The Broncos are well-represented on PFF’s top 101 players in the NFL

Pro Football Focus shoots a hole in the argument that the cupboard is bare in Denver and Vic Fangio didn't have enough resources

BY JAMES MERILATT

Feb 9, 2021, 11:47 AM Updated: 11:49 am

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When George Paton was hired to replace John Elway as the Broncos general manager, most hailed it as a positive move. They saw a lack of talent on Denver’s roster, so they were excited to have someone on board who could potentially solve that issue.

This is the same problem that defenders of Vic Fangio have professed. Yes, the head coach is only 12-20 during his two seasons at the helm, but the defensive guru just doesn’t have much to work with when trying to win games.

Based on the latest rankings of NFL players put out by Pro Football Focus, those arguments are a bit hogwash. The Broncos may note be overloaded with talent, but as PFF’s top 101 shows, the cupboard is completely bare.

Denver has four players on the list, a respectable showing. And they’re in key positions.

Garett Bolles is the highest-rated Broncos player, checking in at No. 19. It’s more evidence of the remarkable transformation of the left tackle. He’s gone from arguably the most-maligned player in franchise history to one of the top-20 players in the NFL. That’s incredible.

“Another massive leap in terms of play came from Garett Bolles, whose efforts were no doubt aided by the league hugely dialing back the number of offensive holding penalties they threw in 2020. Bolles didn’t allow a sack all season, surrendering just 13 total pressures and accumulating 10 fewer penalties than he did this time a year ago. Bolles became a franchise left tackle this season and did so pass blocking for a quarterback who wasn’t among the best in the league at making his life any easier.”

The other three Broncos on the list are all on the defensive side of the ball. The highest-rated among them is Bryce Callahan, who checks in at No. 61. He was limited to 10 games in 2020 due to injury, but made a big impact when on the field.

“Bryce Callahan was one of the best players in the league this season, but injury cost him a chance to really cement that status when he was shut down after Week 12. Callahan is an elite slot corner, but due to Denver’s injury issues in the secondary — which he later fell victim to — he was asked to moonlight on the perimeter on multiple occasions. He still held up extremely well despite being just 5-foot-8 and under 190 pounds. For the season, Callahan allowed a 46.9 passer rating when targeted and wasn’t beaten for a pass longer than 19 yards.”

Callahan is followed on the list by another member of the Broncos defensive backfield. Safety Kareem Jackson checks in at No. 87.

“Another impressive season is in the books for Kareem Jackson in Denver’s secondary, despite a disaster of injuries to the cornerback position affecting that unit all season. He was targeted 45 times and allowed a passer rating of 89.1, surrendering just one touchdown all season.”

Rounding out the group is Justin Simmons, giving the Broncos three defensive backs in the top 101 players in the NFL. That being the case, it’s hard to imagine that they only generated 10 interceptions on the season. Being ranked No. 99 in the league is another checkmark on the safety’s resume, as he looks to cash in this offseason as a free agent.

“Justin Simmons has been one of the game’s best safeties since the start of 2019, and while he couldn’t quite match his performance from last year, Simmons still made a lot of plays for Denver despite the secondary falling apart around him. Simmons had five picks and three pass breakups, but also matched the 28 defensive stops he tallied a season ago — a huge figure for someone who plays primarily as a deep-lying free safety.”

Clearly, there is some talent in Denver. Perhaps that’s why Paton referred to them as a “sleeping giant” when he was hired.

In addition to the four players who cracked the top 101, the Broncos also have Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb, former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, former Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton, and a host of other talented, young players, including Jerry Jeudy and Noah Fant, their last two first-round picks.