Broncos Mailbag: KJ Hamler or Tim Patrick as the third receiver when season opens?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.

Do you deliberation Randy Gradishar volition ever get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Just look astatine his stats: Ten seasons, 145 games, 20 interceptions, 4 touchdowns, 7 Pro Bowls and 2,000-plus tackles. To enactment his vocation successful perspective, Ray Lewis played 17 seasons and had 2,061 tackles. Lewis had 7 much seasons and lone got 12 much tackles. There are 9 different linebackers successful the Hall of Fame who person akin credentials arsenic Gradishar. Where’s the love?

— Dan, Franklin, Mass.

When Gradishar didn’t marque the Centennial Class of 2020, which included 10 senior-age players, it felt similar a large stroke to his eventual chance.

The nominees from the coach, contributor and elder categories are voted connected for predetermination autarkic of the modern-era classes truthful it’s not arsenic if Gradishar is being denied from recently-retired players. A elder nominee indispensable person 80% support from the enactment committee.

Ryan, I cognize it’s aboriginal and the preseason doesn’t mean much, but did it look similar we recovered our starting backmost and moving backmost for the caller season? Drew Lock and Javonte Williams balled retired against the Vikings. What bash you think?

— Mike Phillips, Colorado Springs

I won’t spell that acold due to the fact that Lock and Williams took vantage of playing with immoderate starters against Minnesota’s second-team defense. That said, Lock semi-changed the communicative that the Week 1 starting occupation was Teddy Bridgewater’s to lose. Williams whitethorn commencement the play arsenic the No. 1A oregon 2 to Melvin Gordon, but if helium runs similar helium did successful past week’s archetypal quarter, he’ll beryllium receiving starter-level opportunities quickly.

Drew Lock looked good. Teddy Bridgewater looked good. Who has the borderline close present successful the backmost race?

— Dan M., Louisville

I’m not successful the concern of declaring a regular victor successful Quarterback Competition 2021 due to the fact that determination are truthful galore variables that are unknown.

That said, I felt Bridgewater had the pb entering the Minnesota game. But since Lock got the archetypal commencement of the preseason and did well, helium should person an edge. Next up is Bridgewater to spot if helium tin conscionable Lock’s production.

KJ Hamler had a bully touchdown connected Saturday. How large is his relation going to beryllium this season? I inactive person Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick successful beforehand of him connected the extent chart. Thanks.

— Marshall, Parker

I spot Hamler close present arsenic the No. 3 down Sutton and Jeudy. Patrick has been slowed by a groin injury, allowing Hamler first-team snaps and helium cashed successful with an 80-yard touchdown against Minnesota.

There volition beryllium targets for each 4 receivers to divide, but the Broncos should beryllium excited astir Hamler’s wellness (so far, truthful good) and accumulation (good) successful grooming campy truthful far.

What bash you deliberation of Trinity Benson’s chances of making the 53-man roster? He caught 2 touchdowns and returned a kick. Sure, it’s preseason, but those are immoderate bully numbers.

— Eric, Los Angeles

If the Broncos support six receivers, the apical of the extent illustration is Sutton, Jeudy, Hamler and Patrick. The cardinal volition beryllium Diontae Spencer. If the squad believes they request a instrumentality specialist, Spencer volition stick. That would permission 1 spot for the radical among Tyrie Cleveland, Seth Williams, Trinity Benson, Kendall Hinton, etc. Benson has stood retired the astir passim camp, but helium indispensable person the team’s assurance to play peculiar teams to marque the archetypal 53-man roster.

Ryan, each twelvemonth we person an undrafted escaped cause marque the roster. Who’s got the champion changeable to play for the Broncos this year?

— Ryan K., Denver

This could the twelvemonth for that streak to beryllium snapped. Fullback Adam Prentice played 21 snaps against Minnesota and appears to getting much backfield snaps than choky end/fullback Andrew Beck. That’s not to accidental Prentice, who has the champion changeable of the undrafted rookies, would propulsion Beck out, but if the Broncos privation a existent fullback for short-yardage/goal-line situations, Prentice could stick.

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.