Four bold predictions for Broncos training camp

As the Fourth of July holiday passes us by, we find ourselves just over three weeks away from the start of Denver Broncos training camp and, really, the start of the football season.

With every training camp comes surprises—whether it’s T.J. Ward getting cut so Jamal Carter can make the roster in 2017 or Trevor Siemian coming out of nowhere to win the starting job in 2016—and this year will be no different.

Here are four bold predictions as to what some of this year’s surprises may be.

1) Brendan Langley will win the third cornerback job

Ever since the team signed Tramaine Brock in free agency, head coach Vance Joseph has maintained that he will compete with Bradley Roby for the second cornerback spot.

In OTAs, though, it became apparent that Brock v. Roby is no competition. Roby, as just about everyone expected, will be the No. 2 cornerback on this team.

All the while, though, a third-round pick of just a year ago, Brendan Langley, was showing that he has taken a large step forward since not making any sort of positive impact on the team last year. After spending part of the offseason in Dallas working out with Roby and Chris Harris Jr., Langley looks like a whole new player.

“He’s definitely getting better,” head coach Vance Joseph said in late May. “He is such a talent. His problem won’t ever be matching up physically. His problem is getting reps enough to know what to do, and to have great technique every play. Physically, he’s what you want. He’s tall and long with great ball skills.”

Throughout OTAs and mini camp, Langley played sticky coverage, and even on plays where he got beat, the second-year man usually was in the right position.

While Joseph keeps preaching a battle for the second corner position, the battle is really for the third position, and don’t be surprised if the young gun comes out of nowhere to win it.

2) They’re gonna need more Courtland Sutton jerseys

When the Broncos selected Courtland Sutton early in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, it felt as if John Elway was trying to temper expectations for the pick.

“He’s very raw and has a lot of upside,” the general manager said. “He’s physical, he’s tough and he’s got the tools. It’s just a matter of coaching him.”

Fast forward a couple of months and Sutton looks as if he’s gone from raw to medium-rare, at the least. The rookie wide receiver is big (6-foot-3 and 218 pounds), he’s decently fast for his size (4.55 at the combine), and his hands are as soft as butter when it’s at the perfect consistency to roll your corn-on-the-cob in it.

Oh, and whatever the football equivalent of jumping out of the gym is, he’s got that.

“He’s made a couple 50-50 balls look easy,” said safety Justin Simmons. “He’s definitely a special talent going up and high pointing the football, which is great.”

When Sutton is on the field, nobody is safe from getting “Moss-ed,” and because of that, the rookie is going to quickly become a fan favorite. They better stock up on No. 14 jerseys in the team store that sits just above the hill that plays host to fans during training camp.

3) Isaiah McKenzie will win the punt return job

Sorry for making you cringe.

Here’s the thing, though, new special teams coach Tom McMahon has emphasized over and over and over again that he isn’t at all interested in what happened for this team last year on special teams, he’s working with a clean slate.

McKenzie was drafted solely for his ability to return punts, he’s still on this team, and despite his struggles from last season, he’s still very talented.

“He was a rookie,” fellow wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said of those struggles. “I remember when me and [Steelers WR] Antonio Brown came into the league. [Steelers Head Coach] Mike Tomlin said he wouldn’t even put us back there. I think he put me back there once. But [WR Antwaan] Randle El was the true punt returner… He was a rookie, people don’t understand—they’re sitting in the stands—but punt returning is hard. It’s a tough job, but he has to reset. He doesn’t have a choice. Obviously, with all the muffs he had last year, he has to take a step back and say, ‘OK how can break down film and get better?’ I think that’s what he’s been doing and we’re going to see if it pays off when the season comes.”

With somewhat of a clean slate and the most natural punt-return talent on the team, I believe McKenzie will end up getting the starting nod. He may be on a short leash, but he’s going to get a shot.

4) John Diarse will be the training camp darling

One thing you learn from covering an NFL team over the years is that all of these guys can ball. Whether they’re the first or the 90th man on the roster, every one of these players has serious game.

That was definitely apparent during the offseason program when it comes to undrafted rookie wide receiver John Diarse. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound wide receiver has a massive pair of hands that have helped him to haul in a plethora of acrobatic catches since he became a Bronco, and also helped him to fall into favor with the reserve quarterbacks.

Although there isn’t much room for wide receivers on the roster, like Jordan Taylor before him, Diarse will gain fanfare based on his knack for the impressive play, and may end up earning himself a place on the Broncos’ practice squad, at the least.