Denver Broncos: NFL Draft Ignites Spark back to Super Bowl Contention

In a twist of fate, a spark reignited a Super Bowl flame for the Denver Broncos in hopes of bringing a light out from the darkness…

Before free agency began, the Denver Broncos set out to make quarterback the number one priority. They dangled themselves into the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes but fell short to the Minnesota Vikings.

However, as smart teams should operate, there are others in the pot. In fact, the Broncos signed their number one choice all along in Case Keenum.

During a six to eight game stretch with the Minnesota Vikings, Keenum found himself in the MVP discussion. From week eight to 16, Keenum only had four interceptions. By the way, he finished with just seven on the season.

He is entering a situation with stability and a franchise 100 percent behind him. Also, Keenum has weapons at his disposal this year. In some ways better than in Minnesota.

Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders lead the group of wide receivers. Thomas is learning to become a possession target. On the other hand, Sanders is explosive when healthy.

Sanders is slippery with his route running and not afraid to jump high enough to get a ball in the air. Thomas nearly achieved 1,000 yards again, but this time with three different quarterbacks. Sanders encountered injuries limiting his ability to stretch the field.

New draftee Courtland Sutton (one of the nation’s best catchers of a football) will factor in at some point during the season. DaeSean Hamilton was the most sound wide receiver in the Big Ten as a route runner.

Former Penn State Nittany Lion Allen Robinson was the same way. Hamilton impressed Zach Azzani and the rest of the Broncos’ coaches. To be honest, Hamilton should have been drafted higher than the fourth round.

The emergence of Carlos Henderson is something to monitor as we get closer to Training Camp.

Look for Henderson to be the team’s kickoff returner, but there’s yard’s after catch (YAC) potential with him. It will be up to Jordan Taylor and Isaiah McKenzie to be that sixth wide receiver. This wide receiver group might be the deepest on record. Looking up and down the roster, Keenum can duplicate last year’s success relying on his weapons to make plays.

It is clear the offense is upgraded on paper. Jake Butt will be the starting tight end, followed by other former Big Ten talent. The Denver Broncos group of tight ends with Butt, Jeff Heuerman, Troy Fumagalli, and Austin Traylor are all from the Big Ten.

All four are names that can be penciled in right now for the 53. Each tight end is different in their own unique way. However, this draft tells me the Broncos love Butt’s potential in Bill Musgrave’s offense. He is underrated athletically and compares exceptionally well to Jason Witten (now retired).

Expect Butt and Keenum to establish a quick rapport.

The offensive line is better than people think. Moving Ronald Leary to left guard is the under-the-radar position change from the offseason. Leary proved to be a dominant force at left guard.

Broncos fans wanted Will Hernandez (myself included), but Connor McGovern is still in the building. McGovern provided a glimmer of hope at the right guard position and now there’s stability on the front line.

John Elway’s shrewd move to trade for Jared Veldheer fills a void at right tackle. Options behind of Menelik Watson, Billy Turner, Sam Jones and others give versatility to play guard or tackle. There’s better depth on the offensive line than people realize.

The stress lifted off an offense’s shoulders is enormous. Since Peyton Manning left, uncertainty at the starting quarterback position lingered throughout Training Camp and the regular season. Not to mention the play at quarterback limited the identity of the Broncos offense. /

Fast forward to this year, the Broncos know who the starting quarterback is in Keenum. This affords players the opportunity to relax and perform.

A near empty running back group filled with just Devontae Booker and De’Angelo Henderson sees Royce Freeman coming for the starting job.

Booker is a talented running back, but he’s becoming a player he is not. He played more east-to-west in college and evaded defenders consistently. Now, Booker looks to run straight forward and absorb contact.

Henderson is an exciting player to watch this season since the expectation is the training wheels will come off. However, there’s not a clear-cut starter at running back.

Enter Royce Freeman.

Freeman is a more athletic C.J. Anderson, very capable of becoming a pass blocker. Freeman is also a one cut and go tailback with the ability to get to a second gear not many think he has. Despite plenty of tread on his tires, expect Freeman to make himself known rather quickly.

The offense has tremendous talent all across the board this season and players bound to make an immediate impact day one. As evidenced by Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl year, the Broncos do not need an offense that will blow the doors off opponents. All this team needs is sustainability in the top-10 or top-15 of every offensive category. Leave it to their newly transformed defense to do the work.

Once the Denver Broncos made their pick at five overall everything changed with their direction during the NFL Draft.

The selection of Bradley Chubb is the best outcome the team could have wanted. According to some, Chubb ranked number three on their big board. They never thought he’d be available when they picked.

All that changed with the Cleveland Browns choice of Denzel Ward over Chubb. The addition of Chubb was a need and best player available. It became the best of both worlds. Chubb instantly plays alongside Von Miller with traits paralleling Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, and Terrell Suggs. That’s good company.

Look for the Orange Rush to return with a vengeance next year in Miller, Chubb, Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett.

Linebacker was the weakest position on the defense in 2017. Brandon Marshall will be starting linebacker, but who plays opposite of him? It was Todd Davis; however, drafting Josey Jewell begs the question of not if he overtakes Davis, but when. /

Jewell is the most sound linebacker to come from the University of Iowa in the last handful of years. A linebacker thinking a play ahead is something the Broncos are missing. Jewell is great in coverage, but not flashy as an athlete. He is excellent against the run because of his instincts.

Even with re-signing Davis, the position group is night-and-day better than last year.

Su’a Cravens is the wild card to make this defense unstoppable. The Broncos had a first-round grade on Cravens two years ago. Cravens became a trade target of Denver’s and found himself in the Mile High City this offseason.

He is a Swiss Army knife and all-around player. Chris Harris is that as a corner, but Cravens covers all positions. Cravens can cover running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. There are not many in the NFL that can do such things.

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Justin Simmons and Darian Stewart headline the starters at safety, but Cravens will be a factor during the season. The only weakness is the third corner. Bradley Roby assumed that role when Aqib Talib was present, but Talib is in Los Angeles. Roby is the number two while Tramaine Brock, Brendan Langley, and Issac Yiadom duke it out for the third spot.

Domata Peko’s emergence last season orchestrated a defensive line becoming the best in football for a lengthy period. Unfortunately, due to significant injuries, Derek Wolfe found himself on the sidelines. DeMarcus Walker played out of position.

Walker will play with hands in the dirt on the defensive line. It is also his natural position. Adam Gotsis was a nice surprise, but due to an off-field issue, the team added more depth with Clinton McDonald. The Denver Broncos are notorious for adding strength to a strength. Whether it is the secondary, pass rush or defensive line, the Broncos make it a priority to be two to three deep everywhere.

Signing Marquette King was the single most underrated acquisition the Denver Broncos made in free agency. The offense did an terrible job of turning the ball over putting immense pressure on the defense to stop the opposing attack with a short field.

Special teams were the same way in 2017.

King is near the top in punt average and placing balls inside the 20. Much like a field goal kicker, a punter is a weapon and King has the strongest leg in the NFL. King will switch field position on numerous occasions releasing the burden the defense might carry.

For a team loaded with question marks in areas, those appear to be answered on paper.

The offense is on the right track to take a significant step forward to making the playoffs. After ranking in the top in close to every defensive category, the defense is much improved.

The Denver Broncos do not look like a 5-11 team anymore. In fact, Broncos are close again to becoming Super Bowl contenders after a spark ignited through free agency and the NFL Draft.

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