Later this week, the Denver Broncos will open training camp for the 2021 season.
There are several storylines to follow with a team that is looking to finally break its playoff drought while also hoping to find quarterback play that lasts into the future.
Of course, it will take a complete 53-man roster in order to get to the promised land of a Super Bowl and with COVID-19 protocols as they are, it will likely take even more players than that across the course of the season.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to be familiar with all of the players on the roster.
We all know that Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Garett Bolles are key pieces of the team and will be all season. But who are some of the guys buried deep on the depth chart that fans should be aware of?
I will be spotlighting one player from each position on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball who is a sleeper heading into training camp. These are players who could not just make the final roster, but also contribute in a big way during the season.
Quarterback: Brett Rypien
The Broncos only have three quarterbacks on their roster and we’ll be hearing about Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater all year, as there is a good chance both quarterbacks will get some playing time.
That leaves Rypien as the sleeper.
The Broncos clearly like Rypien as he is entering his third year with the organization. He made his first career start as a pro last season against the New York Jets and helped the Broncos get their first win of the season.
He does have his limitations but he is going to be fighting for a roster spot and if he can make it, he has a chance to hang around as a long-term backup, which all teams can use. Remember Gary Kubiak?
With that said, there is an old saying that if you have two quarterbacks battling for the job, you don’t really have any, so why would the Broncos keep a third?