Who are some wide receivers the Denver Broncos might struggle against in 2022?
The Denver Broncos lost two pieces of their secondary this offseason after Bryce Callahan signed with the Los Angeles Chargers and Kyle Fuller has yet to sign following free agency.
Some would wonder if Fuller is considered a loss because of his poor play in 2021, but seeing him at the top of his game in Chicago to start his career, we know what he can be.
He just was not that in Denver.
That being said, at the top of the Broncos’ cornerback depth are Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby. Michael Ojemudia played a total of 85 defensive snaps in 2021 after having knee surgery in the 2021 offseason, so we don’t know how he’ll return next season.
On the plus side, the Broncos will no longer have to face Tyreek Hill twice a year after he was shipped off to the Miami Dolphins this offseason. Those two teams do not square off against each other during the 2022 regular season.
If, somehow, the Broncos and Dolphins make the postseason, that might be another story.
Against the pass, the Broncos were the fourth-best defensive team, allowing just a 60.7 completion percentage to quarterbacks. They also were in the top-10 in passing yards allowed per attempt with 6.9.
They allowed the fifth-least amount of passing touchdowns with 22 but needed to be a lot better when it came to interceptions. They finished the year with just 13. In comparison, the team that had the most interceptions this past year was the Cowboys, with 26.
No. 3 receiver who could cause problems for the Denver Broncos: Deebo Samuel
The Denver Broncos face Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers at home in week 3. My concern is that they won’t be ready for what may come when it comes to Samuel’s versatility.
Though he primarily wants to be a wide receiver, the 49ers likely will continue using him in a way that best suits them and not him. He has not only been their star wide receiver but has also lined up at running back.
The threat of Samuel at running back will be big if mobile quarterback Trey Lance is under center, which appears to be likely. The 49ers could be on the verge of cutting Jimmy Garoppolo, ensuring that Lance is their starter.
The 49ers can open up the gadget section of their playbook and run read-option plays with Samuel.
So, what about that trade Samuel wanted not long ago? Well, that does not seem to be a major problem anymore according to 49ers tight end George Kittle.
An advantage the Broncos may have is that the 49ers are expected to start second-year quarterback Trey Lance, as they are exploring a trade that will ship Jimmy Garoppolo away. While it’s no guarantee the Broncos will have success against Lance, I like their chances with their experienced defense.
Denver’s success or lack thereof could come down to how San Francisco uses Samuel.