Broncos bond.

The newly named Broncos Stadium at Mile High is noticeable for the thousands of commuters who drive each day on Interstate 25, because the facility hugs the freeway’s west side.

Also noticeable is the lack of signage attached to the outside of the stadium.

That will change before the Broncos open the season Sept. 9 against Seattle, but the current look is emblematic of the team’s problem.

The lack of a naming-rights deal has robbed the franchise of millions of dollars that could be invested back into the stadium.

Invesco Field became Sports Authority Field became Broncos Stadium at Mile High. The team said last week it is continuing to search for a naming-rights partner. The Broncos assumed the contract in August 2016 and still have no deal.

“That’s not normal,” said Irwin Kishner, a partner and chairman of the Sports Law Group at Herrick Feinstein LLP. “Most of these naming-rights deals are done in a much more condensed period of time.”

Herrick Feinstein LLC has consulted team owners on stadium construction and naming-rights deals in the NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS.

During a phone interview Friday, Kishner discussed several components of a Broncos naming-rights agreement.

The Broncos moved into their current home in September 2001. Since then, 12 NFL stadiums have opened, not including the Los Angeles Chargers’ temporary home.

Does the age of the stadium impact the value of the naming rights?

“Sure,” Kishner said. “The most value from a naming-rights deal is always associated from the beginning (of the stadium’s life). It loses a little bit of value or luster after the stadium was called something else for a period of years.”

So what could the Broncos command? Sports Authority’s contract with the Broncos in 2011 was for $150 million over 25 years ($6 million per year).

“Would it be unheard of for a team like the Broncos to get somewhere in the $100 million range for (a 10-year contact)? I think that’s totally reasonable,” Kishner said.

The pool of potential partners for the Broncos to wade through is significant. Twenty-four stadiums currently have a naming-rights contract, but only two (the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and the Detroit Lions’ Ford Field) are with companies among the top 20 of this year’s Fortune 500. And the Ford family has a controlling interest in the Lions.

Who would be a fit for the Broncos? “You’re looking for financial companies — all of the large banks, insurance companies and car manufacturers,” Kishner said. “Those are the ones that usually fit the nicest.”

An additional layer unique to the Broncos is that the “Mile High” label will be attached to the stadium regardless of the corporate sponsor.

The Broncos could secure a deal to call it Aetna Field or UPS Stadium and the public will still refer to it as “Mile High.”

“That’s a problem,” Kishner said. “You have to have a very robust strategy to overcome that.”

By announcing a temporary name for the stadium, it seems likely the earliest a new partner would be involved is the 2019 season.

“The fact it’s been going on (for nearly two years) indicates there is some friction between the potential value the Broncos see for the deal versus what the third-party sponsors see,” Kishner said.

Deploying their personnel. Good stuff from the website Football Outsiders, which released its analysis of how teams varied their defensive packages. The Broncos ranked fifth in base (41 percent of the snaps), last in nickel (five defensive backs — 27 percent) and fifth in dime (six defensive backs — 30 percent). The Broncos were an outlier in how much they used dime. The league average was 13 percent, and 11 teams used it on fewer than 3 percent of the snaps.

The Broncos’ rookies have been together since early May, staying at the same hotel and practicing and attending community events together. “The bond has been amazing,” linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “When we first got here and got on the bus, nobody said a word. Nobody was talking. Now, to see us interacting like we’ve known each other for 10 years, it’s cool to see. A lot of guys are becoming good friends.”

Brady’s blind side. While Brady stayed away from the entire offseason program except for mandatory minicamp, the Patriots started to figure out who will play left offensive tackle. Nate Solder signed with the New York Giants in free agency. The candidates are Trent Brown (ex of San Francisco), Laadrian Waddle (a fill-in right tackle last year) and first-round pick Isaiah Wynn (who might end up starting at left guard).

Recognizing young talent. Last week, Nfl.com put together a team of the best players who will be younger than 25 in Week 1. The Broncos and 16 other teams were not represented. AFC West players recognized were Kansas City receiver Tyreek Hill, defensive tackle Chris Jones and kicker Harrison Butker and Los Angeles Chargers guard Dan Feeney and defensive end Joey Bosa. New Orleans led with four players (tailback Alvin Kamara, left tackle Ryan Ramczyk, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Marcus Williams).

Bears’ offense intriguing. When Chicago visits the Broncos for two practices in mid-august, it will bring an offense that will present a test. Receiver Allen Robinson is coming off an injured ACL but has No. 1 potential. Tight end Trey Burton got big money ($18 million guaranteed) to leave Philadelphia, and tailback Jordan Howard has eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in both of his years. New coach Matt Nagy will call the plays and is tasked with improving an offense that has ranked 23rd, 23rd, 28th and 29th in points the last four years (all last-place NFC North finishes).

Ryan O’halloran: rohalloran@denverpost.com or @ryanohalloran