Broncos players are expected to report for training camp on July 27 with fans in attendance July 28-31. Players to watch: WR Jerry Jeudy; CB Pat Surtain II; CB Michael Ojemudia; RB Mike Boone; OLB Andre Mintze; and, WR Kendall Hinton.

• In Denver’s search for a franchise quarterback, a dual-threat QB is OK as long as they don’t sacrifice accuracy and pocket presence (accuracy and anticipation).
• TE Shaun Beyer could be the undrafted free agent to make the 53 man roster by making an impact in the running game and on special teams,
• RB Javonte Williams is a power back who runs with natural violence. He has incredible contact balance to keep his legs moving upon contact. Williams is smart and can work well in pass protection and as a receiver out of the backfield.
• RB Mike Boone brings experience, explosion and special teams ability.
• WR Courtland Sutton is in the final year of his rookie contract. He is a special player, with the ability to be relevant as a WR2 every-week starter.
• WR Jerry Jeudy gets open with ease. He's got speed and quickness but drops are a problem. If he cuts down on the drops, Jeudy could be a flex-worthy player.
• TE Noah Fant continues to progress and works hard to improve all facets of his game. He's known as a receiving tight end. If the Broncos get better quarterback play, and Fant improves in the red zone, he will be a TE1. He needs over 100 targets=85 receptions for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns. QB Terry Bridgewater feds TEs.
• TE Albert Okwuegbunam is a huge target with a red zone presence that is tough to match up against. He's coming back from a knee injury and may not be up to speed until mid-season.
• K Brandon McManus should be top 10 in leagues that award field goal values based on length of the kick.
• HC Vic Fangio should have the defense in attack mode to take advantage of the inexperienced quarterbacks and poor offensive lines in his three opening games helping fantasy teams get a hot start.
• "It makes a big difference when you have continuity. In Drew's second year, he was already on his second coordinator and then you add in the COVID off season. That's tough for any quarterback…." Peyton Manning
• OLB Von Miller should have at least 63 total pressures, with nine-sacks in his age-32 season.
• OLB Bradley Chubb & Miller should combine for 25+ sacks.
• OC Pat Shurmur likes compact formations with "trips" to one side which sets up natural picks.
• Denver is projected (media experts?) to have a weak passing offense no matter who starts at quarterback.
• There hasn’t been much HC Vic Fangio could do about the past two seasons. And, there is much he has not done, with a 12-20 record as he waited on reinforcements from the front office. They finally arrived in the skill groups last season, but just not under center. Wasting the pass-catchers.
• On his own side of the ball, Fangio has had some players to work with, but they were under unrelenting pressure because of the offense. They were also hurt, with Bradley Chubb missing most of 2019 and Von Miller missing all of 2020. Fangio will be in business in 2021, with a healthy Miller and Chubb and an overhauled secondary.
• Whether Fangio gets a Year 4 depends on Teddy Bridgewater finding another gear or Drew Lock making a third-year leap. 62-year-old Fangio’s first head coaching gig feels like the wrong place and wrong time. That should change with improved quarterback play.
• The modern NFL can be unforgiving for a defensive-minded head coach,
• The modern NFL defenses need a "stop the pass first, worry about everything else later" approach.
• Denver’s offensive line is not an elite blocking unit, but it looks solid across the board, and should improve on its 2020 performance.
• When the Broncos' offensive line provided a clean pocket, Lock, performed well. He has never been a pinpoint accurate passer in the quick game, but if he hits the long balls with frequency it will make Denver's passing offense dangerous, with the speed of his receivers.
• It's conceivable Sutton's presence could make Lock look like a totally different quarterback in 2021.
• Sutton is the type receiver that can bail out a quarterback in pressure situations and win against the opposition's No. 1 cornerback.
• I don't know if Lock's salvageable in that regard, and Sutton can only aid him so much.
• The clean-pocket play from Lock's Sutton-less 2020, bodes well for Lock this season.
• Either quarterback (Lock/Bridgewater) should be a top 20 quarterback at the end of the year.
• Denver has a top-five defense (on paper) to pair with a potential top-16 offense (on paper).
• Fangio noted that in his dime packages, he prefers to play with four corner-type players and two safeties, rather than an extra safety.
• Bridgewater, put the ball in harm’s way quite often in 2020 with 11 interceptions and six fumbles.
• Those 17 turnover opportunities do not distance Bridgewater from Lock.
• The Broncos and Drew Lock dominated the Panthers and Bridgewater. Lock’s game was literally the best in team history on the road. His QB rating of 149.5 was the third-highest single-game QB rating in team history and the highest in a road start. The issue for Lock, is his consistency.
• WR KJ Hamler has a nagging hamstring issue.
• The Broncos' wide receivers have as much potential as any in the league.
• Denver may have the best top-four wide receivers, and with their tight ends, they have one of the best receiving groups in the NFL.
• Mile High will be at full capacity (with fans) for Broncos' games.
• Denver Broncos second-year breakout candidates: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE; McTelvin Agim, DL; Justin Strnad, LB; Netane Muti, OG; Tyrie Cleveland, WR;
• CB Michael Ojemudia will get some work as a nickel and dime defensive back.
• The odds indicate that WR Courtland Sutton will return to form and increase his production.
• The Broncos will start Sutton and WR Tim Patrick outside with Jerry Juedy in the slot and K J Hamler getting some slot work, carries and gadget plays.
• Signed LB Peter Kalambayi (camp body) and waived DB Chris Cooper.
• There are two different types of players in the NFL: those who listen too much to the coaches and those who freelance too much. Fangio
• ILBs Alexander Johnson (freelances too often) and Josey Jewell are remarkably consistent and well-rounded in the middle of the defense and are hard to get past in the run game.
• Denver’s defense has a lot of talent up front.
• The offensive line needs more functional strength, particularly at center and right guard.
• The defensive line could use some more depth.
• The offense needs some tight end depth.
• The difference between Bridgewater and Lock at this stage is negligible.
• Sutton in the lineup will take a massive amount of pressure off either quarterback.
• Jeudy has started off Year 2 on solid footing regarding drops and chemistry with Bridgewater. He seems to prefer Bridgewater’s soft passes to Locks hard passes.
• Denver’s offense needs to play faster and with efficiency, and that starts with Shurmur and Lock being better in 2021.
• Terry Bridgewater will not lose a field goal in the red zone (7 trips, 80% field goals (15-18 points); Drew Lock will push for the touchdown.
• Signed WR Amara Darboh, but it will be tough for Darboh to make the 53-man roster.
• Signed WR De'Mornay Pierson-El, who is a long shot to make the Broncos roster, but is legit competition to Diontae Spencer as a return man.
• Waived P Max Duffy and LB Natrez Patrick.
• Vic Fangio’s Broncos play calling is the least aggressive offense in the NFL.
• Veterans who could be cut: RB Royce Freeman; IOL Austin Schlottmann; S Trey Marshall (needs special teams); CB Duke Dawson; DT Mike Purcell (if doesn’t get back to pre-lisfranc form).

