Denver Broncos: 5 players winning roster spots with strong camps so far
1. Tyrie Cleveland, WR
There has been no shortage of Tyrie Cleveland love from me since the Denver Broncos picked him in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Cleveland has good size and length at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, and legit 4.4 speed (or faster). He was known at Florida for his tremendous special teams ability and that is obviously crucial if you’re going to make an NFL roster.
That’s certainly not lost on the Broncos, who didn’t have any obligation to take a third wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft after selecting Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler with their top two picks.
Cleveland has been having a steady camp for the Broncos at the wide receiver position, and the team knows what he brings to the table on special teams already.
Nice catch and run from Tyrie Cleveland to get into the end zone. Really turned on the burners. Seems like every time you look up, No. 86 is making a play.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) August 19, 2020
Another nice practice from rookie WR Tyrie Cleveland. Again, consistency has been the biggest plus in his column this camp. Putting himself in the mix every practice.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) August 23, 2020
With teams like the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets in such desperate need of wide receivers, how could the Broncos risk putting a versatile player like Cleveland through waivers?
Sure, he’s a seventh-round pick, but if he can help the team immediately on special teams and develop into a contributor at receiver, why would you let him go?
Cleveland has, at least from my outside perspective, very clearly surpassed some players with more time on the team or higher draft status like Juwann Winfree, whose inability to get on the field could wind up costing him a spot.
The numbers-crunching at wide receiver is going to be a really tough job for the Broncos’ coaching staff and front office. Thinking they may only keep six, which guys do you cut?
Cleveland, to this point, has proven he belongs.