Denver Broncos OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason

Dove Valley is buzzing with activity as OTAs continue for the Denver Broncos. The team hopes to construct a Super Bowl champion this offseason, and there are several players competing to make a difference in 2015.

Some of these players are rookies or younger prospects with the idea of showcasing their talent to increase their opportunity. Some are veterans with starting experience but find themselves with a new team this season. Others are seasoned veterans just trying to make a roster. Still others are players with the potential to be the best in the NFL at their respective positions.

Here are five players worth keeping an eye on this offseason because of their standout play in OTAs.

Kapri Bibbs

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The Broncos are going to run the ball a lot under new head coach Gary Kubiak. Thus, they’re going to need a deep group of running backs going into the 2015 season. Kapri Bibbs is likely on the roster bubble, but he should be able to make a strong push for the 53-man roster.

The Broncos added Bibbs last year as an undrafted free agent. He starred for the Colorado State Rams for one season, where he rushed for 1,741 yards and 31 touchdowns. In FBS history, only three backs have ever rushed for more than 30 touchdowns in a single season—Bibbs, Montee Ball (Wisconsin) and Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State). His nose the end zone is unquestioned, and Bibbs showed well in training camp last year.

Instead of making the final roster, Bibbs stuck around with the Broncos on the practice squad. This season, Bibbs started out OTAs with more impressive practices.

Bibbs is a naturally instinctive runner with the low center of gravity and quickness to be a fantastic fit in the zone-blocking system. With only eight receptions in college at CSU, Bibbs showed last year in camp that he could regularly catch passes out of the backfield. He also showed good swiftness and run-after-the-catch ability. He continued to shine as a receiver during OTAs last week.

There is going to be a cluster of running backs at the end of the depth chart all vying for one spot. Bibbs is going to be competing with guys like Jeremy Stewart and even Ronnie Hillman to find a spot behind C.J. Anderson and Montee Ball.

Bibbs was so good last year in camp and the preseason that the Broncos might not be able to sneak him through to the practice squad again if he continues to shine in 2015.

Jordan Norwood

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He could have made the final roster last year, but a knee injury in training camp put wide receiver Jordan Norwood on season-ending Injured Reserve. He’s certainly a player to watch this year as the team ramps up toward the regular season.

Norwood came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State in 2009. He worked as the second or third wide receiver in the Nittany Lions offense with teammates Derrick Williams (2009 third-round pick, Detroit Lions) and Deon Butler (2009 third-round, pick Seattle Seahawks). Williams and Butler are currently out of the league, while Norwood is fighting to earn a roster spot with the Broncos.

He’s a quick receiver with good body control and the ability to work the sidelines. Norwood is not a large man (5’11”, 180 pounds), but he’s fearless when running routes over the middle. He can make tough catches, and this ability can make him a quarterback’s favorite. Norwood has soft hands and the concentration to win contested catches.

In addition to his ability as a receiver, Norwood can also contribute as a return man. Any wide receiver that makes the team behind Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer will likely have to play on special teams.

Norwood was a story in training camp last year. He’s already back in action and looks good catching passes from Brock Osweiler and the second-team offense at OTAs.

Darian Stewart

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The Broncos have one of the best secondary units in the NFL. Last year, they added two stars to the mix with the addition of strong safety T.J. Ward and cornerback Aqib Talib. They also were able to come to a long-term contract agreement with star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. in 2015. This year, the Broncos lost free safety Rahim Moore in free agency and moved to replace him by adding former Baltimore Ravens safety Darian Stewart.

Working with the first-string defense in OTAs, Stewart has a great opportunity in 2015 to continue proving himself as a pro.

Stewart was originally an undrafted free agent for the St. Louis Rams out of South Carolina in 2010. He flashed a decent skill set with the Rams, but Stewart also missed time and opportunity due to different injuries during four seasons. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens last year, and Stewart was able to perform well in 14 games as a starter.

Now, Stewart gets to figure out his role surrounded by world-class talent. The Broncos defense should be aggressive up front with their pass-rushers, and that will lead to distressed quarterbacks making rash decisions. Stewart has shown the ability of playing center field in the back half of the defense, and he has the football intelligence to frequently diagnose plays correctly as they unfold in front of him.

Stewart will compete with converted cornerback Omar Bolden for the starting safety job, but at this time he can be considered the front-runner. The Broncos may also use second-year cornerback Bradley Roby (a first-round pick in 2014) at free safety from time to time in certain packages.

Ty Sambrailo

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With the season-ending injury to left tackle Ryan Clady, 2015 second-round pick Ty Sambrailo is going to be under a microscope. The Broncos might have added Sambrailo with the idea that he would compete for the starting right tackle position. In fact, he opened up OTAs working as the second-team right tackle behind veteran Chris Clark.

Now, Sambrailo should get first crack at replacing Clady at left tackle.

A left tackle for most of his career at CSU, Sambrailo knows the footwork and responsibilities of being a blind-side protector in the zone-blocking system. Knowing the position will greatly help cut down on the learning curve for Sambrailo. However, going up against the best edge-rushers in the NFL could be a struggle for the rookie.

Sambrailo has a quick kickstep after the snap, and he does a good job of setting his base with the proper width. He has the footwork and athleticism to mirror rushers around the edge. However, Sambrailo did struggle in college against pass-rushers with multiple moves to get after the passer.

The repertoire of moves of the opponents going up against Sambrailo will be the best in the world. He’ll need to show that he can handle the responsibilities of protecting future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning against such rushers. His recognition skills allow him to quickly identify twists or stunts from defensive lineman, and this should help him against rip or swim moves to the inside.

Earlier this year at the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl, Sambrailo did not show well at the weigh-in because of his pear shape, narrow shoulders and bad weight. Sambrailo showed an improved physique at last week’s OTAs. The bad weight looks to be gone, and Sambrailo appeared to have a stronger upper body.

Sambrailo is known as a coachable player with high football intelligence. He’s likely to get the first crack at the starting left tackle position, and Sambrailo may not let the job go.

C.J. Anderson

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The Broncos found a star in 2013 undrafted free agent C.J. Anderson. For three years in training camp, Anderson often looked like the best back on the roster. However, he had to be patient as guys like Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball received more playing time.

Last year, Anderson got his chance to start, and he proved to be incredibly capable as the lead back for the Broncos.

Anderson took over as the starter and led the league in rushing over the last six weeks of the season. He ranked third in all-purpose (rushing and receiving) yards during that time behind only Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants) and Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers). Anderson was a grinder between the tackles with a nose for the end zone, but he also looked great as a reliable receiver out of the backfield.

In OTAs last week, Anderson looked like a natural for the Gary Kubiak offense.

Anderson has done a good job of strengthening his physique, and he doesn’t appear to be carrying much (if any) bad weight. His stronger upper body will only make him more powerful when running between the tackles. Anderson has a large bubble and powerful legs which help him run through arm tackles with ease.

His decisiveness as a runner could be his best asset in the zone-blocking system. While Montee Ball failed to make quick decisions unless the hole was huge, Anderson immediately knows when and where to cut back. At this time, Anderson is at the top of the depth chart, but both he and Ball are getting first-team reps.

Per Broncos media guidelines, the actual number of first-team touches with each back cannot be reported. Let’s just say that Anderson received plenty of work in the only open practice last week.

Anderson could win the starting job for the Broncos at the start of the regular season. With his skill set and fit in this offense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anderson finish as the league’s leading rusher—or at least in the top five. Anderson is a star, but we may not have seen the best from him yet.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.