Training Camp 2021: Previewing the Broncos wide receivers

The Denver Broncos are trying to get back to relevancy – and the postseason – in 2021. They turned in a down 2020 season, going 5-11 under Vic Fangio, but the staff returns intact to give it one more try. Fangio is entering his third year as the Broncos head coach, and it’s win (a lot of games) or go home. The Broncos changed things up in a big way this offseason by moving on from former general manager John Elway and hiring new GM George Paton.

This is the first year under the guidance of Paton, and the team has done a good job of adding quality players via free agency and the NFL Draft. However, there are questions that need answers before the start of the regular season. In this series at DenverFan.com, we will go through each position group searching for those answers.

This is the latest part in our Training Camp Preview. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into the wide receiver position:

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Starters: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy

Courtland Sutton was supposed to be a breakout player in 2020. Instead of taking the league by storm, Sutton suffered a knee injury in Week 2 and missed most of last year.

He’s been working diligently to get back to 100 percent, but Sutton has been limited in the offseason. Sutton should be ramped up when training camp gets here, although he may still be limited at the beginning of August. However, Sutton does seem to be on track for the start of the regular season.

If healthy, Sutton is a big-bodied wide receiver who knows how to use his frame to box out smaller defenders. Sutton is what scouts call a “bad ball” receiver who can bail out his quarterback when a pass is off the mark.

His return to the field should greatly help quarterback Drew Lock if he’s the starter. Lock and Sutton have strong chemistry and that will continue this season. Sutton is good enough that he’ll thrive with Teddy Bridgewater too if he’s the starter. In fact, Sutton’s game would be helped by passes that lead him properly to maximize yards after the catch.

Jerry Jeudy is better than some think. Even though he didn’t turn in monster numbers like fellow rookie Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Jeudy was able to post 52 catches for 856 yards and three touchdowns, while dealing with poor quarterback play almost all season long.

The biggest problem for Jeudy besides the poor play of quarterback Drew Lock were the drops he had as a receiver. Jeudy was credited with the second-most drops in the NFL last season with 12, and his 47.3 catch percentage put him last among the 14 rookie receivers with at least 40 targets, per Pro Football Focus.

He needs to clean up this concentration problem in order to play up to his potential as a pro. Jeudy is a great route runner and can make defenders look silly before he makes his break. After the catch, Jeudy has the speed to run away from corners tasked with covering him meaning that he’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

At times, it felt like Jeudy was trying to do too much on a losing football team. We’ll see if an improved rushing attack, improved quarterback play from Lock or Bridgewater, and one year of experience under his belt help Jeudy perform more consistently in 2021.

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Reserves: K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick, Diontae Spencer, Tyrie Cleveland, Seth Williams, Kendall Hinton, Warren Jackson, Trinity Benson, Amara Darboh, DeVontres Dukes, Branden Mack, De’Mornay Pierson-El, Damion Willis

K.J. Hamler has the speed to take the top off the defense regularly. His game is all about speed, speed and more speed – something he displayed during his rookie season. He finished 2020 with 30 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns. Hamler did not record a 100-yard game last year, something that could be in line for him this season. The Broncos need to get better quarterback play for their passing game to click on all cylinders.

Tim Patrick could start for many teams in the NFL, but he’s No. 4 on the depth chart with the Broncos. Tim Patrick set career-best numbers in 2020. With Sutton missing most of the year due to a knee injury, Patrick stepped in and thrived as an outside receiver. He’s always had the ability and finally got the opportunity to showcase what he can do in the NFL. Patrick was a coveted restricted free agent, and that’s why the Broncos put a second-round tender on him. He returns this year having proven himself, but Patrick will go back to being a reserve with Sutton healthy. Patrick may not be in line to do much as the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver on the depth chart but when he goes to another team he could shine again as a starter.

Diontae Spencer is mostly a special teams player, but you can use him as a gadget player on offense. He’s simply electric with the ball in his hands. Spencer is quick and can make defenders miss in small spaces. When he hits the open field, Spencer has the speed and foot frequency to escape pursuit. Even with his value as a return man, Spencer is no lock for the 53-man roster.

