Denver Broncos Depth Chart 2018 Broncos Depth Chart

Preseason Analysis: Broncos Looking to Get Back on Track

Denver is another team with a lot of turnover from 2017. They scooped up Case Keenum from Minnesota, and let C.J. Anderson walk. Trevor Semien is also out of Denver, and Paxton Lynch continues to be a backup by default. Denver invested a little bit in the offense, but went after Bradley Chubb with their first round pick. Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, and Royce Freeman were the skill players landed in the draft. Freeman will be in a battle for the running back spot, but Devontae Booker is an early favorite to hold down the starting role. That could change at some point leading up or during the season. Freeman has a lot of talent, and Denver has not had a solidified starter in quite some time. Sutton should see some time as a WR3 this season, as Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas continue to hold their ground in Denver. Tight end continues to be a wasteland for Denver, but Jake Butt will head in as their lead tight end. Butt had a successful career in Michigan, but not sure he will be enough to sustain a relevant career in the NFL. Denver will lean on their defense again moving forward, but they did get an upgrade at quarterback.

The Denver Broncos’ 2017 season was forgettable, as the three-time Super Bowl champions fell to the depths of the AFC West at 5-11. Losing never sits well with General Manager John Elway, and the Hall of Fame quarterback set sights on improvement in 2018. Broncos’ head coach Vance Joseph was given another year despite being under the gun for most of last season. He overhauled his staff, sending six to the unemployment line. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave survived the coaching purge. Denver’s offense will need to be more consistent if it wants to contend in the AFC, which again features perennial Super Bowl favorites New England and upstarts in Tennessee and Kansas City. To that point, Denver brought in quarterback Case Keenum as its top prize in free agency to aid a position that saw many problems in 2017. Elway hit the draft hard again as well, with rookie running back Royce Freeman and speedy wide receiver Courtland Sutton expected to have immediate impacts in the offense. Musgrave tamed his offense to fit Keenum’s style, which features smart choices and accurate throws.

Turnovers were a big problem. Denver also ranked low in scoring. Both issues doomed Denver in every aspect, including red-zone offense, field position and time of possession. The latter resulted in Denver’s highly-touted defense being on the field too long. The “No-Fly Zone” was anything but, save a few standouts, and Elway also addressed defensive needs. The biggest splash came in the first round of the draft, when Bradley Chubb fell to the Broncos at No. 5. Chubb will pair with a deep defensive line and provide a dangerous bookend to Von Miller in the pass rush. More pressure on the quarterback will help a solid secondary become great again. Su’a Cravens was signed to play safety and could be a darkhorse candidate for comeback player of the year if he translates his talent on the field. Cravens earned a bad rap at Washington as a player who lacked drive and he’s determined to prove his doubters wrong. Though it sounds cliché, Denver also must improve in the third phase to be successful. The Broncos struggled to find consistent returners and place-kicker Brandon McManus dropped to 75 percent on field goals after receiving a high-dollar contract. Denver added big-footed Marquette King at punter to change fortunes in field position. Most experts picked the Broncos to be near last place in the AFC West, while others were generous and predicted a 9-7 finish. Denver will need a hot start to avoid a .500 or sub-.500 record. The first nine weeks of the season only feature three divisional games, but both meetings with last year’s division champion, Kansas City, also come in that timeframe. A surge could come in the final five weeks. Denver plays Cincinnati and Cleveland, both with losing records in 2017, and finish with games against San Diego and Oakland. If the Broncos are to contend they need to win those games or else miss the playoffs again.