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Denver Broncos: Players who could steal jobs in 2020

By Sayre Bedinger

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: KJ Hamler #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Michigan 28-21. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: KJ Hamler #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Michigan 28-21. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Josh Watson, Denver Broncos
ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 24: Josh Watson #54 of the Denver Broncos on the sideline against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on November 24, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo beats Denver 20 to 3. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

Josh Watson – Linebacker

So many fans have wanted the Denver Broncos to draft a linebacker high over the past couple of offseasons, but you don’t have to be a high draft pick to have a huge impact in the NFL.

The Broncos’ current starters at inside linebacker are both former undrafted free agents in Alexander Johnson and Todd Davis.

If the Broncos are having a ‘competition’ at linebacker this offseason, it’s been assumed that the most likely candidate to win a job is rookie Justin Strnad, which would also be tremendous.

With that being said, there have been whispers since before the end of last season that the team is really high on linebacker Josh Watson, an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in 2019.

Watson has the size and athleticism to be an every-down player at inside linebacker in the NFL, and the Broncos elevated him off the practice squad late last season to get him some reps, if only on special teams, down the stretch of his rookie year.

I have suggested Todd Davis as a potential trade candidate ahead of the 2020 season, which again seems like a longshot, but you never know. If someone like Watson can prove himself in the limited offseason, the Broncos could afford the trade of a guy like Davis because they have players like Josey Jewell and Justin Strnad also on the depth chart.

Watson is also a cost-effective, young player who could be a perfect complement to Alexander Johnson.

As underrated as Todd Davis has been by the fan base, the Broncos could look at this as a way to press forward with a talented young player and get a head start on replacing Davis, who could leave in free agency next offseason anyway.

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