Over the last six months, the state of the Denver Broncos 2023 roster has been analyzed, dissected, and debated. Now, we're just a week away from the team playing its first game of the Sean Payton era and giving us our first glimpse of whether or not everyone who feels this team is significantly improved is right.
The more you look at this Denver Broncos roster, however, the more you see potential for breakthrough from a wide variety of players. Every year, content creators all over sports love to try and project breakout players for specific teams, but in my opinion, the rules are way too often stretched for certain guys. There's no absolute authority on the criteria for what makes a breakout player candidate, but in my opinion, the guy has to go from relative obscurity to a significant starter or contributor.
A great example would be Courtland Sutton in 2019, who had a massive "breakout" year after a solid rookie season. Or maybe an even more obvious example would be Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs in 2018. Drafted in 2017, sat most of the year, and then won MVP in his first year as the starter in 2018.
Who are the Denver Broncos' top breakout player candidates in 2023? Let's take a look at the list that ended up being much longer than anticipated.
Denver Broncos top breakout player candidates in 2023
Honorable mentions
Javonte Williams, RB
To me, picking Javonte Williams as a "breakout" candidate feels a bit like cheating. He had a really solid rookie season with over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 7 total touchdowns. With that being said, could he obliterate those numbers with a healthy 2023? Yes, he absolutely could. To me, though, Williams' breakout has already happened.
Jerry Jeudy, WR
Another one that could be considered cheating, Jerry Jeudy has yet to truly have a "breakout" NFL season in my opinion, but it feels weird to predict a breakout for him in year four as well. He's already established as a playmaker, but he could be in line for his best NFL season statistically, no doubt.
1. Brandon Johnson, wide receiver
Although he may not be the highest-profile breakout candidate on the team, Brandon Johnson is a really fascinating young player for the Denver Broncos. He was an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida in 2022 and would have made the team last year if not for a high-ankle sprain suffered in the preseason finale.
The Broncos are currently carrying just four wide receivers on their 53-man roster including Johnson, who had seemingly ascended into the WR3 role quickly following Tim Patrick's Achilles injury. Injuries are unfortunate, but they also pave the way for guys like Johnson to find their way into more snaps.
And Johnson has obviously been very impressive. For the coaching staff from last year to be gutted and Johnson still be entering the season as WR3 (possibly WR2 for a week if Jeudy is unable to play Week 1 against the Raiders) is extremely impressive. Johnson has gotten a ton of attention due to the fact that his father was a World Series Champion, All-Star, Gold Glove catcher in Major League Baseball. He's received attention for the fact that he was recruited in college by former Broncos WR coach Zach Azzanni. But we only recently learned that he's the cousin of former NFL star wide receiver Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson.
It seems as though there's much more than meets the eye with this former four-star recruit with incredible athletic bloodlines. He was a high school teammate of Pat Surtain II where they were coached by former NFL players Mike Rumph and Pat Surtain Sr. He has shown in his short time with the Broncos, so far, that he has strong hands, some explosiveness, and playmaking abilities.
Although it's not an ideal roster situation, perhaps we'll find out quickly that the Broncos were justified in putting faith in young Brandon Johnson on their depth chart.
2. Greg Dulcich, tight end
Everybody is ready for Greg Dulcich to really emerge this coming season for the Denver Broncos. Although he is listed on the team's "unofficial" depth chart as being behind Adam Trautman, it seems abundantly clear that Dulcich will have an expansive role in the passing game and that he will be one of the focal points for the Denver Broncos offensively.
Where does Dulcich excel? Well, first and foremost, he's got strong hands. He may not be a jump-ball, contested catch champion, but Dulcich has strong hands, he gets open, and he knows how to make plays after the catch. And that's where I think he's going to really make some hay in the NFL -- after the catch.
Dulcich is extremely impressive when he gets a full head of steam in the open field. This is a player who averaged almost 18 yards per reception throughout his time at UCLA. We saw his big-play ability early last year when he got on the field for the Broncos and especially with a guy like Tim Patrick not playing, I think Dulcich is arguably the Denver Broncos' most obvious breakout candidate.
Even splitting snaps with players like Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz, and Nate Adkins, Dulcich will be moved around the formation and the Broncos will manufacture ways to get the ball in his hands on a weekly basis.
3. Jonathan Harris or Matt Henningsen, defensive line
The Denver Broncos are clearly believing or hoping for a breakout player on the defensive line in 2023. It isn't the first time we've seen them go into a season with some relatively unproven guys on the defensive line, but this year might take the cake in terms of the risk factor.
Jonathan Harris has been in Denver for a really long time now. He originally came into the NFL with the Bears in 2019 and the Broncos claimed him off of waivers that same season. He's gotten increased snaps in each of the last four seasons, playing in eight games in 2022 with a career-high 211 snaps. Appearing in 16 career games total, Harris has 38 tackles, 2 QB hits, and 2 TFL as an NFL player.
