5 Most Intriguing Rookie Storylines from Denver Broncos OTAs
The Denver Broncos will continue their offseason activities this week. The team is still in a Super Bowl window with most of their world-class defense returning for 2016. To fill holes on the roster, the Broncos did find certain veterans in free agency for both sides of the ball. Along with the veterans added, the rookie class should help strengthen the core of this team.
Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak wants the rookies to take away more than just on-field learning from OTAs.
“I just kind of want them to know what it is to be a Bronco," Kubiak said. "We’re going to throw a lot at them from that standpoint, but I just hope they get a feel for being around this building, understanding how we want them to go about their business, dealing with you guys, understanding who they are in this town when they’re working.”
The Broncos did a good job of assembling an interesting rookie class through the draft and the undrafted free agents added after the draft. These players have varying upside, but some may be counted on sooner than others.
Here are the five most intriguing OTA storylines from the Broncos' rookie class.
5. Can Bralon Addison Be the Team's Return Man?
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The Broncos have a knack for finding quality talent from the college free agents left over after the draft. For years, the Broncos have found solid contributors—and even stars—from the ranks of the undrafted. One of the most exciting undrafted free agents they added this year is wide receiver Bralon Addison (Oregon).
Addison is lightning quick and can get open in the blink of an eye on underneath routes. In the open field, Addison can be a nightmare to tackle because of his agility. He may lack the straight-line speed to work the seam vertically, but Addison can be used on shorter routes that he can turn into long gains with his run-after-the-catch ability.
Kubiak has certainly noticed Addison.
“He kind of played everywhere," Kubiak said. "[He] made a lot of plays with the ball. [He’s] really good after the catch.”
Addison has an outside chance to make the 53-man roster because of his ability as a return man. With a tight-end friendly offense, the Broncos may only be able to carry five wide receivers this year. There may only be one spot up for grabs in the wide receiver corps. Veteran return man Jordan Norwood should be Addison’s biggest competition throughout the offseason and into training camp. If Addison can show more as a receiver and as a returner, then the Broncos may decide to keep the rookie over Norwood.
4. Is Kyle Peko a Sleeper at Nose Tackle?
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Winning with defense is the name of the game with the Broncos. They have incredible talent at all three levels of the defense, but there are some question marks on the defensive line after losing defensive end Malik Jackson in free agency. In the draft, the team added talent up front on the line with second-round pick Adam Gotsis (Georgia Tech), but he’s recovering from a knee injury and is extremely limited in OTAs.
A player to watch is defensive tackle Kyle Peko (Oregon State), as he could be an undrafted free agent that makes the final roster at the end of training camp and the preseason.
Peko is built like a prototypical nose tackle, and his size should greatly benefit him in the middle of the Broncos' 3-4 defense. Measuring in at 6’1”, 305 pounds, Peko is tough to move because of his weight and low center of gravity. He is quick off the snap, and Peko has the ability to knife his way inside to create middle pressure on the quarterback. If the play goes away from him, Peko is even able to run down plays across the line of scrimmage.
The Broncos did not pick up the fifth-year option of 2013 first-round pick Sylvester Williams, and they may be looking for a new starting nose tackle as soon as next year. Last year’s sixth-round pick Darius Kilgo could be in line for that job, but Peko may be the player who gives him the most competition—or even wins the job outright if he develops fully as a pro.
Based on his performance in camp, the Broncos may like Peko enough to keep him on the final roster—or at least the practice squad—in 2016.
3. Could Connor McGovern Step in and Start?
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After struggling with the unit last year due to injuries and inconsistencies, the Broncos went out this offseason and made multiple moves to improve the play of the offensive line. They added two offensive tackles in free agency when they signed Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung. Those two moves have changed the outlook for Ty Sambrailo and Michael Schofield in 2016. The outlook for the line changed again when the Broncos selected Connor McGovern in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
McGovern can play almost anywhere on the offensive line, but his likely home in the pros is at guard. He’s a tough player who is quick to get his hands punched into an opponent. McGovern is laterally agile and able to mirror rushers in pass-protection. He’s also a smart player who does not get fooled by stunts and twists up front.
Kubiak had some good ideas about what McGovern can be.
“Obviously we drafted him because we think he’s very athletic and smart and played against good players," Kubiak noted. "The question is can he play outside or is he going to go inside. He blocked some pretty good players in the SEC on the outside.”
Max Garcia and Sambrailo may have more experience after their rookie seasons last year, but McGovern might be a better fit inside at guard. Like Garcia, McGovern is a physical player who loves to fight inside. The rookie could add to the toughness the Broncos have built inside on their offensive line. The team may decide that Sambrailo is better suited to play as a swing tackle in 2016 if McGovern is more impressive at guard.
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2. How Quickly Does Devontae Booker Learn Pass Protection?
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The Broncos have a three-down-back-in-waiting with fourth-round pick Devontae Booker. He is a perfect fit for the zone-blocking system of the Broncos, and Booker gives the team a solid backup behind starter C.J. Anderson.
With Anderson doing the heavy lifting for the offense, the team needs to make sure they have a good set of reserve runners behind him. Ronnie Hillman is more of a speedy back, and he can’t do the things that Anderson does regularly like run inside, break tackles and protect the quarterback. Booker is built more like Anderson, but he needs to prove that he can understand blitz pickup if he wants to get on the field in 2016.
Booker has caught on quickly so far this offseason.
“I kind of picked up on everything fast," Booker said. "They just wanted me to slow down. I only know how to practice fast. I think they needed like a leash or something for me to put on me just to hold me back.”
We won’t be able to see Booker in pass-protection drills until training camp hits later this year. If Booker can prove himself as a pass-blocker, we could see him work into a third-down role behind Anderson at some point in 2016. Troy E. Renck, from the Denver Post, believes that Booker could see some playing time as a rookie if he’s able to protect the quarterback adequately.
1. Can Paxton Lynch Start in Week 1?
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The biggest story for the Broncos happens to include their first pick in the 2016 NFL draft. The quarterback situation has been up in the air since Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler moved on to the Houston Texans in free agency earlier this year. The team traded for Mark Sanchez after losing Osweiler, but they moved up in the first round of the draft to select a player who could be their franchise quarterback for years to come.
Paxton Lynch (Memphis) has incredible upside within the Kubiak system.
Coming out of college, Lynch was known as a player who could perform in high-pressure situations. He didn’t make a lot of mistakes as a passer, and Lynch takes care of the football without being cautious to a fault. He’ll challenge a defense with his arm and his legs. Lynch models his game after Carolina Panthers signal-caller Cam Newton, and like Newton, he can hurt a defense as a scrambler.
There’s a chance that Lynch will be the Broncos' starter in Week 1 when they take on Newton and the Panthers. Lynch has to prove that he can work from under center and execute the play-action fakes that are so well-known in the Kubiak offense.
Lynch is ready for the challenge.
“I was pretty confident in myself that I can pick up things pretty quickly and learn what I need to learn," Lynch explained. "We did this offense my freshman year at Memphis so I’ve been in the huddle, I’ve been under center, I’ve done all of that. Then [at] Memphis, we had to learn the spread so now I’m just relearning what I learned [as a freshman].”
The young quarterback continued, “Obviously it’s different because it’s the NFL. There is just way more terminology and way more stuff you have to know at the line. I’ve had experience in it but I’ve never had the opportunity to come out here and do it. Now that I get that opportunity, it feels good.”
If Lynch can beat out Sanchez in training camp, then he should get thrown right into the fire as the starter. The team is intent on microwaving his learning curve to see if the rookie can handle everything that it takes to lead a team in the pros.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided by the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.
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