Can Juwann Winfree be the next Phillip Lindsay?
Juwann Winfree was injured coming into the 2019 NFL draft, but the Broncos traded up to snag him. Can he earn an immediate role in the Broncos offense?
As of Monday, the first Denver Broncos rookie has been inked to a deal — wide receiver Juwann Winfree.
Winfree was the 187th overall pick, and the Broncos are hopeful that they have found a hidden gem in the receiver.
The Colorado boy is coming off of both ankle and hamstring injuries that limited his 2018 college campaign, holding him to just eight games played.
Winfree is a quiet talent who has been further silenced by his years of injury (ACL in 2016 and ankle and hamstring in 2018), so will he end up being of any value to the Broncos? This situation is not entirely unique to the Broncos organization.
We still have yet to determine what the Broncos really have with 2017 fifth round pick Jake Butt, whose professional career has been plagued by injuries thus far, much like the end of his collegiate career.
With Jeff Heuerman signing an extension and Noah Fant being drafted with the Broncos’ first pick of the 2019 draft, Butt’s time in Denver may be in jeopardy. However, that is a topic for a different day.
Even if Winfree can come out healthy and ready to go, there is not a huge chance that he will immediately be given an opportunity to start. He is in the company of some pretty talented receivers. Guys like Pro Bowler Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, and DaeSean Hamilton.
However, not many predicted that undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay would emerge as a dark horse and take the NFL by storm in the 2018 season, immediately becoming a fan favorite and giving Broncos Country a positive outlook for the future.
Phillip Lindsay and Juwann Winfree were college teammates at the University of Colorado, and Winfree has told the media that Lindsay put in a good word for him with the Broncos. A source close to Winfree told Denver reporter Nicki Jhabvala:
Juwann Winfree stayed in Colorado to train ahead of the draft at Landow Performance. I remember someone who knows him well telling me: "If you thought Phillip Lindsay surprised, wait until you see Juwann Winfree."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 27, 2019
It would be pretty exciting for the Broncos if they were able to get a gem in Winfree as they did with Lindsay. It is a very exciting time for Colorado, considering they have been able to grab homegrown talent in the past two years- Phillip Lindsay as a UDFA in 2018, and Dalton Risner and Winfree in this year’s draft.
One way that Winfree could make an immediate impact with the Broncos is by potentially earning a spot on special teams. It is no secret that Denver’s kick and punt returning has left a lot to be desired since the Trindon Holliday era. In 2018, the Broncos’ returners averaged 20.13 yards on kickoffs and just 4.4 yards on punts.
Isaiah McKenzie’s size and speed had provided a lot of potential for him to take over as the return specialist, but it was quickly proven that he struggled to hold onto the ball and became a liability.
53-man roster predictions after the 2019 Draft. dark. Next
Denver’s best option as of now is Lindsay, who ideally should only be taking snaps in the backfield to prevent him from getting tired out or even injured. This would be the perfect opportunity for Winfree to impress Fangio and Co., and would be the best way for him to get an immediate role on the team.