INDIANAPOLIS — On the heels of an AFC Championship Game appearance, the Broncos are determined to attack the upcoming months with an urgent mindset as they look ahead toward 2026.

And as General Manager George Paton explained Tuesday, that approach is nothing new for an organization that is always striving to be at its best.

"I think we are always urgent," General Manager George Paton said. "After the season, you reset because our team is not going to be the same. We have to be urgent. We don't control a lot in free agency. Guys can leave. I think I said in January that we are going to be urgent and aggressive in our approach [with] no stone unturned. We are looking at everything."

While the Broncos were on the doorstep of a Super Bowl appearance, though, Paton emphasized that the team must remain disciplined as it continues its chase for a world championship.

"You have to be measured and selective and make the right decisions," Paton said. "You can't just go crazy just because you came three points from the Super Bowl. We'll be aggressive in that approach but really measured and try to make sound decisions."

Head Coach Sean Payton acknowledged there's a level of increased urgency after the season the team had in 2025, but he also underlined the importance of starting each season anew.

"You do have to know that you really have to go back," Payton said. "It's painful, but you have to start from the beginning. You really do."

As part of that process, Payton also noted the need to evaluate where the team can improve even after tying a franchise record for regular-season wins.

"From my lens, we won a lot of games by one score or less," Payton said. "I'm not naive enough to think those games couldn't have swung. And you could grab any two or three, but where's the meat on the bone? The meat on the bone exists with our takeaways. That has to improve. Our run game … consistency. Our meat on the bone, relative to a number of things that we won despite maybe not being as good as others.

"I think that's the only way to look at it, relative to this team writing its own chapter and getting us to where we want to go, which is obviously a game and a half further than where we went."

'THE MUSTS'

As the Broncos aim to put themselves in position to return to contention in 2026, their offseason agenda begins with filling "the musts" from a roster perspective.

With inside linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad and running back J.K. Dobbins poised to become unrestricted free agents, Payton identified both linebacker and running back as areas the Broncos must address.

"Well, if we look at our roster and we start doing 'the musts', you would say you have to take the free agents out of the equation," Payton said. "So, running back would have to be one. Linebacker, there are two of them. So, when we go through that exercise, I think you have to remove the magnets. So, I would say when you do that, you look at the roster differently. You look at tight end differently. So, those are positions certainly that would stand out."

Asked specifically about Singleton and Strnad, Paton said the Broncos would "love to have those guys back" regardless of how the draft pans out at linebacker.

"We see those guys as Broncos," Paton said. "If we let those guys leave, what are we doing? Those are good dudes, and that doesn't mean we can get them. Everyone is watching tape. You look at both. When you are getting your plan for free agency, you look at the draft — 'Where it's strong there? OK, maybe it's strong at receiver.' It is a balance and you do develop your plan, so it is a good question. With some players, you just want to get back regardless of the strength."

At running back, Paton said while the team will need to add at the position, he was pleased with the performance of rookie RJ Harvey in 2025.

"I thought he had a really good year for a rookie and everything that was thrown to him," Patons said. "Then Dobbins gets hurt, and he comes in. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands, and you saw that at all stages during the season and in big games [like] Jacksonville and Buffalo [in the] playoffs. Just him with the ball in his hands and his route-running ability. I thought he improved [in] first and second down. I think that the game slowed down for him as the season went on. I couldn't be more happy about RJ."

Paton also stressed that while free agency is a few weeks away, it's just part of the overall plan that continues to unfold throughout the offseason.

"I think you have your meetings like we've had and you develop 'the musts,'" Paton said. "Sean has talked about the musts, and you have to get those filled with good players. Those are the ones that you attack on offense, defense and special teams. We have musts for all three phases. Those you just have to fill. It doesn't always mean through free agency or always mean through the draft. We got J.K. Dobbins in May or June. You are always looking and it never stops. There is always something out there that hopefully can help you."

CREATING FLEXIBILITY

The Broncos' free-agent approach is made easier by the slew of extensions they've executed in recent months. From Pat Surtain II and Nik Bonitto to Courtland Sutton and Quinn Meinerz — and a host of other key players — the Broncos have taken care of their own.

And, as Paton noted Tuesday, that makes this year's process simpler than it otherwise would have been.

"Just think if we didn't get those guys wrapped up, what we'd be facing," Paton said. "… If we didn't have all those guys done, just think of how much more daunting the offseason would be. It's really important to get ahead of it. … There are a lot of All-Pros and Pro Bowlers. There are a lot of good players in that list. We are identifying the right players, the right makeup and the right people."

BRONCOS 'LOVE' THAT JOSEPH IS RETURNING

Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph was among the hot names to interview for head-coaching jobs during this circuit, but he'll return to Denver for a fourth season leading the Broncos' defense.

Payton said he was happy to have Joseph return, but both he and Paton were surprised that Joseph didn't receive a head-coaching opportunity.

"I love that he's back," Payton said. "I am a little surprised with the season we had, as well as we played defensively and with 10 openings. He and I get a chance to talk about that kind of stuff as the season was wearing down. I know he felt like he had a handful of interviews that were productive, and which he felt were really good opportunities. I know that when that opportunity comes for him, he'll be successful. He has a presence about him. You guys have been around him. I think one of his superpowers is his calming presence. He pulls the best out of his players that play for him."