The Denver Broncos offseason program has come and gone, with the layoff until training camp beginning this week. Over the course of OTAs and the team’s mandatory minicamp, who were three players who stood out consistently from the practices we attended?
Denver Broncos whose stock rose after the offseason program
After spending time watching the Denver Broncos offseason program progress through May and June, three players stood out consistently each day when the media were allowed to observe practice. Granted, there were no shoulder pads or physical contact allowed, but these players made plays consistently when the football hit their hands or they were near it.
Ja’Quan McMillian
McMillian’s stock was already high coming into the offseason after his emergence in the nickel last season for the Broncos defense. However, his stock is elevating even further after OTAs and minicamp. Defensively, he was one of the most consistent players on a day-to-day basis, making plays when the football was thrown in his direction. Not only did McMillian make plays in his normal spot inside the slot, but he also made plays when the Broncos had him playing on the outside. There is a lot of trust in McMillian because of his technique and consistent play to line him up in the slot, toward the boundary, and toward the field.
When the pads come on in July, he’ll be one of the bigger names in the secondary we’ll have our eyes on.
Jaleel McLaughlin
So much of a running back’s value is predicated on how they do in between the tackles. For the offensive line, running backs, defensive linemen, and linebackers, it’s hard to truly evaluate when pads or contact aren’t permitted. Despite those circumstances, Jaleel McLaughlin stood out on a daily basis. Not only does he look like he added some muscle mass, but he’s maintained some of his explosiveness. He’s demanded more of a workload from Sean Payton, and it appears that Payton has fully entrusted him to do more this season compared to last year. Last year, McLaughlin was a standout during OTAs and minicamp and it forced all of us to press pause and wait for training camp. When the pads came on, he did the same things he was doing without pads. From our observation at OTAs and minicamp this year, he runs with patience and has what seems to be the best vision of all the Broncos’ backs. He was Denver’s most effective rusher last season from a yards-per-carry standpoint, averaging 5.4 YPC on 76 attempts.
He’ll once again become an immediate player to watch for on Day 1 of Broncos training camp.
Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds could very well be one of the most impactful under-the-radar offseason additions if he’s featured how he’s been throughout the team’s offseason program. It hasn’t mattered much who the quarterback is that’s been throwing to him; Reynolds made plays consistently this summer. He plays the game smart, understands how to protect himself, and has made various receptions at practice, whether that’s making body adjustments to corral a pass or high-pointing it. Even if he’s not the main option, he has the potential to do a lot of damage within the structure of Payton’s offense this season. One of the forgotten connections Reynolds has is his previous familiarity with passing game coordinator John Morton or, as the players call him, “Coach Johnny Mo.” Reynolds spent 2022 in Detroit with him where he caught 38 passes for 478 yards and three touchdowns.
He received the final day off of minicamp with an excused absence after coming up with a muscle strain but should be fully ready to go for the start of camp. His stock is high ahead of Denver Broncos training camp.