The Broncos have one of the league’s most skilled rosters.
In 2019, the Broncos were a little bit all over the place. They started the season with Joe Flacco at quarterback, who went 2-6 in his eight starts in Denver. They then made the transition to rookie Brandon Allen, who went 1-2 in his starts. Both quarterbacks were unable to give the team any consistency and it showed in their results.
They finally opted for their 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock in Week 13. He proved why they should have made the move earlier, leading the Broncos to a 4-1 record, passing for 1,020 yards while throwing seven touchdowns and three picks.
A large portion of the Broncos’ success in 2020 will rest on the shoulders of Drew Lock. If he can take a step forward this season, the Broncos will be a problem, because the supporting cast they’ve built is scary.
Offensively, the Broncos may have the best running back duo in the league with Melvin Gordon and Philip Lindsay. The addition of Gordon makes the Broncos offense so much more versatile. The Broncos have missed a running back who can catch passes out of the backfield in recent years, and Melvin Gordon gives them that edge. He also gives them a more powerful downhill option on the ground.
At receiver, the Broncos already have one of the most underrated players in the league in Courtland Sutton. Sutton is already an elite wide receiver and will only get better in 2020. Last season, he finished with 1,112 yards and six touchdowns, earning him his first Pro Bowl appearance. With a real quarterback under center this season, we should see Sutton improve on all of those marks.
In this year’s NFL Draft, the Broncos selected two of the top wideout prospects in Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. Heading into the Draft, many saw Jeudy as the best receiver available. His route running ability will immediately make him a difference-maker in the league. Todd McShay even claimed that he was the best route runner he’s ever seen. Broncos fans should be excited to watch Jerry Jeudy this season and for years to come, as he’s set to become one of the NFL’s best wideouts.
K.J. Hamler will immediately become one of the fastest players in the league. While he wasn’t able to record an official 40 yard dash time at the Combine due to injury, he claimed he ran a 4.27 in preparation. Hamler is extremely dangerous in the open field, with an incredible ability to make defenders miss. He’ll be a great third option for Drew Lock who has big-play potential.
At tight end, the Broncos will deploy Noah Fant, who will want to improve on a solid rookie season. The 2019 first-round pick totaled 40 receptions and 562 yards last season. The talent the Broncos possess across the field will give Fant a ton of room to work in the middle. We could very well see Noah Fant break out in 2020.
General manager John Elway has done a great job to build this team
Last season, the Broncos had the 10th-ranked defense in the league. This offseason, they added veterans such as Jurrell Casey and A.J. Bouye to help bolster the group.
They have one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. After missing the majority of 2019 with a torn ACL, Chubb will look to have a big year in 2020. In 2018, he totaled 12 sacks, which is a Broncos franchise record for sacks in a rookie season. If he and Miller are consistently able to get to the quarterback, this defense will become that much more dangerous.
While Chris Harris is a tough loss, the Broncos secondary is still very solid heading into 2020. The Broncos have one of the league’s best safety duos with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson. Over the past few seasons, Simmons has proven himself as one of the NFL’s top defenders. Last season, he earned an incredible PFF grade of 90.7.
After being injured in 2019, Bryce Callahan will look to return to the player he was in 2018. Bouye simply wasn’t himself last season. We all know he has what it takes to be a top-tier cornerback and he’ll want to recapture that this season.
The duo has a lot to prove in 2020, but they’ve both proven that they can be top players in the NFL. Callahan and Bouye is a solid cornerback duo, especially when you consider the safeties behind them.
Overall, Broncos fans should have high hopes for 2020. They’ve made some great moves this offseason to supplement their roster. They have a great mix of veterans and youngsters, who will look to make the team competitive for years to come.