Last year, the Broncos had one of the shallowest and least-exciting wide receiver rooms outside of Courtland Sutton, and as a result, they overhauled the group this off-season.
That rebuild was enough that Pro Football Focus believes the Broncos now have the league’s ninth-best group of pass-catchers from top to bottom.
“[Jerry] Jeudy is an outstanding route-runner who can line up outside or in the slot while winning with both speed and quickness,” PFF’s Steve Palazzolo wrote. “Jeudy was our top-ranked receiver in the draft and should make an immediate impact.”
PFF’s analytics are also a big fan of second-round pick K.J. Hamler, though his hands have to become more reliable.
“Hamler is another speed/quicks mismatch waiting to happen, though he must cut down on his 12.7% drop rate that ranked 90th out of 100 college receivers who have played significant NFL snaps since 2014,” wrote Palazzolo. The Jeudy-Hamler combo is a perfect complement to Denver’s No. 1 receiver, Courtland Sutton, who has excellent size, ball skills and after-the-catch ability. After a promising rookie year in 2018, Sutton broke out and posted an 80.5 receiving grade, good for 13th among receivers.”
The additions of Jeudy and Hamler should draw enough attention away from Sutton to give him the opportunity at an even greater breakout this season.
“Sutton’s size, combined with Jeudy and Hamler’s ability to stretch the field both vertically and horizontally, gives the Broncos plenty to work with from a game plan standpoint,” Palazzolo wrote. “The No. 4 spot will be a battle between 6-foot-5 Tim Patrick, who had a solid 65.9 receiving grade on 30 targets last season, and third-year receiver DaeSean Hamilton, more of a possession option who has averaged 9.3 yards per reception in his career. If the two rookies develop quickly, the Broncos will have one of the best receiver groups in the NFL.”
