Four Broncos named to Next Gen Stats All-Pro Team… read more
Broncos Shine in Next Gen Stats 2024 All-Pro Team
The Denver Broncos had a standout season in 2024, with several players delivering career-defining performances that made a significant impact on the team’s success. Recently, (link unavailable) released its Next Gen Stats 2024 All-Pro Team, which recognizes the top players in the league based on advanced data analysis. The Broncos were well-represented on the list, with two defensive players, one offensive player, and one special teams contributor earning recognition.
On the offensive side of the ball, guard Quinn Meinerz was the lone Broncos representative. The analytics team praised Meinerz’s contributions to the team’s strong offensive line, noting that his role in strengthening the unit “cannot be overstated.” Meinerz’s impressive performance was highlighted by his ability to limit pressure on the quarterback, allowing just one or fewer pressures in 11 games this season. This achievement tied him for the most such games by a guard since at least 2018. As a result, Meinerz boasted a mere 3.6% pressure rate, the lowest among all guards, while surrendering only one sack.
Defensively, the Broncos had two players recognized for their outstanding play. Cornerback Pat Surtain II and defensive lineman Zach Allen were both named to the Next Gen Stats 2024 All-Pro Team. Allen’s dominant performance was a key factor in the Broncos’ success, as he became the first defensive tackle since Aaron Donald in 2021 to crack the top 10 in total pressures with 67. Allen’s contributions didn’t stop there, as he also excelled in run defense. He recorded the third-most run tackles for loss or no gain (20) among all players and posted the second-highest run-stuff rate (6.5%) among defensive tackles with at least 200 run snaps.
Surtain II, meanwhile, continued to establish himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the league. His lockdown coverage forced opponents to avoid targeting him, with quarterbacks and play-callers making it a point to steer clear of “Surtain Island.” As a result, Surtain II was targeted on just 10.9% of his snaps, the lowest rate since 2021 among corners with at least 300 coverage snaps. When opponents did try to test him, Surtain II allowed a league-best -0.43 expected points added per target (among CBs with at least 300 coverage snaps and 30 targets).
The Broncos’ final representative on the Next Gen Stats 2024 All-Pro Team was punt returner Marvin Mims Jr. Mims’ impressive speed and agility made him a threat on special teams, as he averaged 15.7 yards per return this season, the most in the NFL among players with at least 10 returns. Mims finished the season ranked third in punt return success rate (57.7 percent), with his speed being a key factor in his success. Among all players with at least 50 touches (from scrimmage or as a returner), Mims posted an average top speed of 16.0 mph, second only to kickoff returner KaVontae Turpin (16.34).
