The Denver Broncos past two draft classes have been filled with players who were brought on to be depth options and developmental pieces. 2023’s NFL Draft class has several players who could be breakout candidates this season.
Denver Broncos 2023 NFL Draft class breakout candidates in 2024
Despite not having a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos focused on building their depth in last year’s draft class with various players having future roles in mind. As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches in just two weeks, which players from last year’s class are candidates to have a breakout season?
Marvin Mims is in a position to break out on offense
Marvin Mims is the number one candidate from last year’s NFL Draft class with the best chance to break out this season. After showing some exciting flashes last year, Mims’ total utilization in the Broncos offense diminished down the stretch.
After having two catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, the vision for what he could bring to the table for Sean Payton offensively became exciting. In Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins, he had a 99-yard kick return touchdown, and in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears, he hauled in a 49-yard catch that helped set up Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal.
Mims production and overall usage decreased after those moments, and it became one of the most mind-boggling discussion points for myself, other beat writers, and the fanbase. On film, Mims was schemed open various times throughout the year but was not spotted by the quarterback in some of those moments.
He finished the season with 22 total catches for 377 yards and a touchdown on 33 targets in 16 games. That’s an inexcusable mark against the coaching staff last year.
Mims was used in certain situations as a gadget player on jet sweeps or reverse end-arounds, but most defenses sniffed those plays out presnap, which led to negative output by him in those situations.
With the departure of Jerry Jeudy, the door is wide open for Payton to find more ways to incorporate Mims into the passing attack. In order for him to break out, the Broncos should move him around by playing him both inside the slot and on the outside.
He’s Denver’s fastest player on offense and needs the opportunities to get behind the defense this season downfield, but should also see manufactured touches in space in the quick passing game.
Not only should he see more focus on offense, he has a chance to break out even further as one of the NFL’s best return specialists with the league’s new kickoff rules.
“It’s a good reason to like it,” Payton said regarding the new kickoff rules in reference to Marvin Mims ability as a returner.
Riley Moss set to compete for the starting cornerback job opposite of Patrick Surtain II
Last season’s training camp was supposed to feature a cornerback competition between second-year CB Damarri Mathis and Riley Moss, who the Broncos drafted in the third round of last year’s draft.
A core muscle injury and surgery sidelined Moss for training camp and the preseason, while Mathis battled an ankle injury. Mathis would proceed to start for Denver in six games last season, but he was benched in favor of veteran Fabian Moreau, who finished out the season as the starter.
Moss returned midway through the season from his injury and spent the first half of the season aggressively attacking rehab and divulging himself by studying the playbook and in team meetings. He quickly emerged as one of the team’s best special teams players, especially at gunner.
He also saw some time defensively in various personnel packages toward the end of last season. In 2024, he’ll be in line to compete with Mathis in training camp to see who starts opposite Patrick Surtain II.
#Broncos CB Riley Moss talked about how valuable it was for him to invest himself in getting mental reps while physically being unable to participate in practice..
Called it a "blessing in disguise" and how it's helped provide him with a different perspective. pic.twitter.com/R03dPQAYdD
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) September 4, 2023
Regardless, whoever gets the start will see a variety of targets and looks from opposing offenses this upcoming season. George Paton and Payton have expressed that the team’s roster-building emphasis is to build through development and the NFL Draft. Both Mathis and Moss are former draft picks and are continuing to develop and it’s likely that the position will come down to one of them this August.
One thing to monitor for Broncos fans is how the addition of former NFL veteran Jim Leonhard as the team’s defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator will impact how the secondary plays. Last year, the Broncos played a lot of off-ball coverage and not as much press coverage as I would have liked for them to play.
Having watched Moss at practice, he’s got really strong footwork and technique at the position. Hopefully, in 2024, fans will get to see even more of him.
What role will Drew Sanders have for the Broncos defense this year?
Drew Sanders is one player that the Denver Broncos need to establish what his role will be for the team this upcoming season. After being drafted as an off-ball linebacker and being called a ‘pressure player’ by Payton, he ended up getting moved to the edge midway through last season.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Payton said that he and the coaching staff were going to work with Drew on where he would play this season, whether that be as an edge player or back as an off-ball linebacker. With the departure of Josey Jewell, there is a chance of a wide-open competition between off-season addition Cody Barton, Jonas Griffith, Justin Strnad, and potentially Sanders on the table.
Sanders perceived best opportunity to contribute would be at inside linebacker in comparison to edge, unless the Broncos believe he can be a strong player in their rotation at outside linebacker. Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper are the two expected starters this season, while Nik Bonitto and Sanders would be the projected rotational edges.
As the NFL Draft inches closer, this is one of the questions for Payton and Paton to answer before they go through the eight picks slated for the end of April.
While Sanders’ defensive identity is currently unclear, he did emerge as one of their better special teams players last season and will have a significant impact on that side of the ball, but he should receive every opportunity to get on the field this year defensively.
