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Denver Broncos: What Predominantly Orange is thankful for

By Shelby Manning

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 08: Peyton Manning holds the Lombardi Trophy to celebrate the Denver Broncos in win Super Bowl 50 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High before taking on the Carolina Panthers on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 08: Peyton Manning holds the Lombardi Trophy to celebrate the Denver Broncos in win Super Bowl 50 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High before taking on the Carolina Panthers on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after leaping into the stands after scoring a second quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after leaping into the stands after scoring a second quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

3. 2018 Draft Class

It usually takes some time for players to get going as they transition into the National Football League. Some are successful right away; some take longer to show that they are capable of their job; some end up being bad picks.

I will focus on the guys who have shown to be solid picks from the 2018 draft class.

Courtland Sutton was awesome as a rookie, behind Demaryius Thomas (until he got traded) and Emmanuel Sanders in 2018.

Sutton caught 42 passes for 704 yards and four touchdowns during his rookie year. In 2019 through eleven games, he has already surpassed his catch total (50) as well as yardage total (832). Sutton has proven that he can be a number one receiver in this league despite bad quarterback play.

It helps that he became the top guy when the Denver Broncos traded Emmanuel Sanders to the 49ers.

I am thankful for Sutton and cannot wait to see what he does with an above-average quarterback.

Royce Freeman has done a good job since becoming a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2018. He has rushed the football 233 times for 946 yards and seven touchdowns.

Phillip Lindsay, undrafted last year, looked to be the unquestioned starter for the 2018 season and while Lindsay performed better, Freeman has been a great addition. It is a great thing that Freeman has been replacement when Lindsay needs a break.

Freeman is also a nice pass catcher, catching 44 passes for 276 yards. in his career so far. He is sometimes used out wide at the wide receiver position.

Josey Jewell is another 2018 draftee by the Denver Broncos. Jewell is a tackle machine.

In four years at Iowa, Jewell recorded 437 tackles and ten sacks. He also had six interceptions in college.

While he has not generated that type of stat line in the National Football League yet, I think he will make up for the time he has missed, whether due to injury or to better play by other players such as Alexander Johnson.

Jewell has 89 tackles, 0.5 sacks and has forced one fumble in his short NFL career.

I can’t wait to see more.

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