The Denver Broncos have a talented roster heading into 2021 training camp. What are the top 5 storylines to follow with camp underway on Wednesday?
Football is in the air. Denver Broncos training camp opens officially on Wednesday, although the rookies and quarterbacks have already been on the field getting some light work in.
With the way teams are covered anymore, there’s really nothing uninteresting about specific areas of the roster during camp. Every player will have the chance to be in the spotlight with so many media covering camp and so many eyes on as many of the 90 guys that are healthy enough to compete on the field.
With that being said, some of the topics of intrigue regarding the Denver Broncos will receive a lot more focus than others.
Whether that involves an injured player coming back to the field, a starting position up for grabs, or players who could step up out of nowhere and earn significant roles in the 2021 season — all of it will demand the attention of fans and media alike.
Which storylines for the Denver Broncos are the most interesting heading into 2021 training camp?
Denver Broncos top 5 most interesting storylines for 2021 training camp
5. Battles for offensive line starting jobs
For the first time this offseason, the offensive linemen will be battling in the trenches with the pads on, going full contact, and competing for a couple of open starting positions.
As things currently are, the Denver Broncos’ starting offensive line will consist of:
- LT: Garett Bolles
- LG: Dalton Risner
- C: Lloyd Cushenberry
- RG: Graham Glasgow
- RT: Bobby Massie
Heading into camp, I think the center position and right tackle position are the most “wide open” when it comes to competition, and you’ve got some clear contenders to take each spot.
Cushenberry’s job is threatened by only one — rookie Quinn Meinerz. When the Denver Broncos drafted Meinerz, I was trying to figure out if they might convert him to the right tackle position with his outstanding athleticism, length, and quick feet.
Apparently, they had aims on moving him to center where they had just spent a third-round pick in 2020 on Lloyd Cushenberry III.
Meinerz played guard all through college, so he could still wind up there, but with the Broncos trying him at center initially, it makes you wonder just how “safe” Cushenberry is. The former LSU starter is going to need to fend off a pretty outstanding talent.
At right tackle, the competition is wide open. There is no incumbent at that spot for Denver, though there are some favorites at this point in time. Bobby Massie has probably been the best of the bunch throughout his career with veteran Cameron Fleming close behind.
The Broncos also really like right tackle Calvin Anderson, who could seize the opportunity and take a starting job as well.
At right guard, don’t discount the development of Netane Muti. As Patrick Chiotti wrote, a more realistic timeline for Muti could be projecting to 2022. With that being said, if a team comes calling to George Paton about trading for Graham Glasgow, the Broncos have young depth on the interior to be able to make that happen.
4. Secondary chemistry
The unit that is expected to be the best on the entire team in 2021 is the secondary.
The Denver Broncos trotted out a unit at the end of the 2020 season that included guys like De’Vante Bausby, Will Parks, Alijah Holder, Parnell Motley, and others.
As beloved as Parks has been and even Bausby in his short time in Denver, it’s a wonder that Vic Fangio’s defense was able to show so well in the final eight games of the season, even with a couple of absolute duds in there (against Buffalo and Las Vegas, specifically).
The Broncos allowed just 21 passing TDs last season, good for second-best in the NFL. The red zone defense under Vic Fangio has been outstanding, but the team has not exactly had top-flight personnel out there.
George Paton made it his highest priority to upgrade the secondary when he got to Denver. Here’s a quick recap of his biggest moves there:
- Re-signing safety Justin Simmons
- Re-signing safety Kareem Jackson
- Signing free agent Ronald Darby
- Signing free agent Kyle Fuller
- Drafting Patrick Surtain II
The Broncos also brought in additional help via day three of the 2021 NFL Draft with Caden Sterns, Jamar Johnson, and Kary Vincent Jr.
Bryce Callahan and Michael Ojemudia — starters in 2020 — return as well to give this unit enviable talent and depth.
How will this unit mesh together?
