9 young players the Denver Broncos need to shine in 2021.
The Denver Broncos have been slowly yet steadily building a very strong core of young players over the past few offseasons.
Even as difficult as the 2020 season has been for every team (maybe especially the Denver Broncos), the flashes of brilliance from the Broncos’ young core of players has provided plenty of excitement for the future.
As of 2021, it will likely no longer be a matter of looking for the upside between the frustrating moments that come inherently with having one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. The Broncos are going to be counting on these young players to become more than just exciting prospects.
These guys need to shine.
Here are nine young players (okay, okay — maybe more) the Broncos need to shine in 2021 if they are going to have the kind of success as a team required to get back into the postseason.
Honorable mention: Justin Strnad, LB
One of the first major season-ending injuries for the Denver Broncos in the 2020 season was a wrist injury suffered by linebacker Justin Strnad in training camp.
Although not many fans realized it at the time, the injury to Strnad was a significant one to the Broncos’ original plans for the defense this past season.
Strnad, whose production at Wake Forest was worthy somewhat of a Fred Warner-lite comparison, has tremendous coverage abilities, and even as a fifth-round pick, the Broncos had planned on making him part of their nickel package in 2020.
The team released linebacker Todd Davis and was comfortable moving forward with the duo of Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson in the starting lineup with Strnad coming in as the nickel.
Who knows? Strnad might have even seized a full-time role before the season was over.
One thing is for certain — the Broncos had plans to get Strnad on the field, and not just defensively, but on special teams.
Losing him for the entire season was a big blow and while the Broncos may not pass up on other talented linebacker prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class, they would undoubtedly love to see Strnad become a starting-caliber player as soon as possible.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
9. Noah Fant, TE
As I initially put together this list, I didn’t even have Noah Fant on it.
Fant is a young player, and the Broncos do need him to shine in 2021, so after giving it some thought, I gave him the ninth spot on this list.
The primary reason Fant was nearly left off of the list completely is the fact that, of all the players included on the list, he is one who — in 2020 specifically — has proven himself to be a top-tier player at his position in the NFL.
Although he’s not breaking single-season yardage records like Travis Kelce or George Kittle (yet), there can be no doubt at this point that Fant is one of the best tight ends in all of football.
Fant has been sure-handed in year two with the Broncos, increasing his catch percentage from just over 60 percent to nearly 67 percent. He has 58 receptions for 625 yards in 2020 and has nine games with 45 yards or more.
He can break his rookie touchdown mark in week 17 with a score against the Raiders, and Fant has proven to be an extremely effective weapon to every level of the field and especially after the catch.
Fant’s continued development will be crucial to the Broncos’ offense, but as of right now, there’s not much reason to call it into question or doubt it. The progression we have seen from Fant since his first handful of NFL games has been awesome to watch unfold, even though the wins haven’t necessarily come along with it.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
8. Michael Ojemudia, CB
Of all position groups on the roster, the secondary may have the most question marks heading into the 2021 offseason.
Will Justin Simmons get a long-term extension in Denver?
Will Kareem Jackson be a cap casualty?
Will the Broncos move on from AJ Bouye, who has been suspended for six games (four in 2020, two in 2021) by the NFL for PEDs?
Will Bryce Callahan be able to stay healthy? How quickly can Essang Bassey get back on the field?
It would not be a huge surprise to see a fairly significant makeover for the Broncos’ secondary heading into the 2021 season, but one piece we know will remain is 2020 third-round pick Michael Ojemudia.
Ojemudia has had moments of brilliance since getting onto the field for the Broncos, but he’s also had some really rough outings and was recently ejected from a game for throwing hands at a player.
There is no question that Ojemudia has the skills to play for a long time in the NFL and especially in a scheme like Vic Fangio runs, but the Broncos need more consistency from Ojemudia in 2021.
One area Ojemudia has to improve? Cashing in on the turnover opportunities you are given. There have been a variety of dropped interceptions from Ojemudia in 2020, plays that could have helped change the Broncos’ overall fate.
The future is bright for this young player but the Broncos need him to take a big step in 2021.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
7. Dre’Mont Jones, DL
Even dealing with an injury that caused him to miss a couple of games in the 2020 season, Dre’Mont Jones has lived up to the preseason hype that many saw coming from him.
Jones, a third-round pick in 2019 out of Ohio State, had a very solid 3.5 sacks in his rookie season for the Broncos as well as an interception, six quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss.
Playing in 49 percent of the defensive snaps in 2020, Jones has broken through for the defensive line and has 5.0 sacks, nine quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, and 12 total pressures, twice as many as he had his rookie season.
Jones is extremely athletic on the defensive interior and his quickness and ability to convert speed to power have given him an advantage this year playing in just under 50 percent of the defensive snaps.
