The Denver Broncos went 7-9 last season but still managed to finish second in the AFC West. Not the best, but they still showed enough potential as a team ready to turn a corner in 2020.
The Broncos have not made it to the playoffs since Peyton Manning’s final swansong in 2015, which culminated in a Super Bowl win over the Carolina Panthers. Ever since then, Denver has missed the postseason. Many think a return to glory is imminent, and that’s thanks in large part to the rapid development of Drew Lock at quarterback.
It’s because of this development that they decided to draft wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler with their first two picks in the Draft, as well as Tyrie Cleveland in Round 7.
The first two guys possess speed problems for the opposing defenses across the league, which is a dynamic similar to their biggest divisional threat in Kansas City. While Jeudy, Hamler, Cleveland, and Lock aren’t the same powerhouse that Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman Jr., and Patrick Mahomes are, that doesn’t mean they can’t make some serious noise in 2020.
The Las Vegas Raiders shocked the football world when they made Henry Ruggs III the first receiver off the board at No. 13. Many mocks had Ruggs as low as fifth or sixth, but Las Vegas decided he was their guy. As a result, Jeudy was there for the taking when Denver selected at 15. Jeudy, the consensus No. 1 receiver in the draft, caught 77 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Alabama Crimson Tide last year. He can play anywhere on the field, so expect him to be one of Lock’s favorite targets from Day 1.
As for Hamler, he is more of a speedster and a slot receiver than someone who can play outside the numbers. He caught 56 passes for 904 yards receiving and eight touchdowns for Penn State this past season.
Along with those two players, they also have DaeSean Hamilton and Courtland Sutton.
Hamilton and Sutton each played in all 16 games last season for Denver. Hamilton posted 28 receptions for 297 yards and one touchdown, while Sutton was a bit more productive, catching 72 passes for 1,112 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
Adding Jeudy and Hamler to the mix with Hamilton and Sutton should bode well for the confidence for all the offensive personnel in Denver.
Denver likely won’t win the AFC West because of the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Broncos will be a dangerous team to play against week in and week out with the talent they assembled this offseason.
Yes, that includes the talent picked up in the 2020 NFL Draft.
