Stock Up
RB Jaleel McLaughlin
The rookie running back had 63 yards and a touchdown on the Broncos’ opening drive and continued showing big-play ability. McLaughlin finished with 89 total yards on 12 touches and now has 193 on 22 over his past two games. He’s tied for the team lead with three touchdowns, fifth on the team in scrimmage yards (206) overall and is averaging 7.1 per touch. Not bad for an undrafted free agent.
Pat Surtain II
Rarely is it good when players’ parents tweet during blowout losses, but itap difficult to argue with Patrick Surtain Sr.’s sentiment during the Miami game that PS2 deserves better. Second half of the historic loss to the Dolphins aside, he’s playing really well. On Sunday, Jets No. 1 Garrett Wilson didn’t do much against Surtain — the one time he had a step down the sideline, Zach Wilson threw the ball out of bounds. When Denver really needed a stop, the All-Pro corner came up with a pick. And yet, the unit as a whole has been the worst in football by a wide margin.
TE Nate Adkins
Speaking of UDFAs, the tight end from South Carolina has carved himself out a small but effective role. Adkins is playing only a handful of snaps per game, but he’s been the lead blocker on two of McLaughlin’s three touchdowns this year and he’s got three NFL catches to his name. Thatap obviously not huge production, but in a room thatap currently without Greg Dulcich — he’s eligible to return from injured reserve this week — Adkins is a guy who could see his role increase further.
George Paton’s phone bill
The trade deadline is still three weeks away, but you can bet teams will be calling around and asking about several Broncos players. Paton’s likely working the phones himself to try to see where the interest level on at least a couple stand. You’d always rather be in the other position, but Denver’s likely to sell again this month. Paton traded Von Miller at the deadline in 2021 and Bradley Chubb last year. Who’s it going to be this season?
Stock Down
RT Mike McGlinchey
Against a team with dynamic interior pressure, the Broncos needed to be solid on the perimeter of the offensive line. Instead, both of their veteran tackles had issues in pass protection. McGlinchey was beaten cleanly for one sack and allowed pressure on several other occasions. Add in his run of penalties in recent weeks, and it hasn’t been the smoothest start to his Broncos tenure since signing a five-year deal worth up to $87.5 million.
LT Garret Bolles
Bolles got beat on a couple of occasions, too, and had a holding penalty on the third play of the Broncos’ second third-quarter drive. Bolles has been out there every snap this season, which is a positive development for him after he spent the offseason rehabbing from a broken leg. He’s just got to continue to clean up his play as Russell Wilson’s blind side protector.
Interior DL
D.J. Jones stuffed Breece Hall for no gain on the first play of the afternoon and Zach Allen recorded a sack later in the first quarter, but outside of that it was a rough afternoon. This pairing is being counted on to anchor the middle of a defense thatap been getting shredded for weeks. Itap not all on them, of course. The other defensive linemen also need to do more, as does essentially the entire linebacking corps. But Jones and Allen are combining to make $26 million per year. They’ve got to be the ones leading the charge.
HC Sean Payton
Payton can’t stay in a gap on run defense. He can’t block Quincy Williams on the edge or jump on a fumble rolling on the turf. But he’s got the play sheet and he saw the Broncos running all over the Jets in the first half. When Samaje Perine picked up a first down to the Jets’ 10-yard line late in the second quarter, Denver had the lead and 11 carries for 118 yards. It totaled 22 rushing yards the rest of the way, and Payton acknowledged he allowed himself to get one-dimensional. Ouch.
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