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Broncos Week 7 Stock Report: Justin Strnad, 4 Others Among Those Surging in Arizona
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- Broncos Week 7 Stock Report: Justin Strnad, 4 Others Among Those Surging in Arizona
Denver finally put a game away. The Broncos beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-16 in Glendale for their third straight win and first multi-score victory of the season , and they did it with big plays on offense and a goal-line stand to close.
Bo Nix's 62-yard touchdown run will lead the highlights, and Alex Singleton's 19 tackles held the defense together. "When he's making plays, it gets the whole team juiced up," Zach Allen said of Nix after the game.
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Plenty of others moved the needle too, according to PFF's final grades for the game. Here's whose stock is up and whose is down heading into the Kansas City rematch.
Rising: Justin Strnad
Sep 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad (40) and safety Brandon Jones (22) tackle Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Strnad was the Broncos' highest-graded player in Arizona at 88.0, according to PFF, and his 90.2 coverage grade led the defense. He was targeted five times and allowed 19 yards.
That matters against an offense that leaned on Trey McBride all afternoon. Strnad played 61 snaps next to Singleton and kept the middle of the field from turning into chunk gains. Kansas City will test that same area Sunday, so Denver needs more of it.
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Rising: RJ Harvey
Oct 25, 2026; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (12) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Harvey played just 16 snaps and still produced the longest play of his career. Three plays after Adam Prentice blocked a punt, he took a Nix screen 52 yards for a touchdown.
PFF gave him an 88.3 receiving grade, the best on the team. Jonah Coleman got the bigger workload, with 30 snaps to Harvey's 16, but Harvey showed he can still be a home-run threat out of the backfield. A few more screens like that one would make Denver's backfield much harder to defend.
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Falling: Broncos offensive tackles
NFL Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Mike McGlinchey and Garett Bolles had a long afternoon against an Arizona front that generated 25 pressures, according to PFF. McGlinchey finished with a 35.6 run-blocking grade, and Bolles posted a 49.0 pass-blocking grade.
Sean Payton spent the week calling for better blocking around Nix, and the Cardinals' edge rushers kept getting home. Baron Browning and Jordan Burch had four pressures apiece. The Chiefs will bring more.
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Rising: Nik Bonitto
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) escapes from the pocket as Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) dives after him at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 25, 2026.
Bonitto didn't get a sack, but he led the Broncos with six pressures and posted an 85.2 overall grade, according to PFF. He spent most of the day chasing Jacoby Brissett, who threw 48 times, and his 77.1 pass-rush grade was the best among Denver's edge rushers.
It continues a stretch in which the pass rush has carried the defense . With Zach Allen hurt late, Bonitto may have to carry more of it against Kansas City.
Rising: Ja'Quan McMillian
Oct 15, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29) reacts in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
McMillian has been one of the steadier pieces of a secondary missing Pat Surtain II. He allowed a 67.7 passer rating on eight targets in the slot and earned a 79.1 overall grade, according to PFF.
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He also made the overtime interception against Seattle 10 days earlier, so this is now a pattern. When Surtain returns, McMillian's spot inside looks safe.
Falling: Troy Franklin
Sep 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) returns a punt against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Franklin played 28 snaps and finished without a catch on two targets. His 45.3 receiving grade was the lowest among Broncos receivers, according to PFF.
The timing isn't great. Jaylen Waddle left with a chest injury, and if he misses time, Franklin is one of the receivers Denver would need to step up next to Courtland Sutton.
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Rising: Wil Lutz
Oct 15, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz (3) kicks a field goal to defeat the the Seattle Seahawks in overtime at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Lutz went 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 48-yarder on the opening drive, and made all three extra points for 12 points. That was his 111th straight extra point, one shy of the 112 in a row Justin Tucker made from 2015 to 2018, the most since the NFL moved extra points back in 2015, according to the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson .
He can tie the mark with his first extra point against the Chiefs. In a rivalry game that could come down to a kick, his steadiness is worth a lot.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
