Could ‘underrated’ Freeman be ‘upgrade’ for Broncos, team’s bell-cow?

Jun 22, 2018, 6:57 PM

Denver Broncos third round draft pick Royce Freeman during his introductory press conference at Dove Valley April 28, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

(Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Alfred Williams said Friday one of the Denver Broncos rookies will make the NFL Top 100” list next season, and he’s neither of the highly-touted wide receivers DaeSean Hamilton and Courtland Sutton.

It’s running back Royce Freeman, the Broncos third-round pick out of the University of Oregon.

“That’s the one guy I think that’s going to show up on that ‘Top 100’ list next year because I think he will be the bell cow for the Denver Broncos,” said “The Drive” host.

Earlier this week, “Pritchard and Cecil” host Cecil Lammey said Freeman, not Sutton or Hamilton, could be “the most dangerous weapon on the Broncos offense.”

And on Friday, NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks said he could be an “upgrade” for Denver at the position.\

“I think you can hang your hat on him being one of the top guys,” Brook said.

Brooks had Freeman as a “sleeper” coming out in the draft, especially after landing with the Broncos, who need a workhorse following the departure of C.J. Anderson.

“I think when you put him in this backfield and you ask him to get 18 to 22 carries, I think he certainly can handle the load,” Brook said, adding he felt Freeman was “underrated” during the draft process.

But aside from being a “big, physical running back,” Brooks said, Freeman “also has a little wiggle” and can “catch the ball out of the backfield.”

And with that, Brooks said he thinks Freeman can be one of those players who “come out of nowhere to be leading rushers.”

“I do believe there’s a chance Royce Freeman could be that guy that does some of the Kareem Hunt-type things that we saw last year from the guy in Kansas City,” Brooks said.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.