The Denver Broncos have a number of players who deserve more playing time early in the 2021 season. We take a look at four specific players.
The Denver Broncos are 3-1 through the first four games of the 2021 season and there is plenty of room for improvement, especially on offense. Through four games, the defense has been outstanding and as-advertised, even with some key players suffering injuries.
The Broncos are on the mend as it relates to injuries, and while some players have been out, others have gotten the opportunity to step in and step up.
Some players are simply too good for Vic Fangio and the coaching staff to leave on the sideline even when key players return.
Which Denver Broncos players deserve more playing time going forward? Let’s take a look at a few players who could be making even more of an impact if they would get more snaps.
Denver Broncos: 5 players who should get more playing time
1. Caden Sterns, S
Over the course of the last three games, Caden Sterns has played a total of 35 defensive snaps. On those snaps, Sterns has racked up five total tackles, two sacks, three passes defended, and an interception.
Against the Baltimore Ravens, Sterns had a pair of sacks and a deep pass breakup on only seven snaps.
https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1444790630270619648
To say the rookie fifth-round pick has been impressive would be a drastic understatement. He has been impressive since training camp and was making plays routinely in the preseason as well.
Averaging less than 12 snaps per game over the last three games (with 0 snaps in week one on defense), Sterns is due for some more playing time.
On the latest Locked On Broncos podcast, Cody Roark suggested a potential position swap for Sterns and Kareem Jackson at some point in the near future.
That is a fascinating idea considering how strong Jackson is at playing in the box.
We’ve seen the Denver Broncos shift to more of the dime defensive package this year at times which is evidenced by Sterns’ involvement.
It will be fascinating to see how the team shifts things when Ronald Darby and Michael Ojemudia are back in the fold, but Sterns has proven he’s simply too big of a difference-maker to keep on the sideline.
Denver Broncos: 5 players who should get more playing time
2. Eric Saubert, TE
In the first three games of the 2021 season, the Denver Broncos were somewhat heavily involving Eric Saubert, who averaged about 23 snaps per game.
In week four against the Baltimore Ravens, Saubert played just eight snaps offensively.
The fact that the team abandoned the run in the second half makes that particular statistic make a bit more sense. Saubert hasn’t been heavily involved in the passing attack but he certainly has been when the Broncos run the ball.
Going forward, eight snaps is not enough for Saubert, who might need to start eating into Albert Okwuegbunam’s snaps a little bit.
The Broncos have a couple of key injuries at wide receiver with Jerry Jeudy out and KJ Hamler gone for the season. That means we’ll see plenty of 12 and 13 personnel with multiple tight ends on the field at one time, and Saubert should start getting more opportunities in the passing game.
Okwuegbunam is an outstanding talent, but he’s also got a fumble this season as well as a key drop this past week against the Ravens.
It can’t hurt to run some of the same plays for Saubert and see if he can’t make more of an impact as a receiver than he’s been allowed to show up to this point.
Denver Broncos: 5 players who should get more playing time
3. Baron Browning, LB
You can only make an impact on the game and get more playing time if you are healthy and able. That is going to be mission number one for Baron Browning.
Once he does get healthy, the Denver Broncos need to find more creative ways to get this talented rookie on the field than just one special teams.
Look at what the Baltimore Ravens are seeing with the raw talent of Odafe Oweh emerging as a top-flight pass rusher.
Look at what the Dallas Cowboys are getting from Micah Parsons, another elite athlete who has been making a substantial impact as a pass rusher.
Vic Fangio typically keeps his rotation pretty slim defensively, which is understandable. Outside of the defensive front, guys simply don’t come off the field unless they have to.
He’s adapted a little bit this year, showing early in the season that he will get players on the field that need to be out there, like rookies Patrick Surtain II and Caden Sterns. We’re also seeing a healthy rotation off the edge with Bradley Chubb injured, and that will likely continue even when he gets back.
At some point, the Broncos need to find ways to get Browning on the field. The Josey Jewell injury certainly gives them an excuse to do so, but there is absolutely no excuse for keeping Browning on the sideline when you can simply send him after the quarterback, something he does really well.
As Browning returns to full health, hopefully we will see him get into the fold, at least as a pass rusher.
Denver Broncos: 5 players who should get more playing time
4. Kendall Hinton, WR
Slowly but surely, Kendall Hinton’s role in the offense is growing.
That will be crucial for the Denver Broncos over the long haul that is this season given the fact that when Jerry Jeudy returns to the field, you never know when you’re going to need a replacement again.
Hinton played a season-high 26 snaps offensively against the Ravens and caught one pass on a career-high three targets.
He would have had another reception as well if it wasn’t called back due to a penalty.
Hinton also could be the Denver Broncos’ fill-in for return specialist Diontae Spencer for the time being, if Spencer misses time.
What can Hinton not do?
At any rate, he needs to be getting more run as a receiver and we’re seeing some signs of that. I would say the same is also true of newcomer David Moore, who has 13 career receiving touchdowns.
The Broncos need a jolt in the passing game and perhaps Hinton can provide it in week five against the Steelers.
Denver Broncos: 5 players who should get more playing time
5. McTelvin Agim, DL
One of the Denver Broncos’ top breakout candidates during training camp was defensive lineman McTelvin Agim.
Agim had an outstanding training camp and played well in preseason games, but he wasn’t active for the team’s first three games of the 2021 season.
The Broncos activated the 2020 third-round pick in their week four matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, and he delivered, racking up a tackle, QB hit, and a pass batted at the line of scrimmage on just 17 snaps.
The Denver Broncos’ rotation on the defensive line is really solid all around.
The starting trio of Shelby Harris, Dre’Mont Jones, and Mike Purcell has played well, and the team has very capable reserves in Shamar Stephen and DeShawn Williams. Agim should not be an odd man out of that rotation, however.
He’s a young, athletic playmaker on the defensive interior who is capable of having an impact on games.
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The Denver Broncos should work to get him more snaps going forward, especially after a solid outing against the Ravens.