The Denver Broncos have some solidified playmakers on offense. Which players could make roster decisions difficult with big preseason performances?
After a couple of joint practices, the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings will come together for a preseason game on Saturday afternoon. Although everyone will agree the preseason doesn’t hold a candle to regular season NFL action, preseason games are an absolute blast because you get to see basically the entire roster competing for roster spots in game situations.
There were no preseason games in 2020 due to the pandemic, which robbed us all of the opportunity to see young players develop in critical situations.
It also had a tremendous effect league-wide on players getting actual opportunities to make their case for 53-man roster spots. In some ways, it wasn’t all bad because teams had to really rely on their scouting during practice and bank on college scouting reports or previous work players had done.
In many ways, however, you can’t help but wonder how different things may have been.
There will be just three preseason games in 2021 with the regular season expanding to 17 games. We’re going to take a look at some offensive players that could shock everyone and potentially earn 53-man roster spots with strong preseason play.
Denver Broncos offensive players that could shock in preseason games
1. Damarea Crockett, RB
Everyone in Denver is pumped to see rookie Javonte Williams, and rightfully so. Williams was considered the RB1 of the 2021 class by the Denver Broncos’ front office, and he has special abilities.
He will undoubtedly be a player to watch over the course of the preseason, as will free agent pickup Mike Boone.
Heck, even Royce Freeman is intriguing due to the potential of him being traded in the coming weeks.
So who in the world is Damarea Crockett?
Get to know the name.
Crockett has made some nice plays in training camp even though the defense is not allowed to tackle guys to the ground. He has looked explosive and has done a good job of reading blocks, staying patient, and getting to the second level quickly.
The preseason is a hotbed for running back success. Every year, just about every NFL team is going to have a running back go off in the preseason. What the Denver Broncos will want (need) to see from Damarea Crockett is three down abilities.
The former Missouri Tigers back and Drew Lock teammate ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical jump. He’s a gym rat who excels at creating yardage after contact.
I think he’s going to be an absolute blast to watch with some extended preseason work.
2. Trinity Benson, WR
Many fans who have been paying close attention to every practice and training camp report for the last few years will not be overly shocked to see Trinity Benson do well in preseason work.
What might be shocking for some is how much faith the Denver Broncos actually have in him.
Although right now Benson might look to the casual fan like another camp body at the wide receiver position, I’m not so sure the Denver Broncos don’t like him as their WR5 right now behind the solidified top four of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and KJ Hamler.
Benson offers versatility in that he can return punts and kicks, and he’s also made a number of big plays throughout training camp on the offense.
I think there’s no question that he is a candidate to make the roster at this point, the question now is how high can he climb up the depth chart and how many snaps is Pat Shurmur willing to give him?
Benson has legit 4.4 speed and is a dynamic, explosive athlete.
He’s now been working with Denver Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni for three offseasons and all of the work he’s been putting in behind the scenes might be paying off with a full-time gig in 2021.
Although many Denver Broncos fans hoped that Aaron Rodgers would be wearing number 12 this season, perhaps Trinity Benson will become a nice consolation.
3. Adam Prentice, FB
It’s time to make fullbacks prominent again.
Pat Shurmur did not utilize the fullback position a whole lot last season for the Denver Broncos. It could be making a comeback.
Shurmur has to have seen all of the film from the 2020 season and realize just how crucial a consistent running game is.
The fullback can still help with that, even in today’s NFL.
Adam Prentice was not just brought in for the fun of it. And he remains part of the Denver Broncos’ roster for a reason.
The Broncos also still have Andrew Beck, who can double as a tight end, but Prentice is a true throwback at the fullback position who is as gritty, hard-nosed, and carefree as they come when it comes to getting any sort of attention.
He may not be Andy Janovich, but he’s cut from the same cloth.
With Prentice making an impression at training camp by flattening some linebackers and defensive backs already, he has an opportunity in preseason games to make himself uncuttable and reestablish the fullback’s presence in Denver’s offense.
Although it’s not necessarily Pat Shurmur’s preferred brand, the Broncos are going to need to be consistent running the football to have success in 2021, and having a fullback that can flatten guys at the second and third level is a huge help.
The former Colorado State star will do that dirty work.
Especially with how good Drew Lock has been off of play-action, having a fullback that can catch passes out of the backfield might become essential for the Broncos in 2021.
4. Austin Fort, TE
Although things didn’t work out with recently retired Jake Butt, the hope for a feel-good story at the tight end position still remains.
Austin Fort was picked up by the Denver Broncos after the 2019 NFL Draft as an intriguing athlete at the tight end position who, once upon a time, caught passes from Josh Allen at Wyoming.
In his first preseason with the Denver Broncos, he caught a long pass from fellow rookie Drew Lock against the Seattle Seahawks, and unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury coming down with the ball.
In his second training camp with the team, he went down with yet another injury that caused him to land on injured reserve, though Vic Fangio said that he probably could have come off of IR at some point during last season.
Alas, he did not.
Still, the Broncos like Fort enough to do a couple of things.
Number one, they’ve kept him on the roster despite changes in the offensive scheme and his injures.
Number two, they have really left the door open for him to make the roster by only bringing in young journeyman Eric Saubert as well as undrafted free agent Shaun Beyer as competition.
Fort has tremendous speed at the tight end position and even though he’s on the lighter side, if he makes enough plays in preseason action and can stay healthy, he could shock everyone and crack that final roster.
5. Quinn Bailey, OT
The Denver Broncos’ starting right tackle position appears to be down to promising young player Calvin Anderson as well as veteran Bobby Massie. Vic Fangio has, however, on multiple occasions singled out former undrafted free agent Quinn Bailey as another guy the team likes to possibly take that role.
If nothing else, Bailey has a shot to potentially be a swing tackle for the Denver Broncos this season after really working his way up as an unheralded longshot in 2019.
There’s no question about the impact of offensive line coach Mike Munchak and what he’s done with some of the more prominent players on this Denver Broncos roster, but there are also a number of guys like Quinn Bailey who have been around since Munchak was hired that are worth keeping close tabs on.
When the second and third offensive units come out onto the field, Bailey will be expected to dominate given he has been included in the conversation as the starting right tackle.
If he can string together some good practices and have a good game against the Minnesota Vikings, perhaps his role going forward and opportunities in that right tackle spot will increase.
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The former Arizona State standout has certainly paid his dues and even got a little taste of regular season action last season in Las Vegas. He needs a big preseason and could shock everyone and come for that right tackle spot.