The Denver Broncos are preparing for their third consecutive week of organized team activities, and Broncos Country sent in their mailbag questions following last week’s practice that the media was able to attend.
Denver Broncos Week 3 OTAs Mailbag
If you want to be featured in our weekly Broncos Mailbag, be sure to stay tuned on Twitter @CodyRoarkNFL for my prompts for your questions or send them to me via email cody@milehighsports.com.
What player or position group needs to step up? – Greg Hunt on Twitter.
Great question, Greg. Honestly, it’s way too early at this point to really point out a player or position group. At OTAs, things have been flowing well, and we’ve been evaluating a lot of the team drills. Denver is rotating in a large number of players across various reps, so it’s hard to truly pinpoint who needs to improve.
One of the harder parts about OTAs is that they aren’t practicing in shoulder pads, and there is no contact yet. The coaching staff is mainly evaluating understanding of the scheme, alignment, assignment, technique, and effort at this juncture. When the pads come on in July, we’ll have a better idea.
If I can answer your question in another way, I think the one position that has questions is the inside linebacker position regarding who starts next to Alex Singleton.
Jonas Griffith is coming off of an injury but has some starting experience, and the same can be said for Cody Barton. Everybody is learning the nuances of the scheme, because it does look a little different philosophically than what we saw from them last year.
Who is leading the pack for WR2 and WR3 at practice? – Karsen on Twitter.
It’s far too early to say anybody is leading for those two roles specifically. Ideally, I think the Broncos envision Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, and Josh Reynolds as their top four players at the position, and based on practice so far, I’d say that is a fair estimation.
Patrick has been limited to individual drills and routes on air with the QBs and has looked good in that department. Mims had a terrific day on Thursday, hauling in a 55-yard bomb from Jarrett Stidham, and Reynolds has arguably been the most consistent receiver on a day-to-day basis in the practices we’ve been able to observe.
Josh Reynolds and Tim Patrick have been the two veterans leading the WR room during OTAs. Team is patiently awaiting the return of Sutton.
Was talking with @MaseDenver yesterday – DEN has some proven guys and a lot of unproven talent at the position. pic.twitter.com/BZFzzvZFXw
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) May 31, 2024
Sutton, Reynolds, and Patrick are proven contributors at the NFL level, and I think the Broncos have a lot of unproven talent at the WR position. From my observation, I think the Broncos WR room is significantly better talent-wise across the board than it was last year, and that makes the competition aspect of training camp even more exciting to watch.
Payton told us after Thursday’s practice that he’s anxious to see how that competition plays out. “Now we have a room, and we have a lot of young players,” Payton said. “Size is certainly something you see at the receiver position right now. I’m anxious as we go through this process to watch these guys. This first half of these OTAs has gone really good, I mean really good. I told them that. I like the energy. I feel like we’re younger, and you kind of feel that at practice.”
What will be the fiercest training camp position battle and why? – Ed Helinski on Twitter.
This is a tough question to answer because it feels like there will be a handful of really good position battles during training camp. Wide receiver is one that comes to mind.
Right now, you have Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, Josh Reynolds, Brandon Johnson, Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Jalen Virgil, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Michael Bandy, Phillip Dorsett, and David Sills in that room.
Each of the players mentioned have made catches and plays during OTAs so far. The running back and cornerback position battles also come to mind for me. It’s difficult to choose just one.
#Broncos UDFA RB Blake Watson has impressive speed and vision. Has stood out getting involved on ST's. Will be a player to watch once the pads come on. pic.twitter.com/EjlWjL9jsy
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) May 31, 2024
Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson are all in the mix. Audric Estime is going to be back for the start of training camp, which adds him into the mix as well.
Cornerback is interesting because various players are getting time on the outside and in the slot, highlighting a potential emphasis on positional versatility. Ja’Quan McMillian has stood out early on, specifically on the outside. Damarri Mathis has gotten reps inside and outside, Tremon Smith, Kris Abrams-Draine, Art Green, Riley Moss, and others too.
Denver Broncos training camp should be very high stakes this year.