Cody Latimer has earned a new contract from the Broncos

Denver Broncos wide receiver/special teams ace Cody Latimer was on the roster bubble before the season, but has earned a new deal…

The Denver Broncos have been one of the worst teams in the NFL since the first two weeks of the season, but not everyone has played poorly. Wide receiver and special teams ace Cody Latimer has played well in his roles on the team, and may have earned himself a contract extension after the season.

Latimer’s career in Denver started in 2014, when he was a highly touted second round pick out of Indiana. The big play ability Latimer showed while with the Hoosiers, combined with his elite measurables and athleticism, led many to believe he had number one receiver potential.

When the Broncos let Eric Decker walk as a free agent in 2014, they brought in Emmanuel Sanders and Latimer to replace him.

The expectations for Latimer were to make an immediate impact with Peyton Manning throwing him passes, but things didn’t work out at all.

Latimer apparently struggled to pick up the offense, and barely ever played.

That was, until Latimer embraced a role on special teams, where he became the Broncos’ top gunner on punts and the number one kickoff return man. Latimer’s explosive straight line speed earned him a prominent role in the game’s third phase, and while that’s not what he was drafted in the second round to do, it’s allowed him to get on the field, make some plays, and earn his way into offensive snaps.

He’s done just that.

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Latimer made a couple of nice catches against the Philadelphia Eagles, and is finally starting to show a little bit of what he can do as an offensive playmaker for the Broncos.

The opportunities should only increase.

With the Broncos facing some really tough decisions this offseason of what to do with some of their highest priced players, Latimer presents an inexpensive alternative who could potentially start for this team in 2018 and beyond, and keep some continuity on special teams for a change.

The Broncos have lost a number of key special teams players over the past couple of seasons, and Latimer would be a major special teams loss.

This is not to say the Broncos need to break the bank for Latimer. If some other team wants to do that, that would be their choice, but if the Broncos can bring him back for $3-4 million a season and give him a more prominent role in the offense, it could be a win-win for both sides.

Latimer has earned a second deal with the Broncos and more time to prove he can still become the offensive weapon he was drafted to be.