Denver Broncos: 3 players who benefitted most from free agency

No. 3: Defensive Lineman Dre’Mont Jones

Dre’Mont Jones, a former 3rd round selection in the 2019 draft, is on the verge of breaking out. As the season progressed, he seemed to play better and better.

Jones finished last season with 6 sacks and 7 tackles for loss.

Jones has been a favorite of Vic Fangio and defensive line coach Bill Kollar, which means a lot as both coaches are difficult to please and praise isn’t offered without being earned.

What is even more impressive is how well Jones played with the absence of Shelby Harris for several games and the injuries to nose tackle Mike Purcell and former All-Pro Jurrell Casey.

Teams focused on Jones and he continued to find ways to make plays. So, why was the free agency period good for Jones?

With the release of Jurrell Casey and no additions have been made to the line outside of retaining Harris. With Harris and Purcell back, Jones is penciled in to start the season with the 1st team for the first time in his career.

With Harris and Miller back, Jones should get plenty of one-on-one matchups that allow him to rack up sacks.

The added opportunities should provide Jones with an opportunity to excel and push for a Pro-Bowl nod sooner than you may think. If Jones plays well, it’ll be right in time for an extension.