Denver Broncos: NFL Network analyst is not high on team’s rookie WRs

The Denver Broncos took a wide receiver in the first two rounds of the 2020 NFL draft, but not everyone feels that it will translate to immediate success.

The wide receiver class that will join the league in 2020 is, at least on paper, one of the best in league history. The draft was so deep at the position that there were players taken in the third round that you could have easily made a case for as a first-round pick.

Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network recently put out her expectations for who she feels will be the 10 most productive wide receivers from this rookie class. It’s fair to say that Broncos fans won’t be impressed.

For those not familiar with Frelund, she is classified as an Analytics Expert for NFL Network and her segments often feature projections for players based on a computer model that she uses. She frequents the network’s fantasy football broadcasts.

Frelund has CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys as her No.1 rookie receiver for 2020. That’s a fine projection as many felt he was the best wide receiver in the class. The Broncos passed on him in order to select Jerry Jeudy.

But Jeudy does not come on Frelund’s list until the No. 5 spot. He is listed behind Henry Ruggs, Michael Pittman and Justin Jefferson.

Frelund does seem to appreciate Jeudy’s route-running skills and ability to line up anywhere, but he slips to No. 5 on this list because he is playing with a second-year quarterback and the team invested in Melvin Gordon as a free agent.

So with Jeudy down at No. 5, K.J. Hamler has to be right around there, right? Wrong. Hamler doesn’t even make Frelund’s list. Here are the guys who round out spots 6-10.

Denzel Mims

Brandon Aiyuk

Laviska Shenault

Tee Higgins

Jalen Reagor

Granted, all of those players aside from Mims were drafted ahead of Hamler, but Hamler went to a situation where he should be no worse than No. 3 on the depth chart in what could become a very pass-friendly offense.

With Jeudy and Courtland Sutton forcing defenses to pay attention, Hamler could easily fly under the radar at times and make big things happen.

Frelund just does not seem to be too high on Denver’s potential passing attack behind Drew Lock and likely feels that the offense will be more run-heavy with the combination of Gordon and Phillip Lindsay.

There are many fans in Broncos Country who likely disagree wholeheartedly with Frelund’s projections and would bank on them being proven wrong.