Behind one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, the Broncos have a plethora of hungry wideouts looking to make a name for themselves in training camp. Determining who will receive the most playing time as the No. 3 wide receiver will be no easy task as the Broncos not only have a new offensive system to learn, but also have two young quarterbacks still learning the game at an NFL level.
The biggest factor that the Broncos should use to help determine who gets the nod as WR3 is which of them can consistently get open, and do so early in the play.
This season, the Broncos will feature a quick-look passing game, getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hand quickly.
Though much improved from last season, the Broncos’ offensive line continues to be perceived as a weakness. Pro Football Focus just ranked the Broncos’ offensive line 25th overall in the NFL heading into the 2017 season. If the unit is going to struggle like many are predicting them to, Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian will need to get the ball out quickly and consistently to have success moving the ball this season.
It may not be the fastest player or the flashiest who earns the No. 3 wide receiver spot for the Broncos. This player will need to provide a sense of security for both quarterbacks in order to provide efficiency at the receiver position.
Route running and early separation from defensive backs will be key in doing this. Receivers who can separate from man coverage or spot a hole in the defense find themselves open and targeted more often by a team’s quarterback.
The Broncos selected Carlos Henderson in the third round of this year’s draft to fill the slot/WR3 spot for the future, but that doesn’t mean it will be his right away.
Other players competing for the position like Jordan Taylor, Bennie Fowler and former second-round draft pick Cody Latimer all have experience playing with both Lynch and Siemian. That experience and developed chemistry will be a huge advantage for those players heading into the season, especially as both quarterbacks look to lean on familiarity in a new system.
Of course, whoever wins the starting quarterback job could also play a factor in who that receiver is. Lynch may favor a more aggressive style of play that looks to throw the ball deeper, which heavily favors the fast and tall Jordan Taylor.
If Siemian were to win the job, underneath routes and quick-hits could be seen more often as Siemian does not possess the same arm strength as Lynch, but also has more experience reading NFL defenses.
Siemian’s style of play could bode well for Henderson and Fowler, who are more natural slot receivers.
The Broncos need to start 2017 showing the rest of the NFL that they now possess an offense that can move the ball quickly and efficiently, complimenting their elite defense. Watching the team’s training camp practices and preseason games will tell the story of who the quarterbacks are finding open consistently, and who each relies on as en effective No. 3 receiver.
The player who moves the chains consistently during camp and the preseason should be in the starting lineup heading into the regular season.