Tyrie Cleveland is a favorite of the coaching staff with the potential to be a better pro player than he was a college player. He didn’t do much in college at Florida, but Cleveland did enough for the Broncos to add him in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Cleveland is a crisp route runner who has a slashing style with the ball in his hands after the catch. Known as a hard worker, Cleveland will be pushed for a spot on the depth chart in training camp.

Seth Williams has a large wingspan and presents a huge target for his quarterback. Williams had dominant moments at Auburn, and he can make crazy catches seem routine. He offers little after the catch and was more of a catch at the spot type of guy. If he cuts down on lapses of concentration, he has strong upside as a future starter. Williams will have to spend his rookie season on special teams if he makes the 53-man roster.

Kendall Hinton was arguably the most impressive receiver of the reserve players on the Broncos roster. He’s one of the smartest players on the roster and knows how to work against all sorts of coverage. Hinton’s a slot receiver who knows how to find a soft spot in a zone. Hinton will be a quarterback’s best friend by coming back to the ball and squaring his shoulders to the line of scrimmage regularly. A favorite of the staff, Hinton is at least in line for a spot on the practice squad.

Warren Jackson could be another priority free agent who turns into a quality player for the Broncos. The CSU Rams have turned into “WR-U” in recent years. Rashard Higgins, Olabisi Johnson, Preston Williams and Michael Gallup all came from Colorado State and are all in the league right now. Jackson is the next in line to make an impression in the NFL. He’s a huge target (6-feet, 6-inches) with a large wingspan and the ability to play “above the rim.” Jackson has good build-up speed but could use work on his routes.

Trinity Benson has been with the team since they picked him up as a UDFA out of East Central in 2019. It’s easy to see how Benson can use his quickness to get open on slant routes, plus he has a long stride to pull away from chasing defenders. Benson measures 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, and impressed scouts at his pro day with a 4.4 40-yard dash and a sub-6.9 second three-cone drill. He can work as a receiver or return man, and Benson even got a chance to get some carries on sweeps for East Central.

Amara Darboh did enough as a tryout player to earn a chance at the 53-man roster in training camp. Darboh has good size and the wingspan to reach out and make catches away from his frame. He’s a consistent worker but lacks dynamic ability in terms of quickness or speed. He did something during his mandatory minicamp tryout, so he’s a player to watch in training camp even though he’s a long shot.

DeVontres Dukes took some time to get his college career going at USF. He led the team in touchdown receptions (4) in 2020 and had the best season of his career with 24 catches for 297 yards. Dukes has big size but is not fast. He’s got plenty of special teams experience but is raw as a route runner.

Branden Mack, a former high school quarterback, transitioned to wide receiver and can make plays with his size/strength combination. He’s especially dangerous in the red zone because of his size (6-foot-5, 220 pounds). Mack is not a burner but wins at the catch point with strength and physicality.

De’Mornay Pierson-El played in the now defunct AAF for the Salt Lake Stallions and led the team with recorded 36 receptions for 414 yards. He was undrafted out of Nebraska in 2018 and spent some time with Washington then had a brief stop in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes. Pierson-El is a quick receiver who can make defenders miss after the catch or as a return man.

Damion Willis was added a free agent back in May earlier this year. Willis signed with the Bengals as a UDFA in 2019 and bounced around to four teams in his pro career. He has a nice size/speed combination but is going to find it difficult to make the final roster for the receiver-heavy Broncos roster.

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Summary

The Broncos have quite the group of wide receivers. Sutton and Jeudy have the upside to be one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. Even though the team is going to have a run-heavy offense, when they need to go through the air, they’ll be capable. Their starting duo can create mismatches and make big plays no matter the defense they’re facing.

The reserves give this team plenty of depth, and they have the talent which could help them not miss a beat if injuries strike at the position. The Broncos are stacked at the position which will help them put up points in 2021.

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