Could the Broncos go from worst-to-first in 2021?
Jun 3, 2021, 2:45 PM
The Denver Broncos haven’t had a winning season since their 2016 campaign and head coach Vic Fangio is still winless in September, but could that all change?
Of course a trade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers would change the outlook of the Broncos’ upcoming season entirely, but NFL columnist Adam Schein believes Denver is a candidate to go from worst-to-first in 2021.
He ranked the Broncos the third-most likely team to win a division title this season.
“To be clear, I’d still pick Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs to win the AFC West over Aaron Rodgers’ Broncos, if that hypothetical trade were to occur,” Schein wrote. “But I really dig a lot of the Broncos’ offseason activity thus far, specifically the cornerback additions of free agent Kyle Fuller and first-round pick Patrick Surtain II.
“The former already has excelled under Vic Fangio (when the two worked together in Chicago) and the latter has the refined game to shine under the coach in Year 1. I love the gobs of young talent at the offensive skill positions, too.”
The Broncos have a lot of pieces to make this the year the organization gets turned around.
Schein also pointed out how many important weapons Denver has on offense, which will hopefully help put more points on the board.
“Courtland Sutton’s healthy return to a receiving corps that includes Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler and Tim Patrick provides explosive potential in the passing game, and second-round pick Javonte Williams’ addition to the Melvin Gordon-led backfield is quite promising, too,” Schein wrote.
This all rides on the quarterback situation, though.
Can the Broncos finally take the Kansas City Chiefs down?
“If it’s Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater, the Broncos easily have the worst quarterback in a division that includes Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr,’ Schein said. “In fact, they might have the worst QB1 situation in the league. Rodgers makes Denver a Super Bowl contender. Without him? Also-ran status.”
