the PUP list on July 28,activated from the PUP list on August 3, placed on injured reserve on September 29
Signings Position Player 2019 team(s) Notes LB Mark Barron Pittsburgh Steelers signed August 30, placed on injured reserve on September 23,waived December 22 LS Jacob Bobenmoyer None signed March 11 QB Blake Bortles Los Angeles Rams signed September 24, released October 17 LB Anthony Chickillo Pittsburgh Steelers signed September 18 DE Christian Covington Dallas Cowboys signed April 28, traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on September 4 OT Demar Dotson Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed August 11 QB Jeff Driskel Detroit Lions signed March 18 G Graham Glasgow Detroit Lions signed March 18 RB Melvin Gordon Los Angeles Chargers signed March 20 DE Timmy Jernigan Philadelphia Eagles signed September 30, released October 20 P Sam Martin Detroit Lions signed March 24 CB Parnell Motley None undrafted free agent signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,signed off the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad on December 16 TE Nick Vannett Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers signed March 21 DE DeShawn Williams None signed August 15, waived September 5,assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on September 25 DT Sylvester Williams Los Angeles Chargers signed October 17, released October 23,assigned to the practice squad on October 24,promoted to the active roster on October 27
Departures
Position Player Notes LB Todd Davis released September 4 QB Joe Flacco released March 19 with a failed physical designation TE Troy Fumagalli designated as waived/injured on September 5,re-signed to the practice squad on November 9, then re-signed to the active roster. CB Davontae Harris waived November 17 TE Jeff Heuerman released July 31 CB Horace Richardson waived March 5 DT Deyon Sizer waived April 27 P Colby Wadman waived April 23 DE Billy Winn released March 5
Trades March 18: Fullback Andy Janovich was traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a seventh-round selection in the 2021 draft. September 2: Cornerback Isaac Yiadom was traded to the New York Giants in exchange for a seventh-round selection in the 2021 draft. September 4: Defensive end Christian Covington, signed by the Broncos in April, was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for linebacker Austin Calitro.
Draft
2020 Denver Broncos Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 15 Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama signed July 23 2 46 K. J. Hamler WR Penn State signed July 24, placed on injured reserve on January 2 3 77 Michael Ojemudia CB Iowa signed July 21 83 Lloyd Cushenberry C LSU signed July 22 95 McTelvin Agim DT Arkansas signed July 22 4 118 Albert Okwuegbunam TE Missouri signed July 22, placed on injured reserve on November 9 5 178 * Justin Strnad LB Wake Forest signed July 22, placed on injured reserve on August 24 6 181 Netane Muti G Fresno State signed July 22, placed on the NFI list on July 28,activated from the NFI list on August 3 7 252 * Tyrie Cleveland WR Florida signed July 22 254 * Derrek Tuszka LB North Dakota State signed July 22, waived September 5,assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on September 30,placed on injured reserve on October 27,acivated from injured reserve on December 12 * Compensatory selection
Draft trades Trade partner Broncos give Broncos receive Source Jacksonville Jaguars 2020 fourth-round selection CB A. J. Bouye New England Patriots Original 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 195) CB Duke Dawson2020 seventh-round selection Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 first-round selection 2019 first-round selection2020 third-round selection—No. 83 San Francisco 49ers WR Emmanuel SandersOriginal 2020 fifth-round selection (No. 156) 2020 third-round selection—No. 952020 fourth-round selection Tennessee Titans 2020 seventh-round selection DE Jurrell Casey Washington Football Team QB Case KeenumOriginal 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 229) 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 181)
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed on April 26—one day after the 2020 NFL draft concluded, unless noted otherwise.
2020 Denver Broncos undrafted free agents Player Position College Notes Essang Bassey CB Wake Forest the only undrafted rookie to make the Week 1 roster,placed on injured reserve on December 9 LeVante Bellamy RB Western Michigan waived September 5, assigned to the practice squad on September 6,promoted to the active roster on September 30,placed on injured reserve on October 10, waived November 25,re-signed December 26 Douglas Coleman III S Texas Tech waived September 5 Kendall Hinton WR/QB Wake Forest waived September 5 Darrin Paulo OT Utah claimed off waivers from the New Orleans Saints on August 30,waived September 5,assigned to the practice squad on September 6 Riley Neal QB Vanderbilt waived July 27 Zimari Manning WR Tarleton State waived July 28 Hunter Watts OT Central Arkansas waived September 5 Cody White WR Michigan State signed August 23, waived September 5
Suspensions On December 9, cornerback A. J. Bouye was suspended for six games—the last four games of 2020 and the first two games in 2021—for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Injuries