Broncos 2019 Training Camp Preview

The Broncos were the first NFL team back at training camp when they reported on Thursday July 18th. It is the earliest I can remember the Broncos going back to camp. There are a lot of changes and a new sense of excitement for the Broncos as they begin camp. There is also a lot of pressure on John Elway and the rest of the franchise to get things turned around after the last two losing seasons. Here are some of the questions to preview the Broncos 2019 training camp...


Where We Left Off: The Broncos were walking off the field after a loss to the LA Chargers and finished 2018 with a 6-10 record. It was the second straight losing season for the Broncos and many changes were on the horizon.

What Happened Since? The Broncos fired head coach Vance Joseph the next day after the season ended. They replaced him with Vic Fangio, formerly the Bears Defensive Coordinator. The team traded Case Keenum to the Redskins and traded for Joe Flacco from the Ravens. They also made a splash in free agency by signing Jawuan James, Bryce Callahan, and Kareem Jackson. They also extended Chris Harris for another year. The team drafted Noah Fant, Dalton Risner, and Drew Lock in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft in April. In sad news, Pat Bowlen passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Position Battles at Camp: The one area that could be up for grabs is what the Broncos do at safety. Justin Simmons has one spot locked down, but will Kareem Jackson play the other safety or play corner? Will Parks showed some flashes last year, so does he get a shot? Will Sua Cravens step up his play this year and make a difference? This is one position to watch out for as camp goes on.

Surprise Cuts: I think a guy like RB Devontae Booker could be a surprise cut. Booker hasn't done much in his couple of years as a Bronco, and with Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman getting a bulk of the time and carries, I could see Booker on the way out.

Out of Nowhere Players: In the running back conversation is Devontae Jackson. If Booker, goes maybe this Devontae stays. He might have a chance to stick around as the summer goes on.

Biggest Questions That Need To Be Answered: Can Joe Flacco play at a high enough level to get this team to be in wild card contention come Week 17? The other big question is if this offensive line can hold up to get Flacco upright and protect him each week. If the Broncos can get an above average year out of Flacco, then there are enough weapons around him to at least make this offense decent enough to win some games for this team. 

RIP Pat Bowlen

On Friday, I woke up to the news of the passing of Pat Bowlen. He was 75 and died surrounded by his family at his home. He had battled Alzheimer's disease and he had to step away from the Broncos after the 2013 season. Although it wasn't a surprise, the news is definitely sad. As a lifelong Broncos fan, Bowlen was the owner of the franchise during all of my fandom and that starts in 1985. There are good owners and bad owners in sports, and Bowlen was one of the great owners. Without Bowlen's vision and leadership, the Broncos would never have been so successful as a franchise. He is just as important as John Elway in making the Broncos one of the premiere franchises in the NFL. Bowlen always did what he could to keep the Broncos competitive and he was all about winning. He is responsible for providing me with all those great memories as a Broncos fan. I always used to say the Broncos are lucky to have someone like Bowlen as their owner. I think my favorite memory of Bowlen will always be when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl in January of 1998 over the Green Bay Packers, and Bowlen was finally awarded the Lombardi Trophy. He stood up there and said "This one's for John." He knew how important the Super Bowl was to Elway and he didn't want to take the spotlight away from him. That's the kind of owner he was. The best part was when Denver won Super Bowl 50 and Bowlen was not there because of his illness and Elway was presented with the Lombardi Trophy and said "This one's for Pat!" That was a fitting moment in Bowlen's legacy. Rest In Peace Pat Bowlen. The Broncos and their fans were lucky to have you as an owner, and you will never be forgotten.

Broncos Rework Chris Harris Deal for 2019

The Chris Harris offseason drama, which started during the draft in April, came to short term conclusion yesterday, when the Broncos gave Harris a reworked one-year deal for 2019. Harris will now make $12.5 million this year, which makes him the highest paid CB on the team, and it also makes him the fourth highest paid CB in the NFL in 2019. Harris will report to the Broncos OTAs this week and it ends his offseason holdout. Harris only agreed to terms for a new deal for this year only, so he will become a free agent in 2020.

