Now that the Denver Broncos have hired one of the best offensive minds the NFL has ever known to be the team’s new head coach, the possibilities for the team going forward are quite exciting.
With Sean Payton on board, it will be expected that Russell Wilson bounces back in a big way after a poor 2022 season. It will also be predicted that both Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy become one of the league’s best pass-catching duos.
But there are players all over the roster who can benefit from this move. Payton is one of those coaches who can get the best out of every player on his roster.
The offense in Denver has been down for several seasons. That was supposed to change with the additions of Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett, but it somehow went backward.
Payton will be tasked with turning that around and getting the Broncos to put more points on the scoreboard. In order to do that, he will need to do more than just put the star players in the best spot to succeed.
Here are some players who have yet to become a major piece of the Denver offense but who could certainly turn a huge corner in 2023.
Broncos tight end Albert Okwuegbunam could go from nothing to something
It was assumed that Albert Okwuegbunam would take off when Russell Wilson got to Denver, but all he did was find Nathaniel Hackett’s doghouse. For whatever reason, Hackett just didn’t see much in the third-year tight end.
Coming off a promising 33-catch season in 2021, it was reasonable to think that Okwuegbunam would expand upon that number in a big way after the team dealt Noah Fant to the Seattle Seahawks.
Instead, Hackett opted to have basically any other tight end on the roster on the field over Albert O.
But once Hackett was fired, interim coach Jerry Rosburg actually had Okweugbunam active and on the field and he made a few plays in the team’s last two games.
It seems that the team did make a great selection when they took UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich in last year’s draft as he was one of the few bright spots on offense this season, but there is still room for Okwuegbunam to make an impact on this team in what will be the final year of his rookie contract.
Tyler Badie, Running Back
Though it fell way under the radar, the Broncos’ signing of Tyler Badie off the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens toward the end of the season was a solid move that could pay off in the long term.
Badie played in just one game for the Broncos and caught one pass for 24 yards, but it went for a touchdown. Badie should have a chance to become a bigger part of the team in 2023.
There is the potential for a player at the running back position to really step up for the Broncos as the only running back currently under contract that had any impact in 2022 is Javonte Williams, and he will be coming off of a torn ACL.
Serious thought should be given to bringing veteran Latavius Murray back but even with Williams and Murray, there would be a chance for a player to be a real option on third downs and as a receiver.
Badie could fill that role.
In Payton’s New Orleans offense, smaller running backs Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara became huge weapons and contributed mightily in the passing game. Badie is only 5-foot-8 but he has a solid potential ceiling and could be a name to watch as the offseason progresses.
K.J. Hamler, Wide Receiver
K.J. Hamler’s career in Denver has been short and mostly disappointing. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, he must produce if he wants to stick around.
Hamler has played in a total of 10 games in the last two seasons and he has come nowhere close to living up to being a second-round pick. He’s running out of time to do so.
But much like the running back position, there will be room for a wide receiver to step up in 2023 as well.
Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton will be the top two receivers on the depth chart but behind them, there is an opportunity to be had.
Tim Patrick will be coming back from a season-ending injury and the other guys on the roster are undrafted or unproven players.
Hamler was seen as Wilson’s deep threat following last spring’s big trade, much, in the same way, Tyler Lockett was when Wilson was with the Seahawks. Instead, Wilson and Hamler hooked up just six times all season.
Payton should be able to get more out of Hamler, so long as he can stay healthy. Payton’s offenses were always charged by one of the league’s top passing games in which Drew Brees would spread the ball around to a variety of players. And the deep ball is always a threat and Wilson might throw it better than anyone.
If Hamler is ever going to be anything in Denver, or perhaps even the entire NFL, it will happen this coming season.