Denver Broncos’ KJ Hamler simply needs to do more

Denver Broncos third-year wide receiver KJ Hamler has made some good plays in his career, but he simply needs to do more overall.  I think most of the fans in Broncos Country love KJ Hamler the person.  I think they enjoy his humor and give him a ton of props for coming back from a brutally serious injury.

However, I think many of these fans need to have a conversation with themselves about what KJ Hamler actually brings to this offense.  The answer, in my opinion, is virtually nothing.  KJ Hamler was absent for most of the game until Russell Wilson uncorked a 50-yard bomb to Hamler to set up a touchdown on Sunday evening.

Most of the fans, like myself, who were wondering where Hamler was were pleasantly surprised to see him get involved in the game.  Many pegged him as the Tyler Lockett in this Denver Broncos’ offense.

Lockett was good for taking the top off of defenses while Russell Wilson was his quarterback in Seattle.  However, it’s clear that Hamler has not lived up to that role for the Denver Broncos, and him being a second-round pick adds some urgency to this.

I do think the third-year player simply needs to do more.  I don’t see a clear role for him in this offense after four games.  Both Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy are able to separate themselves from defenses and get into the deep secondaries.

Hamler’s speed is so rare that this should be almost regular for him, but it isn’t.  Being that the team has rookie Montrell Washington, who has a similar profile to Hamler, on the roster, makes me think that KJ’s time in Denver could be coming to an end unless he can put some consistency together.

We are one quarter through the 2022 season, and Hamler is on pace for roughly four receptions for 200 yards.  It simply isn’t enough to continue taking up a roster spot.  With Tim Patrick’s 2023 health and status in the air, I think this makes wide receiver a need for the Denver Broncos.