The Broncos had to find a way to keep Harris happy and in Denver this year. He is too vital as a player, leader, and member of the team to just trade him away to another team because of the contract issues. They gave Harris a pay raise and got him into the fold this year. Hopefully, the Broncos and Harris can agree to an extension before he becomes a free agent next offseason. There is a provision in his new one-year deal that precludes the Broncos from placing the Franchise Tag on him next year. I hope that the Broncos can get a new deal with him done next year, but at least we know he will be back this year. This was a good move by John Elway, and it showed that he wants to reward the top players on his team. I don't think you can accurately judge Harris' value to this team and this franchise. He is a player that should retire a Bronco. Those are the kind of guys you want in your organization. I wish it was a long-term extension but we will take it for this year.

2019 Denver Broncos Draft Class

Here are the Broncos 2019 Draft selections....


Round 1 (#20 overall): Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
-The Broncos traded down with the Steelers and added another pick in the second round and a 2020 third round pick. I'm not totally crazy about picking a TE in the first round, but Fant is a freakish athlete and the Broncos have been in need of an explosive tight end since the days of Julius Thomas. They definitely needed more weapons on offense.

Round 2 (#41 overall): Dalton Risner, G. Kansas State
-The Broncos had a desperate need for an interior offensive lineman and they got great value by getting Risner in the 2nd round. He has been on my radar since watching him during the Senior Bowl practices, and he is from Colorado and a die-hard Broncos fan. It is a great story, and he should be a starter from day one.

Round 2 (#42 overall): Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
-The Broncos got the QB I wanted all along, and Lock falls to them in the Round 2. You have to love the value of this pick as Lock surprisingly fell out of the first round. Denver traded up with Cincy to nab Lock, and I really love this pick. I think Lock can sit for a year behind Flacco and hopefully take over in 2020.

Round 3 (#71 overall) Dre'Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
-The Broncos grabbed Jones in the 3rd round and he is a player who I didn't know too much about until he visited Denver in the weeks leading up to the draft. The best part about his skillset is that he can play both DE and then move inside to play DT. That is a huge asset.

Round 5 (#156 overall) Justin Hollins, LB, Oregon
-Hollins will come in and a have a chance to backup one of the OLB spots, but Vic Fangio said he will also get a look at ILB. Hollins will also be asked to make an impact on special teams as well.

Round 6 (#187 overall) Juwann Winfree, WR, Colorado
-The Broncos took a local CU product with this pick. Winfree has a chance to be a Practice Squad player if things go his way in training camp. It will be hard for him to make the 53 man roster this year with the loaded group of young receivers in Denver. 

Denver Broncos 2019 Schedule

Here is the Broncos 2019 schedule.....

Week 1: Monday 9/9/2019--at Oakland Raiders, 10:20pm EST (ESPN)

Week 2: Sunday 9/15/2019--vs. Chicago Bears, 4:25pm EST (FOX)

Week 3: Sunday 9/22/2019--at Green Bay Packers, 1:00pm EST (FOX)

Week 4: Sunday 9/29/2019--vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 5: Sunday 10/6/2019--at LA Chargers, 4:05pm EST (CBS)

Week 6: Sunday 10/13/2019--vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 7: Thursday 10/17/2019--vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20pm EST (FOX)

Week 8: Sunday 10/27/2019--at Indianapolis Colts, 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 9: Sunday 11/3/2019--vs. Cleveland Browns, 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 10: BYE WEEK

Week 11: Sunday 11/17/2019--at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 12: Sunday 11/24/2019--at Buffalo Bills, 1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 13: Sunday 12/1/2019--vs. LA Chargers, 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 14: Sunday 12/8/2019--at Houston Texans, 1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 15: Sunday 12/15/2019--at Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 16: Sat 12/21 or Sun 12/22--vs. Detroit Lions, TBD

Week 17: Sunday 12/29/2019--vs. Oakland Raiders, 4:25pm EST (CBS)

2019 NFL Mock Draft

Mock drafts are a fun and fruitless exercise. Everyone has one now. Growing up, there were like three mock drafts, and those were put out right before the draft. Now, there are a million of them and they start them back in the fall. I do enjoy the process of putting it together. So, here is my 2019 NFL Mock Draft.....