He was listed atop the depth chart for the Broncos initially, but will he be eating up the majority of defensive end snaps opposite Zach Allen? I'm not 100 percent sold, but time will tell. Competing with Harris for snaps will be 2022 6th-round pick Matt Henningsen, who had some flashes in the preseason in 2023.
Henningsen played a decent amount for the Broncos last year, but could be thrust into a full-time role in 2023. He was getting his hands on the ball quite a bit in the preseason and he has the type of strength to make a significant impact as a pass rusher in certain situations. But can he eat up more than 50 percent of the snaps? That remains to be seen.
The Broncos are obviously hoping that at least one of these guys will be able to break out in 2023.
4. Jonathon Cooper, outside linebacker
One of the most exciting potential breakout candidates for the Denver Broncos defensively in 2023 is outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. Cooper was a 7th-round selection back in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, and it's clear that the only reason he could have possibly fallen that far in the Draft is due to teams perhaps "failing" him medically.
Cooper has not yet emerged as a full-time starter, but that could change in the 2023 season. He was listed as the starter over Frank Clark on the opposite side of the field from veteran Randy Gregory. With 86 total tackles, 14 QB hits, and 4.5 sacks in his first two NFL seasons, it's not like we haven't seen anything from Cooper up to this point, but the 2023 season could be the year he becomes a big-money pass rusher...eventually.
What does Cooper bring to the table? Well, we know he's outstanding in the effort department. He's strong, he's athletic, he has great burst, and he finishes plays violently. At this point, all he's really been waiting for is an opportunity to play more extensive snaps. He hasn't been struggling to hold up as an every-down edge. He hasn't struggled putting pressure on the QB.
The Broncos have traded away franchise legend Von Miller and former top pick Bradley Chubb in consecutive years. If Jonathon Cooper can stay on the field, he could emerge as the next great home-grown talent off the edge for this team. I think he's in line for a huge season, one which could potentially include double-digit sacks.
5. Caden Sterns, safety
One player the Denver Broncos are praying stays healthy in 2023 is young safety Caden Sterns. Sterns was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft but the former five-star recruit out of Texas was simply held back by injuries in college. Unfortunately, that has also been the case in the NFL.
He looked like he was well on his way to a breakout season in 2022 but suffered a hip injury that kept him out of action. Despite only playing just five games, Sterns had a pair of interceptions and four passes defensed last season. We saw his big-time potential as a rookie as well with 2 INTs, 2.0 sacks, and 5 passes defensed despite limited snaps.
In just 586 career defensive snaps, Sterns has four career interceptions and nine passes defensed. He is a playmaker on the back end of the defense, there is no doubt about it. With multiple interceptions in each of his first two NFL seasons, everyone expects the ball-hawking Sterns to only have that production amplified now that he is expected to take the lion's share of snaps alongside Justin Simmons in that defensive backfield.
And a breakout from Sterns couldn't possibly be coming at a better time. The Broncos need to create more turnovers in 2023 and they need someone other than Justin Simmons causing teams fits. If Sterns can have a breakthrough season, this Denver Broncos secondary might emerge as the most dominant in football.
Additional names to watch for
6. Essang Bassey, CB
The Denver Broncos will open the 2023 season with K'Waun Williams on temporary IR. What does that mean for Essang Bassey? Opportunity. He's played in a relief role with the Broncos in the past, but being the opening day starter in the nickel (we presume) could lead to a big-time breakout season.
7. Damarri Mathis, CB
I definitely consider Damarri Mathis' rookie season to be his true breakout year, but he might start to gain much more attention nationally with a big year in 2023. Mathis hasn't even flinched as the CB2 for this Denver Broncos defense despite being a fourth-round pick last year.
8. Lloyd Cushenberry III, C
Could this finally be the year that Lloyd Cushenberry III establishes himself as a starter in the NFL? He's been a starter, but this could be a make-or-break year for Cushenberry in terms of earning a second contract.
9. Marvin Mims, WR
I do not like labeling rookies as "breakout" players, but sometimes that is when the breakout year comes. Marvin Mims could be in line for a much bigger role in 2023 than anyone really expected not only as a wide receiver but also as the team's primary return specialist.
10. Nik Bonitto, EDGE
We can't forget about Nik Bonitto after his tremendous preseason. The Broncos selected Bonitto in the 2nd round of the 2022 NFL Draft and he looks like he might be one of the team's most improved players in 2023. How much of a role can we expect for him this season? Well, that might depend somewhat on the health of the guys in front of him, but he played well enough in the preseason and training camp to deserve a spot in the rotation for the regular season.