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Denver Broncos: Aaron Burbridge adds more intrigue to WR group

By Sayre Bedinger

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos signed WR Aaron Burbridge to a reserve/futures contract. He adds some intrigue to the loaded wide receiver group.

The Denver Broncos have continued to assemble a really intriguing group of young wide receivers moving into the 2019 offseason, most recently adding former San Francisco 49ers sixth-round pick Aaron Burbridge.

Burbridge had a pretty modest three seasons to start his career at Michigan State before exploding in the 2015 season with 85 catches for 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns.

It was such a strong performance, Burbridge was invited to the 2016 Senior Bowl where he showed out during practices, and after being picked by the 49ers (in the final year of the Chip Kelly/Trent Baalke reign) he made the final roster and contributed seven catches that season.

Burbridge also became a key special teams player for the 49ers as a gunner and was kept around by Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch in 2017 when they took over the team.

Unfortunately for Burbridge, he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in 2017 and the 49ers more or less had moved on. He competed again in the 2018 offseason and eventually (in October 2018) signed back on with the 49ers’ practice squad after being let go at final cuts.

This move certainly comes with convenient timing given the Broncos recently hired former 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello as their new offensive coordinator. There is going to be a fit for Burbridge in Denver if he’s healthy with his connection to the Scangarello/Shanahan offense.

Regardless of whether or not he had two years with the Broncos’ new offensive coordinator, Burbridge presents an interesting option for Denver going forward.

He did not have great measurables at the 2016 Scouting Combine but Burbridge is a true gamer at the position with strong hands, excellent route running ability, and the ability to make difficult catches in contested situations.

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He put together some impressive tape as a senior at Michigan State against some of the top cornerbacks in the country so this is a worthwhile risk for the Broncos to get a guy coming off of a season-ending injury two years ago who is definitely at full strength and knows the team’s new offensive coordinator very well.

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