The Denver Broncos feature a roster with exhaustive talent up and down. Could we see a few players make their first Pro Bowl with the team in the 2023 season? At the end of the day, I bet 100% of players would much rather win a Super Bowl than earn an individual award like a Pro Bowl nod, but it's still good to see players get that type of recognition.
Denver hasn't exactly been an epicenter of Pro Bowl talent over the last several seasons. The Broncos have had quite a few Pro Bowl-caliber players, but their on-field success has taken away some of the attention that should go to certain players.
Well, in 2023, things seem to be different. With a Hall of Fame head coach in town and what looks to be a competent coaching staff, the Broncos might be able to dig themselves out of the pit of irrelevancy and back into contention.
If they do that, it won't be without the help of the entire team, and perhaps a few players who could even make their first Pro Bowl in the 2023 season.
Four first-time Pro Bowl candidates on the Broncos for the 2023 season
1. Quinn Meinerz, RG
According to PFF at least, Quinn Meinerz is the 12th-best guard in football. That'd be out of 64 starting guards in the entire NFL. Here's what they had to say about the third-year pro:
"A third-round pick out of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the 2021 NFL Draft after impressing at the Senior Bowl, Meinerz took serious strides as a run blocker in 2022. His 78.6 PFF run-blocking grade placed fifth at the position, and while he can still improve his consistency, the peaks in his play have been really impressive to date."Gordon McGuinness
Also, according to his Pro Football Reference statistics page, Meinerz has been called for just four penalties in his first two years in the NFL. Out of 28 games, Meinerz has hardly had the whistle blown for an infraction.
It's clear that the third-round 2021 NFL Draft pick is ascending in the NFL, and he may actually get to play in a competent offensive scheme in 2023. That could do wonders for his development as we slowly creep toward him needing a long-term extension.
Playing next to one of the better right tackles in the NFL in Mike McGlinchey may also be an added plus for the Wisconsin-Whitewater product. Guards aren't necessarily thought of as much as tackles or other more flashy position, but it's abundantly clear that Quinn Meinerz is one of the best in football.
Four first-time Pro Bowl candidates on the Broncos for the 2023 season
2. Jerry Jeudy, WR
Duh. Jerry Jeudy might have one of the most advantageous situations in front of him of any wide receiver in the NFL. He ended the 2022 season on a total hot streak, was remarkably consistent last year, and now gets to finally settle into a competent offense.
Jeudy dealt with poor QB play his first three years in the NFL, but still managed to put up moderately productive seasons in his first and third seasons. Sean Payton coming to town was and is perhaps the best thing that'll happen to him in his NFL career.
Couple that with the possibility that Russell Wilson bounces back, and it's clear to see why and how Jeudy can be great. He easily separated himself as the best pass catcher and offensive player on the Broncos last year.
He's now likely going to play a featured role in the offense, with Sean Payton himself already saying that Jeudy is going to be a big part of what they do. It's no surprise, either. His elite route running, ability to separate, and underrated speed make him a complete wide receiver. He's also got decent size, so jump balls aren't out of the question when those opportunities present themselves.
I'd expect Jerry Jeudy to top out around 1,100 yards in 2023, simply because I think Denver will have a lot of mouths to feed on offense, but I also firmly believe that he can make his first Pro Bowl in his age-24 season, paving the way for him to sign a contract extension next offseason.
Four first-time Pro Bowl candidates on the Broncos for the 2023 season
3. Zach Allen, DE
In every year of Zach Allen's career, he's gotten a bit better and has played for Vance Joseph in each season. From 2019-2022, Allen saw his total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and QB hits gradually increase. He had a whopping 20 QB hits last year along with 5.5 sacks in 13 games.
He's set to enter his fifth season in the NFL, and this one will also be playing for Vance Joseph as well. There's reason to believe that playing along a defensive line with two studs in DJ Jones and Frank Clark and his past seasons getting gradually better can culminate in a Pro Bowl nod this year. I don't think double-digit sacks and 20+ QB hits are out of the question.
Allen is clearly very talented and will have a great situation in front of him to breakout.
4. Randy Gregory, OLB
If Randy Gregory and the interior defensive line can stay healthy, Gregory could enjoy his first-ever Pro Bowl season in the NFL. People seem to forget that Gregory began the 2022 season with the Denver Broncos on fire before suffering a knee injury.
It is easy to say "as long as he can stay healthy," but that couldn't be more true in his case. The Broncos' defensive front appears to be rock solid with a talented defensive line and a pair of stud inside linebackers. There really isn't much that can stop Gregory besides himself. Perhaps this is the year that Gregory puts a full season together. If so, he could have a clear path at leading the Broncos in all the pass-rushing statistics, and him being a semi-big name could also help a Pro Bowl nod as well.