Every year presents another opportunity and often a mandate for NFL players to prove themselves. “Last year” no longer applies when the Broncos hit the field for their Sept. 8 season opener. Here are five Broncos under the microscope this season:
Demaryius Thomas
Itap a tough crowd when 105 catches, 1,304 yards and six touchdowns are considered an “up and down” year, but thatap the case for Thomas, , and that trickled down to the entire offense. In 2016, the quarterback situation is even murkier than last year, and more than ever, the Broncos need Thomas to be the elite receiver they paid him to be. Unlike last season with his contract dispute, he will have received a full offseason to get ready for a potential Pro Bowl year. It isn’t about the stats. It’s about being able to count on Thomas in the clutch.
Russell Okung
Itap obvious in Okung’s contract, , that he’s betting on himself this season. The Broncos are expecting a lot of him too. The oft-injured left offensive tackle hasn’t started a full season in any of his six years in the league. He spent most of his offseason rehabbing from shoulder surgery, so health once again is a big concern. With uncertainty at the quarterback position, Denver needs to be able to lean on its offensive line and running game to be effective. Okung is the most important cog on the line.
Aqib Talib
The Broncos and Talib will have to play a waiting game to see if the cornerback will receive discipline from the NFL for . In the meantime, Denver will be looking to see . There isn’t a better cornerback duo in the NFL than Talib and Chris Harris at their best. Talib’s and Harris’ man coverage skills allowed the Broncos to have immense flexibility in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ scheme. With Talib now 30 years old, Denver has to wonder how much longer he can play at a high level.
Cody Latimer
Year three is time for Latimer to show up, if he ever hopes to live up to the expectations the Broncos had when they selected him in the second round in 2014. The road was clear for Latimer to establish himself as the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver behind Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders last year, but he failed to separate himself from Bennie Fowler, Jordan Norwood and Andre Caldwell. Latimer has eight catches for 82 yards in his two NFL seasons. He has established himself as an excellent special-teams player, but on offense he needs to take that next leap.
Todd Davis
The biggest Broncos surprise during draft weekend? That they didn’t select someone to replace Danny Trevathan at inside linebacker. Instead, Denver displayed confidence in its in-house candidates to own the role. Davis is the favorite to win that job, receiving heavy praise from his teammates and Phillips. Linebacker Brandon Marshall will be the signal caller, but Davis will be counted on to gobble up tackles the way Trevathan did and still be able to cover consistently. The third-year linebacker has played well in stints, but the full-time role is another animal.
