Training Camp 2021: Previewing the Broncos defensive ends

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 defensive end position:

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Starters: Shelby Harris, Dre’Mont Jones

The best hands in the game don’t belong to a wide receiver, they belong to Broncos starting defensive end Shelby Harris. He’s not catching passes on the field, but Harris is preventing passes from getting past the line of scrimmage seemingly more than any other defender in the league. Harris is a pass breakup specialist and has a knack for timing up his jump to swat passes to the ground.

Harris was a seventh-round pick out of Illinois State in 2014 by the Oakland Raiders. After picking him up in 2017 under former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, Harris worked diligently to impress head coach Vic Fangio when he took over in 2019. Things weren’t always smooth between the two, with a sideline skirmish mixed in, but the respect level was always there.

The Broncos made it right with Harris this offseason. He signed a three-year, $27 million deal as the team made him a priority to keep around. In 2020, Harris hit free agency, but the market was cool, so he returned to Denver on a “prove it” deal. Now, he’s well-paid and a leader of the defense. In 2021, Harris simply needs to keep doing what he’s been doing for the past two seasons. One thing to keep note of is his trademark fire.

The most underrated player, and perhaps a future Pro Bowl player, is Dre’Mont Jones. I had Jones as my no.50 prospect in the 2019 NFL draft and felt it was a great value when the Broncos were able to acquire him in the third round.

He has tremendous upside and has been developing as a rotational/reserve player for the Broncos over the last two seasons. Jones did start eight games for the Broncos in 2020, and that’s when he really started flashing the natural ability he has.

We’ve seen glimpses of what Jones can do, and now it’s time for him to take his game to the next level. Jones is strong, has multiple moves to get after the passer and can be a disruptive player. He’s tough to block with his intent, low center of gravity and high motor. Jones has great snap anticipation and is a very bright player, often sniffing out plays before blockers can reach for him. He has pursuit ability if the play goes away from him, and if he gets the quarterback in his sights he can close quickly – and violently.

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Reserves: Marquiss Spencer, Jonathan Harris (DL), Deyon Sizer (DL)

The Broncos have a versatile group of reserve players behind Harris and Jones. On their official depth chart, most players are listed as “DL” for defensive linemen rather than “DE” for defensive end or “DT” for defensive tackle. I’ve picked through those players who can play both positions and chosen which I’d like to write up in this article featuring the defensive ends. When I write up defensive tackles later in the week, I’ll include the other “DL” players from the official roster.

Marquiss Spencer was a seventh-round pick of the Broncos in the 2021 NFL draft. Coming out of Mississippi State, Spencer was known for strength on the edge and position versatility. He’s got strong hands and can latch-and-steer his man when he gets a hold of him. Spencer’s strong hands also help him knock the ball out of a ball-carrier’s hands.

He’s got a fine combination of size, strength and athleticism – making him one of the most intriguing prospects on Day 3 of the draft. If he fully develops his skill set, the Broncos could have a fine starting defensive end.

Jonathan Harris came into the NFL as a priority free agent for the Chicago Bears in 2019. He went undrafted coming out of Lindenwood, but those in the scouting community knew that Harris was a player who could make a team as a developmental prospect. He was nearly unblockable in Division II, and if you can capture that in the NFL you have something.

After a couple of years in the league, mostly with the Broncos as the Bears released him and Denver was quick to scoop him up in 2019, it’s now-or-never for Harris. He’s got strong hands, can chop at the ball and brings opponents down to the ground violently. Like most players on this list, Harris has the versatility to move around the defensive line. One thing Harris has that makes him a standout player is his closing burst to the ball or the quarterback. He’s not polished but when his motor is running hot, Harris can make plays.

Deyon Sizer is a local prospect who has been with the Broncos since 2019. Coming out of CSU-Pueblo, Sizer was an undersized player who played with a lot of heart. In his senior season with the Thunderwolves in 2018, Sizer recorded 56 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Sizer was named to the All-RMAC First Team and was signed as an undrafted free agent. He’s bounced on-and-off the active roster but has mostly spent his time with the Broncos on the practice squad. He’s versatile enough to play across the defensive line and can be a penetrator to get pressure on the quarterback.

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Summary

The Broncos have a swarming defense under Fangio. The team has to be strong up front – like they are – for things to work. It all starts up front with the defensive line, and the defensive ends give the team versatility in the trenches.

Harris and Jones are both solid players who can control the edge against the run while also getting pressure on the quarterback. They get pressure in different ways; Harris with hands up and blocking passing lanes and Jones with moves to get to the quarterback.

The depth behind their starters is a bit of a concern. They have talented players, but these guys (not the rookie Spencer) have had a couple of seasons to get up to speed in the pro game. We’ll see what kind of competition is there for these players and who wins the job as depth behind their strong starting two defensive ends.

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