Broncos news: Reacting to 2020 rookie jersey number selections

In a bit of fun Denver Broncos news, the 2020 rookie class has selected their jersey numbers for the 2020 season, at least for now.

One of the best bits of Denver Broncos news every year after the NFL Draft is when the new rookie class selects their jersey numbers.

After the draft, everyone is imagining these players in their new uniforms, and some people have gotten really good at jersey swapping on photoshop, but there’s nothing quite like seeing the team officially put out the word and seeing all of the jersey number selections in one place.

Thanks to the Denver Broncos digital team, we get a really cool look at this year’s rookie class numbers and home jersey tops in a short animated video.

Check it out:

Maybe you’re like me and you put a lot of stock into this. For most of these guys, this is the jersey number they’re going to be wearing for the next four years. For some, it will just be for the summer before roster cuts and other jersey numbers open up.

I love to over-analyze these annually. Let’s do it together.

Jerry Jeudy – 10

Jeudy wore no. 4 in college, and because the NFL is lame, he can’t do that as a pro. With Courtland Sutton already owning 14 and Troy Fumagalli rocking 84, it made sense for Jeudy to start fresh with a number that didn’t involve a “4” at all.

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The no. 10 jersey is a great selection. Since 2014, that number has been worn by Emmanuel Sanders, so it’s got some great history already having been worn by a Pro Bowl receiver in Denver.

Before that, the most prominent members of the Broncos to wear no. 10 were Jabar Gaffney and Todd Sauerbrun.

KJ Hamler – 13

I thought there might be a chance Hamler would hold out for a different number by wearing no. 1 — his jersey number at Penn State — throughout the offseason while it was allowed, but he went straight for no. 13, indicating to me that this is a final jersey number choice and not just a placeholder while he waits for 11 or something else.

The most recent notable player to wear 13 with the Broncos was quarterback Trevor Siemian, the primary starter in 2016 and 2017.

Hamler will basically be cementing his own legacy in 13 with the Broncos, which is always cool.

Michael Ojemudia – 23

Anytime your name is Michael and you wear the jersey no. 23 it’s okay by me.

Ojemudia wore no. 11 at Iowa, which again is not allowed by the NFL, but defensive backs have the broadest options of pretty much any position group. They can wear any number from 20-49, so for 23 to be available with the Broncos (previously worn by RB Devontae Booker) is a fortunate thing for Ojemudia.

There is some rich tradition and history with the no. 23 in Denver, notably worn by Goose Gonsoulin in the 60s and Sammy Winder in the 80s.

Willis McGahee went to a Pro Bowl wearing 23 for Denver. One of Ojemudia’s secondary coaches — Renaldo Hill — also wore 23 when he played for the Broncos.

Lloyd Cushenberry – 79

Although Dalton Risner’s no. 66 jersey — especially in the color rush uniform look — is very nice, I am typically one who hates jersey numbers in the 60s for any player. In block numbers, they aren’t terrible, but they just don’t catch my eye and they’re not something as a fan I would really want to wear.

Again, there are exceptions, but that’s the general rule for me.

For offensive linemen, numbers in the 50s (rare because they are often taken by linebackers) or 70s are preferable. Cushenberry getting no. 79 is tremendous, and he is the only player in this draft class who gets to keep his college number.

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Cushenberry’s 79 will look nice in between the 66 of Risner and the 61 of free-agent signing Graham Glasgow.

McTelvin Agim – 94

The number 94 is truly one of my favorites in the entire Denver Broncos library of numbers.

It was worn famously by DeMarcus Ware in the Broncos’ run to Super Bowl 50, but it has been worn by a lot of really good players through the years.

And plenty of not-so-good ones.

Though it was worn briefly by Ahmad Gooden last season, the no. 94 was on a bit of a hot streak since 2013.

• 2013: Terrance Knighton
• 2014-16: DeMarcus Ware
• 2017-18: Domata Peko

The speedy interior pass rusher Agim is going to look great with the all-90s crew up front defensively of Dre’Mont Jones (93), Jurrell Casey (99), Shelby Harris (96), and Mike Purcell (98).

Albert Okwuegbunam – 85

You. Love. To. See. It.

Big shoutout to Discount Drake for the suggestion. From this point henceforth, Albert Okwuegbunam will be known as Albert Ochocinco.

It’s possible that if Tim Patrick is not on the Broncos in September, Okwuegbunam could look into switching to his college number 81, but for now, this is a great change and marketing strategy for him.

Justin Strnad – 40

I am typically very against linebackers wearing numbers in the 40s, but there are four exceptions in the Broncos’ jersey scheme that I am okay with:

• 40
• 41
• 44
• 47

To me, those numbers look cool on linebackers, and 44 is retired (Floyd Little), so Strnad was already working with limited options.

Alexander Johnson makes 45 look pretty good, but he feels way more like a guy who should be wearing a number in the 50s to me.

I love how the number 40 looks on Denver’s jersey, and Strnad is going to make it look good.

He’s a linebacker who excels in space and in coverage, and 40 is the perfect number for a player who is sort of that ‘hybrid’ type of guy. I loved him in that no. 23 at Wake Forest, but again, that’s Ojemudia’s number now and the NFL won’t allow linebackers to wear it.

Netane Muti – 73

Muti wore 52 in college, and that number is definitely not befitting of him. He’s a rare player who could pull off a number in the 60s, but 73 is even better.

For me, linemen with numbers that have limited curves in Denver’s jersey scheme look better than the numbers that have way too many curves. The Broncos’ ‘3’ has a point at the top, and I think that adds to the sleekness of the number overall for them.

Muti’s massive frame and bull in a china shop mentality will be perfect for the number 73.

Tyrie Cleveland – 86

It’s crazy how jersey numbers in the 80s have been almost strictly for tight ends in recent years in the NFL. Wide receivers coming out of college definitely prefer numbers in the teens, but Tyrie Cleveland is a different breed.

The only player to really establish any sort of legacy in Denver with the no. 86 is former tight end Byron Chamberlain.

Cleveland wore no. 89 at Florida, so we know he’s a different cat in general since he could pick any number he wanted there.

I think 86 will look good on him and he has a chance to be really the first player in the last two decades to really stand out while wearing it. This kid has insane speed, quickness, and toughness.

Derrek Tuszka – 48

When I see Derrek Tuszka, I see a player who should be wearing a number in the 40s for sure. The number made famous most recently by Shaquil Barrett, no. 48 may not be Tuszka’s ultimate landing spot if he makes the Broncos’ final roster.

He wore no. 91 at North Dakota State, and that number is currently owned by reserve/futures contract player Tre’ Crawford, a linebacker.

I think Tuszka is going to look good in 48, and it suits him as an edge player, but he might explore his options down the line.