Early Predictions for Denver Broncos' 2016 Training Camp Battles

The Denver Broncos have crafted a championship roster, and they tried to keep most of it together for the 2016 season. The team has fewer question marks compared to other teams around the league. However, they have a huge question mark at the league’s most important position: quarterback.

Through the draft, the Broncos were able to add key players at important positions, and rookies who may be playing big roles for the team sooner than some think. One of those rookies could be their starter at quarterback, but that will have to be determined in training camp.

In addition to quarterback, there are other interesting training camp battles worth watching at UC Health Training Center.

In fact, some of these battles will be at important positions. Other battles have less importance, but these competitions will still help determine the direction of the franchise as they prepare to defend their Super Bowl title in 2016.

Here are some early predictions for the training camp battles we’ll see with the Broncos later this offseason.

5. Backup Running Back

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The language of the NFL is money, and the Broncos spoke clearly when they gave starting running back C.J. Anderson a $5 million bonus earlier this year. Anderson led the league in rushing during the postseason last year, and in every playoff game he had a carry of 30 yards or more.

Head coach Gary Kubiak said the key to the rushing attack was keeping Anderson healthy, and the veteran back knows that with a larger contract comes the expectation that he can produce for an entire season.

Behind Anderson, this run-heavy team needs to find the next-best back.

In the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft, the Broncos found an incredible value with Utah running back Devontae Booker. He fell in the draft due to medical concerns over a meniscus injury which required two surgeries to repair. Booker is a confident and decisive runner who can make his living grinding down a defense between the tackles. In addition to his prowess as a runner, Booker is a fantastic receiver out of the backfield.

Kubiak loves the rookie’s confidence, but he did offer a piece of advice to his young players.

“They’ve got to prove to the team that they can help them," Kubiak said. "Yeah, I love confidence. But you have to back up confidence with work. We’ve got to get [Booker] healthy to where he can work full-time.”

The team also made a move in free agency to keep Ronnie Hillman. He was an unrestricted free agent, but Hillman was unable to generate much interest on the open market. He led the team in rushing and provides valuable veteran depth at the position. However, he’s a much different back from Anderson, and his speedy skill set might be best suited as a change-of-pace back.

Juwan Thompson is likely to make the team for a few reasons, but he may not be the primary backup behind Anderson. Thompson is practicing at both running back and fullback this offseason. In addition to his versatility in the backfield, Thompson is a standout player on special teams. His roster spot isn’t fully secured, but one should feel good about his chances to make the 53-man roster.

A sleeper at the position is third-year running back Kapri Bibbs. There has been a lot of buzz around Bibbs during OTAs—and for good reason. His upper body looks stronger, and Bibbs is showing great burst as a runner with the ball in his hands. If he proves himself in pass protection, Bibbs could make the 53-man roster for the first time.

Bibbs has more experience at the pro level than Booker, but the rookie is more like Anderson than any other back on the roster. That ability to duplicate what Anderson does—if needed—gives Booker the edge here.

Winner: Devontae Booker

4. Inside Linebacker

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The team lost weak-side inside linebacker Danny Trevathan in free agency as he chose to sign a new contract with former Broncos head coach John Fox and the Chicago Bears.

In Trevathan’s spot, we will see Brandon Marshall. He revealed at team headquarters on Wednesday that he’s moved positions. “I’m playing in Danny’s spot,” Marshall said. That means the Broncos are looking for a strong-side inside linebacker to play alongside Marshall.

To take Marshall’s spot, there are three linebackers competing for that position.

Todd Davis looks like he’s shot out of a cannon as a run-stuffer. He’s an aggressive player with a nose for the football, and Davis arrives at the ball-carrier with nasty intentions. As a strong-side player, Davis could be counted on to hunt down and strike opponents with vicious force.

Corey Nelson is not quite the thumper that Davis is, but he might be better in coverage. He has the lateral agility to play from sideline-to-sideline, and Nelson stands out with his “scrape and flow” ability. He will move down the line of scrimmage as the play unfolds, all the while avoiding blockers sent to get in his way at the second level of the defense.

Second-year pro Zaire Anderson is the sleeper in this competition. Like Nelson, Anderson is an athletic player who can roam the field. Anderson was a tackling machine during his college career at Nebraska, and his year of experience on the practice squad should’ve greatly helped him.

Marshall knows he needs to work closely with whoever wins the competition.

“I have to build a chemistry with whoever plays next to me. With Danny [Trevathan], it’s almost like we always knew what page we were on. If I dropped a man on accident, it’s like he knew to pick him up, or vice versa. We covered for each other.” Marshall summarized, “I think it’s going to be about me and building better chemistry with the next man up.”

Davis or Nelson is the likely winner here. The slight advantage goes to Nelson at this time, as he’s more athletic and better in coverage.

Winner: Corey Nelson

3. Defensive End

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The biggest loss in free agency was arguably defensive end Malik Jackson. Instead of staying with the Broncos, Jackson chose to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jackson was a force as a run defender, but he was especially menacing as a defender due to his ability as a pass-rusher.

To take Jackson’s spot, the Broncos have a few different options.

In free agency, Kubiak went back to the well with a player he’s coached before. The team signed former Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick to compete for Jackson’s spot. Crick is a seasoned veteran who can be counted on to consistently set the edge as a run defender. He’s a strong player, but rushing the passer is not his forte.

