As training camp rapidly approaches, one of the position battles to keep an eye on will be at the wide receiver spot.
The Denver Broncos have a very full wide receiver room. Aside from Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, who are locked into the first and second receiver spots, respectively, there is a logjam at the third spot that will be decided in the weeks to come.
While Denver kept seven receivers on the roster in 2016, that likely won’t be the case again in 2017. With Thomas and Sanders already occupying two roster spots, and the rookies Isaiah McKenzie and Carlos Henderson presumably primed to make the team, that leaves only one or two spots left for grabs.
You’re likely familiar with Cody Latimer and Jordan Taylor, but here are three receivers flying under the radar that have a chance to swoop in for the final roster spot as camp progresses in the coming weeks.
Bennie Fowler
It’s a little hard to think that Fowler flies under the radar giving his unique place in NFL history. Fowler caught Peyton Manning’s final pass in the NFL, a two-point conversion that helped seal the deal for the Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Still, he remains a low-key figure in the Broncos wide receiver corps.
Fowler had a fine 2015 for the Broncos, catching 16 passes for 203 yards and five first downs in 16 regular season games, as well as steadily contributing during Denver’s Super Bowl run.
In 2016, Fowler caught 11 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games for the Broncos, but lost playing time to Jordan Taylor. Fowler has the talent to get on the field, he’ll just have to find a way to make the plays he made in 2015 to give him the best shot at making the team.
Marlon Brown
Brown is a fifth-year wide receiver who spent his first three seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. Brown caught 49 passes for 524 yards and seven touchdowns during his rookie season, but has been unable to find the end zone since.
Brown followed up his rookie season by catching 24 passes for 255 yards in 2014, and then 14 catches for 112 yards in 2015 before being released. Brown signed with the Broncos prior to the 2016 season, making the active roster for two games before being placed on injured reserve.
Brown proved early in his career that he can contribute to an NFL offense, and the Broncos could really use a solid contributor at the third wide receiver position. If Brown can rediscover some of the magic he had his rookie year, the third spot could be his to lose.
Kalif Raymond
Raymond is entering his second year both in the NFL and as a member of the Broncos. He appeared in four games for the Broncos in 2016, primarily as a return specialist. He returned 11 punts for 11 yards with a long of 25 and six kickoffs for 137 yards with a long of 40. Along with his numbers in the return game, ball control proved to be a slight issue for Raymond in 2016, fumbling twice in four games.
Raymond’s best shot to make the roster in 2017 will come down to his performance in the return game. The Broncos drafted both McKenzie and Henderson to help out in the return game, so Raymond will have his hands full throughout camp as he fights for a roster spot. If he manages to turn into a dangerous return specialist though, it will be hard for the Broncos to get rid of someone like that.
