Examining Denver's Super Bowl window, rest of AFC West

The Broncos are Super Bowl or bust for the foreseeable future
The Denver Broncos made their offseason splash on Tuesday, acquiring standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins .

Adding a top-tier pass catcher had been festering on Denver's to-do list for quite a while, and they are now finally able to cross off that need, albeit by shipping away its first-round pick (No.

30 overall) along with third- and fourth-rounders as well to secure Waddle (and a fourth-round pick).

Despite coming off a 14-3 season that was good enough to earn the Broncos their first division title in a decade, along with the No.

1 seed and a trip to the AFC Championship, the franchise needed a move of this magnitude in an increasingly competitive AFC.

Waddle's arrival raises the ceiling of an offense that will need as much firepower as it can acquire as it gears up to return to the NFL's final four by slaying some of the top quarterbacks that the league has to offer in 2026 and beyond.

The move is also a clear signal from the Broncos that they believe their Super Bowl window is wide open at this very moment, and for good reason.

After all, had Bo Nix not suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the final seconds of their divisional round win over Buffalo, they conceivably could've won the AFC Championship -- that was played at Mile High -- and reached Super Bowl LX this past season.

With all that in mind, let's use this Waddle blockbuster as a springboard into an examination of this Super Bowl window Denver has thrust itself into.

Mainly, we'll highlight some big mile markers on the horizon from a roster perspective, while also detailing what the balance of power looks like in what is arguably one of the more competitive divisions in the NFL.

How much longer does Bo Nix have on his rookie deal?

One of the major advantages the Broncos have at the moment is Nix playing on his rookie contract.

Having a quarterback like Nix, who has won 10-plus games and made the playoffs in each of his first two seasons in the NFL and brought his team to the AFC Championship last season, while earning pennies (in NFL terms) on the dollar, is the biggest bargain in sports.

Because Nix was a first-round pick in 2024, he is subject to the fifth-year option in 2028, which is fully guaranteed if picked up, and it would seem likely, as things stand today, that Denver will utilize the club option.

A decision on whether or not to pick up that option will come next offseason, which is also when Nix will become extension eligible.

So, the true bargain for the Broncos at QB comes in 2026 and 2027, and then starts to dissolve after that.

This is notable because having a quarterback so cheap allows the Broncos to make trades, as the one struck on Tuesday with Waddle, who comes to Denver amid a three-year, $84.75 million extension he signed in 2024.

If Nix were on his second contract by now, this trade would become a bit trickier to pull off from a financial standpoint.

So, it's wise for GM George Paton and Co.

to be aggressive now before a Nix extension makes things more cumbersome.

What other free agents are on the horizon
Denver has done a solid job locking up some of their key pillars over the last few years, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Back in September, the club inked star pass rusher Nik Bonitto to a four-year, $106 million extension that has him under team control through the 2029 season.

Meanwhile, Patrick Surtain II is also signed through 2029 on a four-year, $96 million extension he signed in 2024.

On offense, wideout Courtland Sutton is under contract through 2029 after signing a four-year, $92 million extension last July, and All-Pro right guard Quinn Meinerz signed a four-year, $80 million extension that has him under team control through the 2028 season.

In 2027, left guard Ben Powers and wideout Marvin Mims are two notable unrestricted free agents.

In 2028, right tackle Mike McGlinchey would be hitting the open market at nearly 34 years old.

It's the 2029 offseason that could be interesting for Denver.

That, in theory, would be the first year of Nix's second contract, and it also aligns with some central figures in the current core hitting free agency, like Waddle, Garett Bolles , and Meinerz.

Assessing the balance of power in the AFC West
As for Los Angeles, the Chargers were stymied by injuries last season, particularly along the offensive line, with tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater suffering season-ending injuries.

With those two expected to be back by the start of next year, Justin Herbert should have better protection, especially after L.A.

revamped the interior in free agency with center Tyler Biadasz and guard Cole Strange .

The Chargers allowed the fifth-fewest yards per game and the ninth-fewest points per game over the regular season, so they could be a thorn in Denver's side if the pieces fall properly into place for Herbert and the offense.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are still a few years away from contending, but they will be inching closer toward being a factor in the division this offseason when they inevitably select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No.

1 overall pick.

So long as the Heisman Trophy-winning QB lives up to the hype, there is talent in Las Vegas' offense to springboard this rebuild.

That said, it'll still take a couple of seasons before they officially enter the conversation.

They know the window is right now.