Why special teams was the core of the Broncos’ Day 3 draft haul

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sixth-round pick Seth Williams was part of a semi-run on wide receivers Saturday. Eight receivers went off the draft board in a 27-pick span; at No. 219, he was the sixth of that cluster.

The factor that separated Williams from other receivers wasn’t his strength in the red zone and his ability to adjust to passes despite pass coverage — although those are attributes the Broncos hope to maximize.

It was something else.

“Special teams,” Broncos general manager George Paton said.

“We targeted him as one of the top special-teams players for receivers. He is like a piece of clay,” Paton said. “He’s really talented. He’s big and he can run. As a receiver, he just needs to be molded.”

Paton noted that special-teams coordinator Tom McMahon took a lead role in determining which prospects could provide the most punch to his area of the team — which came in particular value on Day 3.

“Tom McMahon evaluated just about every player in the draft, so we targeted players that he liked — not only those that were good offensive or defensive players, but players who could be core [special] teamers for us.”

Denver’s first Day 3 pick, Caden Sterns, fits the athletic profile of someone who can hustle downfield on kickoff and punt coverage; his 4.4 speed meshes with his 6-foot-3, 211-pound frame to make him a powerful weapon once he gets downfield.

Safety Jamar Johnson, linebacker Baron Browning and edge rusher Jonathon Cooper also have the potential to be factors. Cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. could get some looks as a gunner with his outside speed.

They have plenty of work ahead of them.

First, here’s the positive from last year on kickoffs and punts: The Broncos ranked second in the NFL in punt returns last year, with a 13.4-yard average punctuated by Diontae Spencer’s 83-yard gallop through the Carolina Panthers in Week 14.

Here’s the middling: They ranked 22nd in kickoff returns, averaging just 20.6 yards per runback, and finished 15th in punt coverage, averaging 8.1 yards allowed per return.

Then there’s the negative: Denver allowed 29.9 yards per kickoff return, ranking 31st in the league, and the Broncos are one of just three teams — Miami and the Chargers are the others — to surrender touchdowns on both kickoff and punt returns in the last two seasons.

Furthermore, the three total touchdowns allowed on kickoff and punt returns the last two years are the second-most in the league; only the Panthers have allowed more (four touchdowns, all on punt returns).

Injuries forced numerous personnel changes upon the kickoff- and punt-coverage units the last two years, but the need to fix the woes — not just by shuffling players in — was paramount.

“We realize we lacked in special teams last year,” Paton said. We need guys who can cover and block and take pride in special teams. All of these players that we drafted will hopefully take special teams seriously. It’s a big part of our game, obviously.”

And maybe, just maybe, it’s a part of the Broncos that their newest players can help turn from a weakness into a strength.