Given the fact that there are so many veteran players out there and now every starter besides Darby going on three years or more with Vic Fangio, it should be pretty outstanding.
Pat Surtain II is expected to fit right in with his veteran-like approach and maturity level.
These guys need to find ways to create more turnovers for Fangio and not only keep teams from scoring in the red zone, but eliminate those red zone trips altogether.
3. The entire wide receiver room (all 14 guys)
There are currently 14 players on the Denver Broncos’ roster at the wide receiver position. Not a single one of the individual stories here is uninteresting.
Courtland Sutton is back from a season-ending injury in 2020. How will he look coming off of that injury? Will he get an extension at some point during the preseason?
How is Jerry Jeudy going to look after struggling with drops in his rookie season?
Will KJ Hamler be able to consistently stay healthy so his speed can continually be an asset to the offense?
Will Tim Patrick establish himself as a top-3 receiver on the team? Could he also be a candidate for a contract extension?
How will recent late-round picks Tyrie Cleveland and Seth Williams do with their opportunities in the offense?
Which back-end roster guys are going to stick? Who will be the team’s primary return specialist in 2021?
What about Kendall Hinton?
From 1-14, this group is fascinating, talented, and flat-out fun.
2. Von Miller & Bradley Chubb
There is no question about the fact that the Denver Broncos have one of the best pass rushing duos in the NFL in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.
After picking up Von Miller’s large contract option in 2021 (which I’m not so sure Miller expected to happen), will we finally get to see this duo on the field really for the first time since 2018?
In 2019, Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury.
In 2020, Miller suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
Since Vic Fangio came aboard, one of the most exciting possibilities was what the combo of Miller and Chubb could do together, and we just haven’t seen it but for four games, one of which Chubb was playing with that torn ACL (Jacksonville, 2019).
Chubb was selected to the Pro Bowl last year after racking up 42 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 19 QB hits, and 34 pressures in 14 games.
If both of these guys can stay healthy, they are going to be a terror for opposing offenses. The Denver Broncos have plenty of talent on the interior defensive line that can capitalize on the attention Miller and Chubb will receive, but these two guys are going to be hard to neutralize if they can each play 70 percent of the snaps or more.
First things first, though — get these two stars through camp unscathed.
1. The QB Battle
Although the quarterback position battle has been discussed to the point of absolute nausea this offseason, you’d better buckle up for daily updates, overreactions, and training camp completion percentage stats.
Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater have the daunting task of taking the Denver Broncos’ offense from what it was in 2020 (bad) to making sure the unit is good enough to get the team into the playoffs in 2021.
With seven spots available and a potential top 3 defense, these quarterbacks have to limit the damage in the turnover department and do their best to maximize the plethora of talented weapons at the skill positions.
It’s going to be fascinating to see what the Denver Broncos base this camp and preseason competition on and how long it takes them to decide a week one starter against the New York Giants.
Will they prioritize lack of turnovers during camp? Again, this team’s secondary is the best unit on the team and might be the best in the NFL. I suppose that’s as good of a litmus test of improvement as any for Lock or Bridgewater.
At this point, it’s safe to say the Denver Broncos will not be prioritizing Drew Lock taking his lumps. They let him do that last year, and they should have. He’s going to have to go out and win the job against a guy who has, over the course of his career, completed 66.5 percent of his passes.
Lock is younger, has more raw talent and upside, and is also the incumbent. Bridgewater is perhaps more efficient and the safer play.
Lock’s development will be fascinating to watch unfold over the course of camp, but fans need to remember — try to see the forest through the trees. One great day or one bad day is not going to decide this.
Denver Broncos trade options with the Miami Dolphins
The Denver Broncos have some strong relationships and ties with the Miami Dolphins. Will the two teams come together on any trades?
It’s going to come down to which QB proves against this elite defense that they can make the best reads consistently, the best decisions with the ball consistently, and maximize the talent at the skill spots consistently.