Denver Broncos rookies report to training camp on Monday, which means we can put the microscope on them for at least a few days before the whole of our attention is occupied by the quarterback battle when practices start on Thursday. Denver went deep with offensive playmakers in this year’s draft, however their top two picks were made to shore up the trenches. So, where did John Elway potentially strike gold for this season?
The team at Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 chimed in with their thoughts on which Broncos draft pick will have the biggest impact in 2017.
TJ Carpenter – Mornings at 5280′ (M-F, 7a-9a)
Carpenter has no doubt that fifth-round wide receiver and return specialist Isaiah McKenzie will be the rookie everyone in Denver is talking about this season. As a special team, McKenzie will have far more chances to make an impact than other rookies who may find themselves buried on the depth chart this year. Denver didn’t have a go-to guy in the return game last year, but the speedy McKenzie should have the inside track on the job. Carpenter expects a couple of big returns from the former Georgia Bulldog.
Shawn Drotar – Mornings at 5280′ (M-F, 7a-9a)
Drotar likes another wide receiver to be Denver’s biggest rookie difference-maker this season. He sees third-round pick Carlos Henderson as the missing ingredient to the Broncos passing game. For several years now Denver has lacked a true No. 3 option in the slot. Henderson can be a reliable WR3 that makes life easier for Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, not to mention whichever quarterback eventually claims the starting job.
Ryan Edwards – Danny & Ryan (M-F, 9a-11a)
The Broncos hope it will be first-round left tackle Garrett Bolles, but Edwards thinks it will be McKenzie. The league is using a wide receiver out of the backfield more regularly these days (see, Tevin Coleman, Tyreek Hill), which Edwards says is why the Broncos grabbed McKenzie. The Mike McCoy offense has had guys like Danny Woodhead put up big numbers and change games; McKenzie, who has both size and speed, would fit that mold.
Danny Williams – Danny & Ryan (M-F, 9a-11a)
Much like Drotar, Williams has tabbed Henderson as his impact rookie for 2017. Not only does the standout from Louisiana Tech product provide a possible lift in the return game (he had three TD returns for touchdowns on kickoffs during his college career), he should be a factor in the passing game as well. He provides the explosiveness in both those parts of the game that Denver has been lacking from a young talent for several years now.
Gil Whiteley – (M-F, 11a-12p)
Because Garett Bolles was a first-round pick tabbed to protect the blind side, Whiteley says it is Bolles by far. If he can get up to speed in the first three games of the regular season, he’ll have a huge impact, Whiteley says. Six games seems like a more realistic timeline in Whiteley’s eyes, but he still expects the former Utah Ute to be a key to the season.
Mark Jackson – (M-F, 11a-12p)
The former Broncos receiver is casting the tie-breaking vote for Henderson. Like Drotar and Williams, Jackson sees Henderson as a significant upgrade in the slot and a possible game-changer in the return game. Special teams cost the Broncos a shot at the playoffs last year, Jackson believes, and
