Denver Broncos to Watch in Training Camp: WR Bennie Fowler

On Thursday, the Denver Broncos unveiled their schedule for training camp. Things kick off at Dove Valley on July 31, and the fans will get to watch the Broncos at their new facility. Last year, training camp was closed to the public, as the team headquarters underwent a massive construction project.

The Broncos have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. It will be a difficult process to find the best 53-man roster possible—and it will take most of August to do so.

There will be positional battles at multiple spots as the Broncos establish their depth chart for the 2015 season. This pecking order will largely be determined by a player’s performance in training camp.

In this edition of “Broncos To Watch in Training Camp,” we take a look at second-year wide receiver Bennie Fowler.

The College Career

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Fowler came to Michigan State as a Michigan native with a ton of upside. As a prep, Fowler competed in track, won a state long jump title and a state basketball championship.

On the football field, Fowler missed five games of his junior season with a broken collarbone.

He then redshirted in his first year of college due to a foot injury. In 2010, Fowler appeared in 13 games with one start. In 2011, another foot injury limited Fowler to just five games.

In 2012, Fowler had a breakout season. Starting in seven games, Fowler moved from the slot, to the "X" and to the "Z" as he created mismatches all over the field. He finished that season with 41 catches, 524 yards and four touchdowns.

He put up even better numbers in 2013. He missed one game with a hamstring injury, but Fowler still caught 36 passes for 622 yards and six touchdowns.

Rookie Season

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The Broncos were able to acquire Fowler as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Fowler did his best to impress in rookie minicamp, minicamp, OTAs and training camp last year.

In camp, Fowler regularly made difficult catches seem routine. He seemed to show strong chemistry with quarterback Brock Osweiler, and Fowler seemed to be the guy Osweiler was looking for first when plays broke down.

Fowler made crazy catches in camp as a rookie, but he also made his presence felt in the red zone. With strength, leaping ability and a fine "my ball" mentality the rookie showed that he wanted the ball more than the defenders covering him in tight space.

He also looked swift after the catch during rookie minicamp. That skill set was also on display when the pads came on in training camp. Fowler showed good pad speed, reliability and sharp concentration.

However, it wasn't enough for him to make the final roster. Fowler was released during final cuts for the Broncos then promptly brought back to the practice squad.

During the 2014 season, Fowler gained experience on the team's practice squad, and this development should help him make a push for the final roster in 2015.

Positives

There’s a lot to like about Fowler’s game.

Fowler is a big target, measuring in at 6'1" and 217 pounds. His size makes it difficult for defenders to bring him down after the catch. Fowler is fearless when running routes over the middle of the field, and defenders should be fearful of tackling such a large receiver.

In addition to his size, Fowler is also a strong receiver. He can use his physicality to regularly win at the point of the catch. He uses his frame to box out smaller defenders from the ball, and Fowler can rip away contested catches. After the catch, Fowler's strength shows through as he can power through arm tackles or push for those extra yards with defenders draped over him.

Fowler can track passes with the best of them. He has no problem looking over his shoulder, locating the ball, adjusting to the depth and hauling the pass in. Fowler has good arm length, and this also helps keep defenders away from incoming passes.

Negatives

Despite having an impressive skill set, there are some things Fowler needs to improve.

First, his route-running needs to be sharpened. He has improved during his time with the Broncos, but Fowler must continue to show consistent burst out of his breaks. He's not the fastest guy, so Fowler must play with more precision when trying to get open.

Next, Fowler needs to stop body catching passes. Yes, he can make crazy catches above his head—catches that seem out of reach. However, Fowler will drop too many easy passes that are on the mark. Perhaps Fowler is thinking about running after the catch before securing the pass.

Finally, Fowler needs to stay healthy. Injuries have plagued him for many seasons in high school and college. With more playing time in the NFL, Fowler must prove that his body can take the beating of the pro game.

What to Watch For

Fowler is in the mix for a final spot at the wide receiver position. The Broncos are jam-packed at the position, so Fowler will have to be at the top of his game to make the 53-man roster.

His main competition could come from a return man like Isaiah Burse, Jordan Norwood or Kyle Williams. Fowler is not the return man these guys are, but he's arguably a better receiver.

There's a chance that the Broncos would keep Fowler and one of those returnees if they decide to move on from veteran Bubba Caldwell. With a $1.5 million price tag in 2015, Caldwell only has $200,000 in dead money left on his contract. The Broncos could cut Caldwell and save over $1.2 million in cap space.

Fowler lacks experience, but he more than makes up for it with his size/strength/speed combination. If he stays healthy and continues to impress, then Fowler could make the team. With his talent on display in the preseason, Fowler may not be able to sneak through to the practice squad.

The Broncos know the upside that Fowler possesses. If he plays up to his potential, then it will be difficult to cut such a young and talented playmaker.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.

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