Broncos Journal: The team’s 10 most indispensable players entering season

It volition apt instrumentality 10 wins for the Broncos to interruption their five-year playoff drought. With that successful mind, present are the team’s 10 astir indispensable players entering Sunday’s play opener astatine the New York Giants:

1. WR Courtland Sutton

As agelong arsenic Sutton proves helium is afloat backmost from past September’s torn ACL, the passing crippled should spell done him. He is effectual connected a assortment of medium-to-long routes and knows however to usage his 6-foot-4 framework to triumph reddish portion match-ups. Just arsenic importantly, his effectiveness volition instrumentality attraction distant from the Broncos’ different skill-position players, allowing them to thrive.

2. LT Garett Bolles

RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos violative tackle Garett Bolles (72) looks connected astatine Lumen Field connected Aug. 21, 2021 successful Seattle, Washington.

It’s a recognition to Bolles helium ranks this high. Would helium person been successful the apical 10 2 years ago? Nope. A second-team All-Pro past year, Bolles feels helium is inactive climbing to his premier and helium volition request to beryllium arsenic effectual successful blocking the borderline successful the tally crippled and serving arsenic Teddy Bridgewater’s blind-side protection.

3. CB Bryce Callahan

David Becker, The Associated Press

Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan (29) wears a Salute to Service badge connected his helmet earlier an NFL shot crippled against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, successful Las Vegas.

A subordinate who isn’t an every-play subordinate astatine No. 3? Absolutely erstwhile it comes to Callahan. At the clip of his ft wounded past November, helium was the Broncos’ second-best antiaircraft subordinate down information Justin Simmons. Callahan indispensable enactment disposable (and his caller relation with lesser snaps should help) due to the fact that helium is an elite slot screen man. If he’s hurt, the Broncos volition beryllium compromised.

4. OLB Bradley Chubb

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Bradley Chubb (55) of the Denver Broncos laughs arsenic helium warms up during signifier connected Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

Look for Chubb to person a large twelvemonth due to the fact that he’s different offseason removed from his September 2019 torn ACL. He has seasons of 12 and 7 1/2 sacks (’18 and ’20) connected his ledger and present helium gets a steadfast Von Miller backmost other him. Chubb goes against the near tackles and if the Broncos find a mode to pb successful the 4th quarter, look out.

5. S Justin Simmons

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Justin Simmons (31) of the Denver Broncos roams the sidelines during the 2nd fractional of Denver’s 33-6 triumph implicit the Minnesota Vikings astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021.

One of the NFL’s astir durable players, Simmons hasn’t missed a antiaircraft drawback successful 3 years and has 16 vocation interceptions successful 5 seasons. Lifted from the load of playing connected the franchise tag (new four-year deal), Simmons volition payment from a much serviceable discourtesy by being capable to patrol the mediate of the tract for takeaways if the Broncos person a second-half lead.

6. RB Javonte Williams

Bruce Kluckhohn, The Associated Press

Denver Broncos moving backmost Javonte Williams (33) runs from Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler (27) during the archetypal fractional of an NFL preseason shot game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, successful Minneapolis.

The Broncos’ evident but unannounced volition offensively: Smash teams with the tally to acceptable up the play action. Enter Williams, a 5-foot-10, 220-pound powerfulness location who showed an quality and willingness to tally done interaction successful 2 preseason appearances. Melvin Gordon whitethorn commencement games, but Williams could beryllium the 1 finishing them.

7. WR Jerry Jeudy

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Jerry Jeudy (10) and Teddy Bridgewater (5) of the Denver Broncos lukewarm up with teammates during signifier connected Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

Toss retired the five-drop debacle successful Week 16 against the Chargers and Jeudy had the accustomed benignant of rookie receiver season. Some eye-popping plays (touchdowns against the Jets and Raiders) and immoderate games wherever helium was pugnacious to find (eight games with 3 oregon less catches). He should beryllium the biggest beneficiary of Sutton’s instrumentality arsenic helium won’t look a dependable fare of No. 1 corners.

8. QB Teddy Bridgewater

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Teddy Bridgewater (5) of the Denver Broncos drops backmost to walk during signifier connected Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

This isn’t a squad built astir the quarterback, which is wherefore Bridgewater ranks eighth. Since helium was chosen arsenic the Week 1 starter, determination is simply a level of spot from the coaches that helium tin instrumentality attraction of the football, beryllium effectual connected 3rd down and successful the reddish portion and beryllium the subordinate who threw 9 touchdowns and lone 2 interceptions for New Orleans successful 2019.

9. CB Ronald Darby

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos cornerback Ronald Darby (21) catches the shot aft throwing into the aerial conscionable earlier grooming campy began astatine the UCHealth Training Center Aug. 07, 2021.

The Broncos request much interceptions, but Darby had nary past twelvemonth successful 16 games for Washington. But helium was astir the shot (16 walk break-ups). He had 2 oregon much interceptions successful 2015, ’17 and ’19 truthful helium tin instrumentality it away. If he’s playing good astatine 1 extracurricular spot, it volition let the Broncos to determination rookie Pat Surtain II astir the field.

10. OLB Von Miller

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Von Miller (58) of the Denver Broncos waits to talk to the media during a associated signifier with the big Minnesota Vikings astatine TCO connected Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021.

Is helium the 18 1/2-sack Von of 2012? Probably not. Is helium the 10-sack Von of ’17? Double-digit sacks should stay the extremity for Miller, who is 32 and missed each of past twelvemonth with an ankle injury. He volition enactment against close tackles and if Chubb is rolling, that whitethorn mean much 1-on-1 match-ups for Miller.