Round 1

#1) Arizona Cardinals select Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

#2) San Francisco 49ers select Nick Bosa, DE/OLB, Ohio State

#3) New York Jets select Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

#4) Oakland Raiders select Josh Allen, DE/OLB, Kentucky

#5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Devin White, LB, LSU

#6) New York Giants select Montez Sweat, DE/OLB, Miss State

#7) Jacksonville Jaguars select Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

#8) TRADE Detroit Lions trade their 1st round pick (#8 overall) to Cincinnati for their 1st round pick (#11 overall) and their 3rd round pick (#72 overall(

Cincinnati Bengals select Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

#9) Buffalo Bills select Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

#10) Denver Broncos select Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

#11) Detroit Lions select Rashan Gary, DE/OLB, Michigan

#12) Green Bay Packers select T.J. Hockensen, TE, Iowa

#13) TRADE Miami Dolphins trade their 1st round pick (#13 overall) to Minnesota for their 1st round pick (#18 overall) and their 3rd round pick (#81 overall) 

Minnesota Vikings select Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

#14) Atlanta Falcons select Brian Burns, DE/OLB, FSU

#15) Washington Redskins select Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

#16) Carolina Panthers select Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

#17) New York Giants select Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

#18) Miami Dolphins select Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

#19) Tennessee Titans select Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

#20) Pittsburgh Steelers select Byron Murphy, CB, Washington 

#21) Seattle Seahawks select Jaylon Ferguson, DE/OLB, La Tech

#22) Baltimore Ravens select Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

#23) Houston Texans select Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

#24) Oakland Raiders select D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

#25) Philadelphia Eagles select Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

#26) Indianapolis Colts select Johnathan Abrams, S, Miss State

#27) Oakland Raiders select Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

#28) LA Chargers select De'Andre Baker, CB, Georgia

#29) Kansas City Chiefs select A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss

#30) Green Bay Packers select Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State

#31) LA Rams select Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

#32) New England Patriots select Irv Smith, TE, Alabama

2019 NFL Draft Cheat Sheet- Defensive Players

Here is the cheat sheet for the defensive players in the draft....

DTs
1) Quinnen Williams-Alabama
2) Ed Oliver- Houston
3) Jeffrey Simmons- Miss State
4) Christian Wilkins- Clemson
5) Jerry Tillery- Notre Dame
6) Charles Omenihu-Texas
7) Dexter Lawrence-Clemson
8) Dre'Mont Jones-Ohio State
9) Renell Wren- Arizona State
10) Khalen Saunders- Western Illinois

EDGE
1) Nick Bosa- Ohio State
2) Brian Burns- FSU
3) Josh Allen- Kentucky
4) Clelin Ferrell- Clemson
5) Montez Sweat- Miss State
6) Rashan Gary- Michigan
7) Jachai Polite- Florida
8) Chase Winovich- Michigan
9) Christian Miller- Alabama
10) D'Andre Walker- Georgia


LBs
1) Devin White- LSU
2) Devin Bush- FSU
3) Mack Wilson- Alabama
4) Blake Cashman- Minnesota
5) Vosean Joseph- Florida
6) Bobby Okereke- Stanford
7) Drue Tranquill- Notre Dame
8) Terrill Hanks- New Mexico State
9) Joe Giles-Harris- Duke
10) Te'von Coney- Notre Dame

CBs
1) Byron Murphy- Washington
2) Greedy Williams- LSU
3) DeAndre Baker- Georgia
4) Amani Oruwariye- Penn State
5) Justin Layne- Michigan State
6) Julian Love- Notre Dame
7) Trayvon Mullen- Clemson
8) David Long- Michigan
9) Rock Ya-Sin- Temple
10) Joejuan Williams- Vanderbilt
11) Saivion Smith- Alabama
12) Lonnie Johnson Jr.-Kentucky
13) Montre Hartage-Northwestern
14) Isaiah Johnson- Houston
15) Kris Boyd- Texas

Safety
1) Chauncey Gardener-Johnson-Florida
2) Nasir Adderley- Delaware
3) Deionte Thompson- Alabama
4) Juan Thornhill- Virginia
5) Darnell Savage- Maryland
6) Amani Hooker- Iowa
7) Taylor Rapp- Washington
8) Johnathan Abram-Miss State
9) Marquise Blair- Utah
10) Malik Grant- Marshall