Broncos depth chart: Where does Tyrie Cleveland factor in?
Of all the positions on the Denver Broncos depth chart ahead of the 2021 season, there is probably no position that is more loaded than wide receiver. Okay, okay — the cornerback room may have a legitimate gripe there.
It’s safe to say, though, that the Denver Broncos have one of the most talented wide receiver rooms in the NFL as a whole, led by Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and 2020 second-round pick KJ Hamler.
The reason why this unit is so promising is not just for the top guys at the position, either. Some of the guys down the line on the Denver Broncos depth chart — and there are currently 15 of them on the 90-man roster — have a chance to be impact players, even if that impact is only felt on a handful of plays per game.
One player who showed he is worthy of some extended snaps in 2021 is former seventh-round pick Tyrie Cleveland.
Cleveland was somewhat lost in the shuffle at Florida among their plethora of offensive skill players and playmakers. He still found a way to make plenty of plays and stand out as a vertical threat and route runner as well as a kick return specialist.
One of the primary things Cleveland was known for at Florida, however, was his prowess on special teams coverage units.
With legit sub-4.4 speed and a big body, Cleveland was built for special teams.
Broncos depth chart: Where does Tyrie Cleveland fit?
Heading into the 2021 training camp season, where does Cleveland fit on the Denver Broncos depth chart, specifically at the wide receiver position?
For the time being, he has got to be considered the favorite for the WR5 spot. That could mean, though, that he barely cracks the top 10 on this team in targets in 2021. Last season, he saw some action in the first and last games of the season, but very little in between.
With the promise he showed in those two outings, it’s a wonder that Pat Shurmur didn’t try to get him more involved throughout the season.
Cleveland showed that he’s got strong hands and after-the-catch ability, and he will hopefully come close to tripling his target share from 2020, which was just 12 targets total.
Getting Cleveland a couple of targets per game and looking at maybe 37 total targets on the year does not seem out of the question unless the Broncos have so many hot hands that they literally can’t afford to take other guys off the field.
On special teams, Cleveland’s role should only continue to increase, not only on coverage units but perhaps also in the return game. At this point, it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen with the whole Broncos depth chart at receiver and how return specialist Diontae Spencer will factor in.
The Broncos know that Cleveland can return kicks so if Spencer is traded or cut, he will likely assume that role.