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Denver Broncos: Five players facing make-or-break seasons

By Sayre Bedinger

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 14: Jeff Heuerman #82 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 14, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 14: Jeff Heuerman #82 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 14, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Matt Paradis
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 19: Connor McGovern #60 and Matt Paradis #61 of the Denver Broncos walk on to the field for their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on August 19, 2017, in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Connor McGovern, OL

Last offseason at this time, Connor McGovern was taking all of the Broncos’ first-team reps at the center position as Matt Paradis recovered from offseason hip surgery.

It would have made some sense for McGovern to just slide over into the right guard position and Ron Leary play left guard, but the Broncos had better ideas, apparently.

Max Garcia started at left guard and Leary on the right side, leaving McGovern in a backup role almost the entire season.

He got the chance to start in Leary’s place for a few games, which may have paved the way for him to have a starting role on the offensive line in 2018.

Unfortunately, because the Broncos can’t really afford any weak links on the offensive line, this might be McGovern’s golden (or only) opportunity to prove he can be a long-term starter.

He’s likely going to head into training camp as the odds-on favorite to start at right guard, and he needs to prove he has staying power.

This is McGovern’s time to seize an opportunity, or the Broncos might move on in the 2019 offseason.

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