BSN Denver is previewing the Denver Broncos, position by position, as the four-time defending AFC West champions prepare to kick off training camp July 31 at their new and improved Dove Valley headquarters. In this segment, the wide receivers grab the spotlight …
Eric Decker. Julius Thomas. Wes Welker.
The Orange and Blue have lost a lot of pass-catching talent over the last two offseasons, but the cupboard isn’t exactly bare as Denver prepares to enter the Gary Kubiak era. To underscore that point, one opposing team official, quoted anonymously in the recently released Sporting News Pro Football preview magazine, stated that in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, the Broncos feature “the best one-two receiving punch in the league.”
And after a combined 212 receptions, 3,023 yards and 20 touchdowns from that duo alone last season, who’s to argue?
Assuming D.T. plays a full 2015 season – either with a sparkling new multi-year contract or under his current one-year franchise tag – here’s a glance at the wideouts who are vying for the top spots on the Denver depth chart:
Demaryius Thomas
The sixth-year pro is seeking an elite contract, and justifiably so after ranking third in the league in receptions (297), second in receiving yards (4,483) and second in TD receptions (35) over the last three seasons. After leading the league with 184 targets in 2014, his numbers figure to take a dip with the Broncos expected to run more under Kubiak, but he’s a No. 1 wide receiver in any offense.
Emmanuel Sanders
The former Steelers’ wideout proved to be one of the best free-agent signings of 2014, shattering his career bests across the board with 101 receptions for 1,404 yards and nine scores. With Welker gone, he’ll also have a new role to fill, shifting inside to the slot when the Broncos line up in three-WR sets.
Admittedly in over his head as a rookie last season trying to get up to speed on the Broncos’ complex playbook, the second-round pick watched a historical season for NFL rookie wideouts from the sideline, finishing with only four targets and two receptions for 23 yards. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound target, however, has steadily displayed his athleticism and ball skills in practice and exhibition action, and appears primed to break out.
Entering his fourth season in the Mile High City, Bubba hasn’t exactly set opposing secondaries on fire, catching only 22 passes for 265 yards and three TDs, but he’s a solid but unspectacular backup who will resume his role – assuming he can make the transition to the new offense and hold off the young and hungry wideouts aiming to steal his roster spot.
The undrafted rookie made the final roster a year ago but played 12 games strictly as a return man, seeing only limited offensive snaps and failing to catch a pass. If he makes the cut again this year, it’ll likely be because he’s shown he’s ready to contribute more offensively.
The wide receiver/return man looked to be well on his way, not only toward snaring a roster spot, but earning a regular-season role as well after a strong early preseason last August but a torn ACL in practice put an end to things before they really even began. At 28, Norwood still is relatively young, but he has a lot of rust to knock off if he’s going to earn a place among the final 53 as he hasn’t seen any regular-season action since 2012.
The rest
Other longshot final-roster candidates include Bennie Fowler, Kyle Williams, Nathan Palmer, Solomon Patton and undrafted rookies Jordan Taylor and David Porter.
