When the Denver Broncos moved up in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft to take a wideout from Indiana named Cody Latimer, there was a boom-or-bust feel to the selection. A big, physical receiver who showed deceptive speed along with a willingness to fight for the ball in traffic, Latimer was coming off a foot injury suffered that same year. He came into a situation in Denver where there was already a player on the roster with a similar skill set in Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas.
Three years later, the Broncos are still waiting for Latimer to live up to his potential that he has shown in the past few training camps. Despite being only 24 years old, Latimer may be getting his last chance after the team drafted wideouts Carlos Henderson and Isaiah McKenzie this past spring. Not only will they compete with Latimer for the No. 3 wideout spot, they’ve also been tabbed for punt and kick return duties. Latimer carried the responsibility for the latter of those two last season.
It’s and outside-the-box idea, but the with his body type, skill set and current status of the roster, a move to tight end may be the solution that will see Latimer find a role in the Denver offense and allow the team to see a return on the invest they made in his selection.
It’s easy to pick out No. 14 on the field. Aside from Thomas, who’s massive in his own right, Latimer looks like a tight end despite a reported weight of 215 pounds. It’s intriguing to think about Latimer putting on another 10-15 pounds and how he could be an absolute matchup nightmare for any opposing defender trying to cover him. Too quick for a linebacker and too big for a safety to match up with, Latimer has the upside to be for Denver what Jordan Reed (a converted wide receiver) is for the Washington Redskins.
One of the biggest traits that Latimer brought with him from his time as a Hoosier is his wiliness to block. A great downfield blocker as a collegian, Latimer has earned a spot in on the special teams units as someone who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Even if he’s just a functional blocker at the end of the line, he can still find a place on the field in a double-tight end set as the receiving option in the formation, much like Shannon Sharpe was in his day. Factor in that Latimer has shown a willingness in college to be a reliable target in the middle of the field and those skills could serve him well as a tight end.
Latimer isn’t going to overtake Thomas or Sanders as the starters on offense. He isn’t the type of player who is going to be an effective slot receiver either. With Jordan Taylor taking a bigger role in the offense last year, moving Latimer to another place on the field gives him a new lease on life and gives the tight end group an intriguing receiving threat that the current tight ends in Jeff Heuerman, A.J. Derby or Virgil Green haven’t shown as of yet.
Latimer is in the final year of his rookie contract. For as much promise as he came into the league with and with his top-end physical skills, it would be a shame to see him catch on with someone else and be productive. Position changes are not out of the ordinary, and may be just what the doctor ordered to see Cody Latimer finally flourish in Denver.
