Denver Broncos Full Position Breakdown and Depth Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver
The Denver Broncos have featured one of the best passing games in the league over the last few years. Ever since Peyton Manning came to town in 2012, the Broncos have had wide receivers that produce big-time numbers.
Demaryius Thomas is a superstar in this league, and he’s been one of the best receivers with Manning tossing him the ball. At 6'3", his size/speed combination is dangerous, and Thomas has the ability to dominate the competition—even if he’s double-teamed.
Emmanuel Sanders signed a three-year contract last year with the Broncos and put up career-best numbers in 2014. After struggling to showcase his full potential with the Pittsburgh Steelers to start his career, Sanders proved that he’s a top-20 receiver in the NFL last season.
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The offense under new head coach Gary Kubiak is going to be more balanced than in years past. That means the numbers for the passing game should dip slightly compared to what we’ve become used to with the Broncos.
With a strong rushing attack, the Broncos can utilize play-action passing to open things up downfield and move the chains. The routes and the concepts will be different, but Denver’s passing game will still have an edge because of the incredible talent their starting duo have.
Here is a full position breakdown and depth chart analysis of the wide receivers on the Broncos roster.
Starters: Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders
The passing game features two greats in Thomas and Sanders. The new offense under Kubiak will figure out a way to best use both receivers.
Thomas is likely to get 100 catches in this more balanced attack. If that happens, it would be only the second time in his career that he’s eclipsed the century mark (and it would be in back-to-back seasons).
Under Kubiak in Houston, former Texans receiver Andre Johnson had more than 100 catches in five seasons. Thomas is arguably a better receiver than Johnson, so it’s not outlandish to believe that Thomas could produce similar numbers.
The rushing attack should set up plenty of play-action passes, and this is one of the many scenarios where Thomas could thrive.
His size makes him a great downfield target, and he’s already built strong chemistry with Manning. If the ball is in the air on a deep pass, there’s a good chance that Thomas is going to come down with it. He knows how to look passes into his hands without thinking about the incoming hit or run-after-the-catch opportunities.
Thomas is also great on shorter throws. A staple of the offense under former offensive coordinator Adam Gase was the bubble screen to Thomas. The veteran receiver quickly secures the catch, has the size to shake defenders off of him and has the speed to make big plays happen.
Many red-zone targets should go toward Thomas this year (as always). He’ll toy with smaller defenders and properly extend his arms to catch passes away from his body. Thomas is a favorite of Manning, and he’s a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.
Sanders proved last year that he’s a fantastic player who can be reliable, productive and aggressive.
Even though he’s a smaller receiver, Sanders showed incredible toughness last year for the Broncos. He would make difficult catches, get hit hard by a safety or corner yet still hang onto the ball.
Sanders has no hesitation when he needs to sacrifice his body to make a catch. He’ll fight for a ball between two defenders even if it means extra punishment once he cradles the ball. Sanders will bravely cut across the middle of the field with his eyes back at the quarterback and his mind on moving the chains.
His game is about speed, speed and more speed. Sanders is so fast that he can outrun deep targets. There was more than one time last year where Sanders beat his man badly yet had to wait, slow down and gather in a deep target from Manning. That speed can also be used on shorter routes.
Sanders showed his route-running ability was crisp and quick in 2014. He set career-best numbers in his first season with the Broncos, but he knows his role will be different this year in a new offense. He’s clear about that likely decline this season.
“I think a good year this year is winning the Super Bowl first off. It doesn’t matter about stats. Obviously it’s not going to be one of those offenses where you have two receivers catching over 100 passes.” Sanders emphasized, “My goal is just to really try to get 1,000 yards and help this team win ballgames.”
The Broncos have a helluva 1-2 punch with Thomas and Sanders. Even in a new offense, this dynamic duo will help their passing game thrive in 2015.
Slot/3rd Receiver: Cody Latimer
The Broncos found a potential star in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. That draft class could go down as the best in NFL history at the wide receiver position, and Cody Latimer could end up as one of the greatest in the group. The Broncos liked Latimer so much that they moved up in the second round to secure his services.
Latimer languished as a rookie, and to his admission lost focus at times in 2014. He talked about the differences between year one and year two earlier at minicamp. “I’m much more prepared. I came out here with the mindset of not trying to have any mess ups. I’m just trying to study more and be more mental so that I can play.”
That was then, and this is now. Latimer is ready for the challenges of a new season under a new regime in the Mile High City.
He’s 6'2", with the size/speed combination to be a threat in multiple different ways. Latimer can climb the ladder to sky for passes, and he’s got fantastic “my ball” mentality. He’ll win at the point of the catch regularly, and he’s got the strength to rip away contested catches from smaller defenders.
Latimer has proved time and time again during training camp and OTAs that he can make circus catches seem routine. His wingspan gives him a large catch radius with which to snare passes off all angles out of the air. He can make catches behind him, low catches he has to dive for and, of course, jump passes where he can box out smaller defenders.
In addition to his ability as a receiver, Latimer might have been the best run-blocking wide receiver in last year’s historic class. He has an aggressive mindset and loves to blot out his man. With the Broncos' more balanced offense, this attribute will come in handy.
We could see Latimer catch about 25-30 passes this year in a part-time role on offense. It also wouldn’t be a shock to see five to seven touchdowns for the second-year pro.