Part of the reason for Jones playing that number of snaps is obviously due to his own injury, but also he’s gotten the chance to play even more this season than he might have otherwise with injuries to the entire starting defensive line.
How long until the Broncos make Jones a full-time starter? How much longer will he be a “part-time” player?
Jones has played 72 percent or more of the defensive snaps in five of the last six games. He’s poised in 2021 for a full-time role and a big-time breakthrough.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
6. Lloyd Cushenberry III & Dalton Risner
Alright, I’m going to cheat here and put two players together.
The Broncos need these two young offensive linemen to absolutely shine in 2021 and give them consistency on the interior, something we’ve been seeing a lot more of as of late than we were earlier in the season.
Cushenberry was learning the ropes as a starting NFL center and he had some extremely tough matchups early on. Perhaps his toughest matchup was going up against the big, fast, and nasty front of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Everyone assumed Risner would be the Broncos’ best offensive lineman in the 2020 season but seemingly struggled early on in the year.
Since the Broncos’ game against the Miami Dolphins, it seems as though the entire offensive line has really turned a corner, but specifically Cushenberry and Risner.
The Broncos’ depth on the offensive line has been tested throughout the season, but this bunch of mostly home-grown talent has proven to be well-coached and much better than anyone could have imagined, all things considered.
The interior line will be critical to keeping the Broncos’ offense balanced and these two young players — Cushenberry and Risner — each have to take steps forward in their game in 2021 to ensure that balance.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
5. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE
One of the most unfortunate injuries of the 2020 season for the Denver Broncos was the season-ending knee injury of rookie tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.
By some kind of stroke of good fortune, the Broncos were able to select Okwuegbunam in the fourth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft after already spending five selections elsewhere on the roster.
Okwuegbunam was a playmaker in his three seasons at Missouri, two of which were with Drew Lock, and he lit up the Scouting Combine with a blazing 4.49 in the 40-yard dash at nearly 260 pounds.
Most guys who produce and can run like that get picked a lot higher than round four, but for whatever reasons, Okwuegbunam fell and it was the Broncos who benefitted from it.
https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1317885061425844225
Despite struggling with some dropped passes in his debut, Okwuegbunam proved his playmaking ability early and Denver Broncos fans were understandably giddy at the thought of putting both he and Noah Fant on the field at same time in situations where it was appropriate.
https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1323047637474422784
The touchdown catch Okwuegbunam made against the Chargers was a great microcosm of what he brings to the table. He is a playmaker with tremendous athleticism and body control.
There’s no denying his speed in the open field but one area that consistently popped on his college tape was Okwuegbunam’s ability to fit his massive frame inside the sideline and make difficult contested catches.
The Broncos absolutely need this player to get back on the field healthy and play at a high level in 2021. Having another weapon like this in addition to Noah Fant is somewhat of a luxury, but it’s a necessity as the Broncos have not been overly effective in the red zone over the past couple of seasons.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
4. KJ Hamler, WR
Leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, many Denver Broncos fans (myself included) would have loved to have seen former Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III in Denver as the team’s first-round pick.
Much of that was due to a concession from the majority that Jerry Jeudy would be long gone by the time the Broncos picked, as well as likely CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma.
As it turns out, Ruggs was the only receiver not available to the Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Denver — as you well know — wound up taking Jeudy and KJ Hamler with their top two picks.
For all those who felt like Ruggs and his speed were exactly what the team needed, Hamler was no mere consolation prize.
Had Hamler run at the 2020 combine, it’s possible he would have had no chance at lasting until Denver’s second-round pick. A legit sub-4.3 type of player on tape, Hamler’s speed is unreal and has added a fun dimension to Denver’s offense.
Through 13 games and limited by a hamstring injury and now a concussion, Hamler finishes his rookie season with 30 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winner against the Chargers.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1327763245029965824
Hamler showed the full arsenal of his skills in 2020, not only with his blazing speed and quickness but also with his toughness and tackle-breaking abilities.
https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1335761195605749760
Oh yeah, the guy can also win with speed.
https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1338224388458467328
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Hamler has a truly elite and very exciting set of skills from the wide receiver position. He can play in the slot, he can play outside, and the Broncos wore him out running him in motion on just about every play he was on the field in 2020.
Heading into the 2021 season, Hamler can once again be an X-factor for the Broncos’ offense the more consistently he is on the field.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR
What everyone knew about Jerry Jeudy leading into the 2020 NFL Draft has proven to be an absolute fact: The dude can run routes.
Jeudy is as smooth as you will see when it comes to footwork, and he’s so good at running routes that people forget just how fast and how quick this guy is.