Vance Walker was a player the team picked up last year in free agency, and he was able to make a few plays in limited snaps during the 2015 season. Like Jackson, Walker has a motor that just doesn’t quit. He has strength and burst to get into the backfield quickly, and that stands out when he’s asked to get after the passer.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is happy with the depth at the position.

“Walker played really well for us last year. I think he’s a really good player. Of course, we brought Crick in. He’s a very good player also.” Phillips smiled, “We have two veteran guys that can play. We feel good about that.”

In the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, the Broncos added defensive lineman Adam Gotsis out of Georgia Tech. Some felt that might have been a reach, but the Broncos are excited about the rookie’s upside.

Gotsis has a skill set similar to what Derek Wolfe had when he came out of Cincinnati in 2012. The rookie is recovering from knee surgery and is not yet able to fully practice, but the hope is that he’ll be ready by training camp.

The Broncos are going to use more than one player to replace Jackson. Crick should win the starting job, but we should see plenty of Walker too—perhaps mainly on passing downs.

Winner: Jared Crick (in a rotation)

2. Tight End

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There is going to be a heated competition at the tight end position in training camp. In the Kubiak system, the tight end plays an important role in both the rushing attack and the passing game. With last year’s leading tight end Owen Daniels released, the team is searching for a new leader at the position.

The front-runner in this competition may be second-year pro Jeff Heuerman. A third-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Heuerman missed all of last season due to a knee injury he suffered in rookie minicamp. He was banged up quite a bit during his college career at Ohio State, and Heuerman is once again banged up and missing time at OTAs.

Kubiak explained why Heuerman is out of practice this week.

“He’s got his hamstring sore," Kubiak said. "He had a really good first two days and his hamstring got sore on us, so [we are] being [preventative]. He did some individual [drills] and did some other stuff. We’re holding him out of team right now.”

Veteran tight end Virgil Green has always had the ability to do more as a receiver. He’s developed his game to become one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, but there was a time when Green was known more for his receiving ability. He had a career-high 12 catches in 2015, but he could far surpass that number if given the opportunity.

In free agency earlier this year, the Broncos added former Texans tight end Garrett Graham. He worked under Kubiak in Houston, and he’s backed up Daniels dating back to their days in college at Wisconsin. He may not be the most exciting option, but Graham knows the system and is a reliable pro.

Undrafted rookie Henry Krieger-Coble has to be considered a long shot for the starting job, but he might be a player who can make the 53-man roster and one day play a larger role. He played in a similar system during his college career at Iowa, but Krieger-Coble needs to put on more weight in order to play up to his potential as a pro.

If healthy—and that may be a big if—Heuerman appears to be the front-runner at the tight end position. Why is Heuerman considered the lead? His athleticism, ability to stretch the seam and potential as a pass-catcher far outweighs what anyone else can do at the position.

Winner: Jeff Heuerman

1. Quarterback

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This has to be the biggest question mark on the roster as training camp draws near. Peyton Manning retired, and Brock Osweiler chose to sign with the Houston Texans instead of staying in the Mile High City.

The team should be better off with their new quarterback of the future, but will first-round pick Paxton Lynch be the quarterback of the now?

The team traded with the Philadelphia Eagles for veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez earlier this year, and he provides valuable veteran depth at the position. Sanchez is more of a backup-caliber quarterback, but he’s putting his best foot forward now that he’s in Denver in an effort to win the starting job.

Sanchez worked in a similar offense during his college days at USC, but he's already made some head-scratching throws at OTAs which ended up as interceptions. He has to cut down on the mistakes if he wants to win the starting job.

Second-year pro Trevor Siemian is getting a lot of publicity lately as the team splits the first-team reps in OTAs three ways. He has a big arm, but Siemian has struggled to make plays under pressure and is not known for his accuracy. There is no pressure on the quarterback during OTAs, so it’s difficult to determine how much progress he’s actually made in the pros after a year of sitting behind Manning and Osweiler.

The future of the Broncos at quarterback has to be Lynch.

The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft to snare Lynch—and for good reason. He’s a tall (6’7”) passer, but Lynch is mobile and can hurt a defense as a scrambler. He was known for making plays under pressure, and, per an ESPN employees-only database, Lynch was the best quarterback in the draft class when under duress with 11 touchdowns, only one interception and a completion percentage of 67.9 in 2015.

During rookie minicamp and two weeks of OTAs, Lynch has improved his game. His footwork has cleaned up quickly, and he’s looked better taking snaps under center with the Broncos—something he didn’t do working from the shotgun in college at Memphis. Lynch doesn’t have any bad habits as a passer, and it looks like he’s a quick learner from what he’s shown at Dove Valley.

Kubiak has no timeline for where he wants his quarterbacks to be at the start of training camp.

“I don’t have a timeline on anything. I just want them to compete and work. We’ll see how it goes. I’m trying to get everybody comfortable with where we’re at right now going into training camp.” Kubiak concluded, “That’s what we’re trying to get done here in the offseason.”

There’s a chance that Sanchez or Siemian is the starter for the team’s Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers. However, the team is microwaving Lynch’s learning curve in an effort to get him ready to take over the starting job as soon as possible. If he impresses during training camp and the preseason, the Lynch era could start immediately in 2016.

Winner: Paxton Lynch (eventually)

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. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.