Latimer’s stock is trending up, but his role and the nature of this offense will keep his numbers somewhat low in 2015. However, Latimer’s upside and natural ability could craft him a very bright future in the NFL.
Backups: Andre “Bubba” Caldwell, Jordan Norwood, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor, David Porter, Nathan Palmer
None of the players in this group are a lock to make the final roster as the competition at this level is setting up to be quite fierce.
Andre “Bubba” Caldwell is the most likely to make the final roster out of this group. He’s got the speed to take the top off the defense in a hurry, and Caldwell may still be the fastest player on the Broncos roster. He does little with his opportunities, though, and with a salary cap hit of $1.55 million (with only $200,000 in dead money) this year we could see the Broncos move on from Caldwell.
Jordan Norwood was on track to make the final roster last year in training camp. An undrafted free agent out of Penn State in 2008, Norwood bounced around the league to three different teams (including two stops in Cleveland) before landing a gig with the Broncos in 2014. He was quite impressive in camp last year as a receiver and as a return man before a knee injury cut his season short. If he stays healthy, Norwood might make the 53-man roster in 2015.
An undrafted free agent last year, Bennie Fowler has an intriguing skill set and the upside to perhaps be a starter in this league. Measuring in at 6’1” and 215 pounds, Fowler has the strength and fearlessness to run routes over the middle. He has a skill set to make plays happen after the catch as he’s tough to bring down, and there’s also a dash of young Anquan Boldin to his game. Fowler didn’t make the final roster as a rookie (despite dazzling in training camp), but he spent the 2014 season on the team’s practice squad developing his natural talent.
Jordan Taylor is an interesting undrafted free agent to keep an eye on in training camp this year. The first thing that stands out about Taylor is his size. He looms large (6’5”, 211 pounds) in the wide receiver corps and looks like a young Ed McCaffery wearing that No. 87 jersey. His long stride can eat up cushion quickly, and he can track passes well over his shoulder. Taylor can play above the rim because of his size and wingspan, and he’s looking good working with the third-team offense during minicamp and OTAs.
David Porter and Nathan Palmer are facing an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.
Porter, an undrafted rookie from TCU, is a guy to target on early downs. In 2014, Porter snared 29 of his 39 catches on first and second down. A smaller (5’11”) possession receiver, Porter is fearless when running routes over the middle.
Palmer was an undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois in 2012. He started his career with the San Francisco 49ers and bounced to two other teams before landing with the Broncos in 2013. During his time in Denver, Palmer has bounced from the practice squad to the active roster and back to the practice squad.
Return Men: Isaiah Burse, Solomon Patton, Kyle Williams
There are a few players competing for a roster spot that might have to make their biggest impression as a return man.
Isaiah Burse was added as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State last year. He made the final roster out of training camp, largely due to his potential as a return man. Burse returned 29 punts last year for 211 yards, one kickoff for seven yards and coughed up the ball three times (one fumble lost). The Broncos cut him in December but re-signed him to the practice squad as soon as they could.
Back in May, the Broncos added Solomon Patton to the roster. After showing well as a return specialist in college at Florida, Patton was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He bounced around from the Bucs to the Arizona Cardinals as a rookie, only as a practice squad player.
The Broncos consider his quickness and change-of-direction ability to be a real asset, and there’s not really another player on the roster with his skill set.
Kyle Williams has had an up-and-down pro career. A sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2009, Williams failed to make a positive impact.
After the 2011 season in the playoffs, Williams started in the 49ers' 20–17 loss in the NFC Championship Game. He lost two fumbles returning punts, including one in overtime that preceded the game-winning field goal by the New York Giants. In November of 2013, the 49ers released Williams.
The Kansas City Chiefs picked him up after that, but he missed the rest of the season with a knee injury. Last year, Williams competed in all four of the Chiefs’ preseason games but was injured in the fourth contest. Williams was released in September and was out of football last season as he recovered from his shoulder injury. The Broncos decided to take a chance on him by signing him to a futures deal in December of 2014.
Williams clearly has the most experience of the players listed in this group. With 47 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns in his pro career, Williams needs to stay healthy and impress as a return man if he wants to make the Broncos roster.
Summary
The Broncos have done a great job of assembling quality talent at the wide receiver position.
Thomas and Sanders are two of the best in the game at the position. Sanders can move to the slot at times, and he’s a player who can consistently move the chains. Thomas can dominate on the outside and in the red zone, where his size makes him difficult to match up with.
Latimer has the upside to develop into a great pro receiver. His blocking skills will come in handy when he’s on the field, and his size makes him a threat to catch jump passes near paydirt.
Caldwell is a seasoned veteran who can contribute as a return man if needed. Norwood could be the guy who takes Caldwell’s spot on the roster even though he’s not as fast. Fowler has great run-after-the-catch ability, and the Broncos may not be able to sneak him through to the practice squad this year.
Burse is a dangerous return man who will likely be in the mix for the final roster. Patton was a fine player to take a chance on this offseason, and his speed/quickness combination can be deadly as a return man or on jet sweeps. Taylor has the size to make him an intriguing option for the practice squad this year if he continues to impress in training camp.
The Denver offense is going to be balanced, but if they need to, the passing game can be just as dominant as it ever was. In fact, this team might even be more dangerous and more efficient through the air because opponents will have to respect the rushing attack.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN Employees-only database.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.
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