In week 16, Jeudy had his most difficult game as a professional. He dropped at least five passes, a couple of which could have been touchdowns and one that would have set the Broncos up for a game-tying field goal attempt.
Jeudy’s drop issues have hindered his all-around production in 2020 but leading into the team’s final game of the season, but he’s still caught 47 passes for 716 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the year.
Compare Jeudy’s stat line in 2020 with that of Courtland Sutton in 2018:
Jeudy: 47 receptions, 716 yards, 2 touchdowns, 44.3% catch percentage
Sutton: 42 receptions, 704 yards, 4 touchdowns, 50% catch percentage
It’s rare for wide receivers to produce in year one like we have seen from Justin Jefferson with the Minnesota Vikings, who has been head and shoulders above the rest of the vaunted 2020 class in terms of immediate production.
Broncos fans should be confident that Jeudy will be just fine, even as soon as the team’s week 17 matchup against the Raiders.
https://twitter.com/thecheckdown/status/1343326835136897024
Jeudy can win off the line of scrimmage against any cornerback in the NFL. Even some of the best of the best have had a difficult time containing him.
Getting open is not going to be the problem for Jeudy — making the majority of plays on balls that come his way? That’s currently where the Broncos need to see improvement.
Even still, Jeudy has dazzled as a rookie and he’s proven himself to be a cornerstone piece of the offense going forward.
Obviously, the Broncos want fewer drops from Jeudy going forward. He is simply too good of an all-around receiver to let drops be the reason he doesn’t have 80-100 catches and over 1,000 yards every season because that’s the type of player he is.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
2. Courtland Sutton, WR
Another player I debated even putting on this list because Sutton’s further development really goes without saying.
He is crucial to the future of the Denver Broncos.
Although I debated it, I put Sutton on the list and I put him this high because he is going to be the focal point of the passing game as soon as he returns to full strength.
The first play from scrimmage of Sutton’s 2020 campaign? A 20-yard strike down the left sideline for a first down.
The Broncos saw a fun breakout in 2020 from Tim Patrick, who will be one of the elders on offense in 2021, but nobody on Denver’s roster gives the offense what Courtland Sutton does on a consistent basis.
How many throws did we see in 2020 that fans sitting on their couch at home thought to themselves, Courland Sutton would have caught that?
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1201257813516996609
Sutton is special and was having a huge training camp prior to a shoulder injury that kept him out of the season opener vs. Tennessee. When he came back for the Pittsburgh game, Sutton suffered a season-ending knee injury trying to make a tackle on an interception that was actually his fault.
Only 25 entering the 2021 season, the Broncos unquestionably need Sutton to be a shining star yet again for the offense.
Hopefully, he will be at full strength by the time training camp rolls around (or sooner) and will be able to get on the same page with Drew Lock and the rest of the offense.
Denver Broncos young players who must shine in 2021
1. Drew Lock, QB
At this point in time, no player matters more to the immediate and future success of the Denver Broncos than quarterback Drew Lock.
After his first “full” season of time on task, it’s clear that Lock made progression. John Elway said the Broncos saw enough from their young QB to believe he can be a good quarterback in the NFL for a long time, but Elway noted also that it’s going to “take some time”.
Up to this point, the Broncos have had exactly zero games with their top projected personnel for the 2020 season offensively. That group would look like this:
QB: Drew Lock
RB: Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay
WR: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick
WR: Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler
TE: Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam
LT: Garett Bolles
LG: Dalton Risner
C: Lloyd Cushenberry
RG: Graham Glasgow
RT: Ja’Wuan James
All of those players are (or can easily be) under contract for the 2021 season and beyond. If you’re wondering why so many fans want to run it back with an offense that has struggled throughout 2020, this is it.
This is one of the most talented young units in the entire NFL. Over the course of the season, we’ve started to see Pat Shurmur’s offense take for these young guys. As Shurmur noted himself, the Broncos’ offense has at least 1,000 snaps less of time on the field than the next youngest offense in the league.
These guys are raw but talented, and more time on task is going to make them all better.
Lock, specifically, has areas he can make strides in but there is nothing the coaching staff feels is not correctible at this point.
Can Lock make strides in his consistency? Decision making? Does he have what it takes to be the kind of quarterback that can help get the Broncos back to the Super Bowl?
That’s the question everyone has to be asking in Denver right now and you have to be able to see the forest through the 2020 trees. Lock is not a finished product. At the age of 24, he has plenty of time to get better and better, and we certainly know he has the work ethic to do it.
His talent is undeniable. His work habits and understanding of the game seem obvious. What can Lock do with a second year in the same scheme with mostly the same teammates around him? How much better can the Broncos’ offense be in 2021 with their successes and failures to look back on from 2020?
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