2017 Denver Broncos Preview
The 2016 Denver Broncos were a disappointing team, one that couldn't get it's offense going at all. I love to say when I am right about things, and this was one of them on Denver missing the playoffs, but I also feel like this team can and will be better this season. With a reworked offensive line, more effort put into rebuilding an offense, and a still very good defense, Denver could be in the mix once again in 2017.
DRAFT RECAP
I don't really know the players Denver drafted that well, but I like the positions. After losing T Russell Okung in free agency, they drafted T Garrett Bolles in the first round. After losing DE Sylvester Williams in free agency, they drafted DE DeMarcus Walker in round two. After losing depth at wide receiver year after year, they drafted WR Carlos Henderson in round three. TE Jake Butt could be a steal in the fifth round. CB Brendan Langley replaces CB Kayvon Webster. Denver had an excellent draft of replacing what they lost.
FREE AGENCY
The main thing Denver did this off-season was re-work the offensive and defensive lines. In addition to Bolles, Denver brought in T Menelik Watson from rival Oakland, and G Ron Leary from the Dallas Cowboys. They also brought in DT Domata Peko from Cincinnati and DT Zach Kerr from Indianapolis to off-set recent losses on the defensive line. RB Jamaal Charles, formerly from rival Kansas City, could really bite the Chiefs hard if he plays at all like his former self.
PLAYERS LOST
OLB DeMarcus Ware retired after a great career with Denver and Dallas, but Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett should replace him adequately opposite Von Miller. DT Sylvester Williams is gone, but he has been replaced by essentially three different players on the defensive line. T Russell Okung is gone too, and has been replaced by three players. Every other loss via free agency is pretty minimal.
STRONGEST POSITION
Denver has a lot of strengths, but I think the secondary is what still stands out most here. The pass rush is deep despite the loss of Ware, but Denver has three really good corners and the best safety duo in the AFC West, and possibly the AFC. All five of those players have Pro Bowl potential.
WEAKEST POSITION
Right now it is tight end, because as much as I like the drafting of Butt in the fifth round, he is there for a reason. His injury woes are leaving the Broncos with Virgil Green and Jeff Heuerman, which in other words might as well be Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp. I'm a little harsh there, but I think you understand my point. Quarterback is also a weak link as well.
FIVE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS TO THE BRONCOS' SUCCESS
QB Lynch/Siemian, RB CJ Anderson, DE Derek Wolfe, OLB Von Miller, CB Aqib Talib
The winner of the Paxton Lynch/Trevor Siemian QB battle hopefully will put an end to who is the future of the franchise this season, and we won't go back into this next year. My money is on Lynch since they used a first on him. RB CJ Anderson is still the key back in Denver, despite the addition of Jamaal Charles, and without a reliable passing game he is that much more important. Von Miller is the heart of the defense, where Derek Wolfe is the heart of the re-worked defensive line. CB Aqib Talib is the best player in the vaunted secondary.
PREDICTION
I really like Denver's defense, but I don't see their offense being much better than last season. If you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks, and Denver has two. Oakland, Kansas City and the LA Chargers are also in this division, which makes Denver's job even tougher. I just don't see this defense being enough to make the postseaso
