Intriguing Prospects to Watch at Broncos OTAs – Offense
As we approach offseason activities for the Denver Broncos, there will be a brand new group of players coming into Dove Valley with a lot to prove. Not the least of which will be the Broncos’ reserve/future players which became officially part of the 90-man roster on March 10th when the new league year kicked off.
We want to take a look today at some intriguing players from those reserve/future contracts given out by the Broncos, and how they can potentially make and impact the team in 2015.
Quarterback: Zac Dysert
Dysert was drafted by the Broncos in 2013 in the seventh round, and with plenty of hype for his arm strength and raw ability, the Broncos opted to keep him on the active roster during their AFC Championship run that season.
After a decent pre-season as a 2nd year pro, Dysert was put through waivers and chose a return to Denver over whatever other options might have been out there.
This is a guy who the organization likes, but who has plenty to prove. Some have mixed feelings about him, but in my estimation, he was very clearly the third best QB on the Broncos’ roster last year and will need to make strides to make the team this season.
Running Back: Kapri Bibbs
Bibbs was an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State a year ago, and had a nice pre-season. Good enough that the Broncos had a legitimate decision to make of whether or not to keep him on the active roster. In the NFL, injuries obviously happen, so Bibbs was eventually called up to the active roster last season anyway.
He didn’t see any snaps, and was sent back to the practice squad again after trying out in Arizona once he cleared waivers.
The Broncos like Bibbs, and obviously the guy has a nose for the end zone. He scored 31 times his last year at Colorado State, and put up a hat trick in the pre-season while making his case for a roster spot.
There’s not much flashy about Bibbs’ game, but in a one-cut scheme, he has plenty of talent to succeed if the Broncos need him to step up. OTAs are going to be absolutely critical for him and all the young running backs vying for snaps this offseason.
Wide Receiver: Isaiah Burse, Bennie Fowler, Nathan Palmer, Kyle Williams, Kerry Taylor
One reason why I hesitate to believe the Broncos might draft a receiver this year is because of the insane number of players they added to the position in terms of reserve/future contracts.
Nathan Palmer has been with the team the longest, having signed to the practice squad in 2013. For him, hopefully this year is the year. He definitely has the speed to compete in the NFL, and he’s got plenty of practice tape for the scouting department to work with. He’ll be an interesting name to monitor this offseason, as will the rest of the guys on this list.
Isaiah Burse made the roster last year for his ability to catch punts, but eventually the Broncos determined he was expendable and placed him on the practice squad. In college, Burse showed much better quickness than speed, and has slot receiver potential.
Bennie Fowler had reportedly developed a solid rapport with Brock Osweiler last offseason, and is a big, fast, athletic specimen on the outside. He spent all last season on the practice squad.
Kyle Williams is a former 49ers special teamer who has also had some success as a #4 or 5 receiver in the league. He is one of the most experienced players on this list and will be a really intriguing guy to watch develop in the new offense.
Kerry Taylor is a former Arizona State receiver who has bounced around the league a bit, to say the least. Since 2011, he’s been with the Packers, Patriots, 49ers, Vikings, Cardinals, Jaguars, Cowboys, and now the Broncos.
Tight End: Jeremy Kelley
Kelley is a phenomenal athlete at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds who is taking the place of Gerell Robinson as the intriguing WR/TE hybrid on the Broncos’ offseason roster. Kelley has played in nearly every professional league, flashing really nice skills as a receiver, but he is a project.
He’s been working with Chris Harris Jr. this offseason, and I was able to talk to him. Hopefully he can make the active roster and provide the Broncos with a red zone mismatch option. This guy is hungry to make an NFL roster, and after all his years of preparation, he is ready to take the next step.
Offensive Line: Matt Paradis, Jon Halapio
Matt Paradis was a sixth rounder out of Boise State a year ago, and has a legitimate shot at the starting center job this offseason. Halapio was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots last year, and signed to the Broncos’ practice squad late.
With the offensive line situation as it currently stands, both of these guys have a rare opportunity to shine this offseason and make believers out of the coaching staff so they can make an impact this season.