Orangeman’s Take The veterans established some comradery in OTAs and Mini-Camp, while the rookies and new players tried to show they knew their assignments and where to line up. OC Pat Shurmur continued treating Drew Lock as a developmental quarterback which raises the question "is there a true competition at quarterback?". Now, the real battle for roster spots begin for every player on the 90-man squad. It’s likely that most of the decisions have been made unless someone can step up and take someone else’s job. Vic Fangio likes to play veterans, "develop" new players into his system, and develop rookies into players. His job may be on the line, but it shouldn’t be. His defensive scheme is taking over the NFL like Bill Walsh did with the West Coast Offense, but no one can make it work like Fangio. What Denver needs is an offensive coordinator who can develop a true Mile High offense that rings every last ounce of advantage out of the mile high altitude.

Fantasy Outlook

The quarterbacks don’t need to be drafted.

The running backs need better quarterback play at their best. But they do appear to have more continuity on the offensive line which should help them. Mike Boone is a good late round Zero RB candidate.

The wide receivers will go as the quarterbacks go, Jeudy has good chemistry with Bridgewater. Sutton has good chemistry with Lock. Pay your money and take your chances. Both should out play their ADP with Jeudy a year two breakout candidate. Hamler will be a weekly headache and Patrick will need playing time.

The top two tight ends are coming off injury and /or surgery. When both are healthy, they will be a dangerous duo in 12 personnel. Fant is a year three breakout candidate. Albert Okwuegbunam led the Broncos in red zone and end zone targets in four games in 2020.

The kicker needs more offensive scoring to be a fantasy scorer. He is better in leagues that give bonus points for long fields goals, but only as a back up or streamer in regular scoring leagues.

The defense is potentially the best defense in the NFL. They should have a good sack total and hurries that turn into turnovers.

End.