5 reasons Broncos will not repeat as Super Bowl champions

3. They will likely lose some key defensive pieces

That salary cap situation is going to hurt most on the defensive side, where the Broncos have a number of free agents. Denver can’t retain all its starters, and that could hurt a defense that needs to play perfectly given the lack of explosive ability on the offense.

It would be an absolute shock if Miller left in free agency, and he has the rare type of pass rushing ability that can completely carry a defense at times. Denver will also retain most of a very good secondary, so it’s not like it won’t have a strong defense even with a few departures.

However, the Broncos are probably going to lose a couple of talented, young starters. The trio of linebacker Brandon Marshall (a restricted free agent) , linebacker Danny Trevathan and defensive lineman Malik Jackson are all free agents who are in for a big pay day. Safety David Bruton Jr., who was a solid depth piece before suffering a season-ending broken fibula in Week 15, could also be gone.

Retaining all three of those defensive starters seems unlikely when Miller’s contract is factored in, and two could even be a stretch. Jackson may have priced himself out of Denver with his excellent play this season, as he provided versatility and strong pressure from the interior.

The Broncos would still have a great pass rush with Miller, Ware and Derek Wolfe, but losing a player like Jackson still would hurt. If Denver chooses to pay Jackson, they risk losing Trevathan, which would be a big blow to their strong linebacker corps.

It’s a tough decision that Denver is going to have to think about before the start of free agency. No matter who stays and goes, the Broncos defense figures to be a little worse in 2016, something the other top AFC teams could take advantage of.

Next: 2. An unknown at quarterback