It's that time of year when NFL veterans and rookies step on the field together for the first time at OTAs. This is the first exposure coaches are getting to their full 90-man roster on the field at the same time, but obviously, everything has to be taken with a grain of salt because players aren't in pads and it's not quite "real" football yet. But ideas for rookies taking the jobs of veterans could be planted in the minds of decision-makers at this time of year. For the Denver Broncos, there may be a few veterans that need to be put on notice.
The Broncos have a small rookie class, but they undoubtedly have some players who could come in and steal starting jobs early on. Which veterans need to be watching their backs now that the rookies have arrived?
Let's pick the top three.
Denver Broncos veterans who could have their job taken by a rookie
1. Tim Patrick/Courtland Sutton, WR
Oddly enough, I think the top pick of the Denver Broncos' 2023 rookie class is arguably the most overlooked of the crop. Because Marvin Mims plays the wide receiver position, and because the Broncos are pretty top-heavy (when healthy) at wide receiver, I don't think a lot of people view Mims as much of a threat to be a 'starter' in 2023. But I'm here to tell you he might just be a threat to steal a lot of snaps.
In fact, it wouldn't shock me to see Mims be one of the top three receivers in Denver this year when it comes to overall snaps played. The Broncos didn't draft Mims to ride the pine. Of course, he will have to earn his playing time, but this is a player they traded up to get. He will start off returning punts, but don't be shocked if Mims starts to see an increased role much earlier than people anticipated.
Denver Broncos veteran no. 2 on notice: Josey Jewell, LB
One of the best starters on last year's defense was veteran linebacker Josey Jewell, but entering the 2023 season, I think it's fair to say that Josey will need to be looking over his shoulder just a little bit.
The Denver Broncos used a third-round pick on Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders, and although Sanders is still somewhat raw, I think the expectation should obviously be that he will be playing sooner rather than later. We've discussed this previously, but it bears repeating, the writing seems to be on the wall for Josey Jewell. It wouldn't be shocking at all to see him traded before the start of the 2023 season.
Why?
Well, the first reason is obviously the presence of third-rounder Drew Sanders. As raw as Sanders is, early reviews have been impressive and Sanders is a unique type of player at the linebacker position. The Broncos will almost undoubtedly be spending a lot of time in nickel and dime defense, and they've recently re-signed Alex Singleton to a three-year defense.
Doesn't it make sense that Singleton would take over as the primary defensive play-caller, and the Broncos could rotate guys like Drew Sanders, Jonas Griffith, and some of their defensive backs? Josey Jewell being in a contract year makes this kind of a scenario much more plausible. The Broncos could have Jonas Griffith "starting" in 2023 and really expedite the development of Sanders, getting him on the field more.
When you look at this year's draft class, I think the most obvious position logjam created was at linebacker after the selection of Drew Sanders. The question is, why did the Broncos create that logjam in the first place, and what do they plan on doing to make sure they get these guys on the field and maximize value?
Denver Broncos veteran no. 3 on notice: Damarri Mathis, CB
Okay, it's a bit of a stretch to call Damarri Mathis a "veteran", but he fits the description of "incumbent" at the very least. He's a 2022 starter who has been put on notice by a 2023 NFL Draft pick, and that draft pick is none other than Riley Moss, the cornerback out of Iowa.
The Denver Broncos traded a 2024 3rd-round pick to move up and draft Moss, certainly a controversial move at the time that it was made but a necessary move considering the Broncos' cornerback room prior to that selection being made.
First, let's talk about Damarri Mathis' rookie season. He experienced the same types of ups and downs you will typically see from a rookie, but I think his progression as a fourth-round pick was especially impressive. We saw Mathis entrench himself as a starter, and likely become a future starter, while learning on the fly.
When you consider how strong his rookie season was overall, it's hard to imagine Damarri Mathis getting his starting job taken in 2023. At the same time, growth is not always linear in the NFL. Not every player just immediately gets better year over year. Mathis is going to have to fend off some really strong roster competition now with Riley Moss joining the fray.
Coming from Phil Parker's defense at Iowa, Moss is going to be technically sound as a rookie. He undoubtedly brings confidence to the table and is extremely competitive at the catch point. He's a playmaker and a ball-hawk. There's no question that he can start as a rookie, which is why I think Damarri Mathis is one of those "veterans" that has been officially put on notice by a rookie in this particular class.