“There were only four guys left (from that team),” he said.

Such is the life for McMahon and every NFL special teams coach, a constant churn and challenge to find backup players capable of playing on the coverage and return teams.

Entering Saturday night����ap preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, the Broncos and McMahon were still searching for those “core” special teams players and leaders.

“Guys have to step up and lead,” McMahon said after practice Thursday. “It����ap the NFL. You change every single year.”

The Broncos’ special teams in wins over Minnesota and Seattle was a mixed bag.

Kicker Brandon McManus had made all 11 of his attempts (four field goals/seven extra points), punter Sam Martin had a 42.4-yard net average and the kick return unit led the league with a 30.4-yard average.

“Kickoff return has been a bright spot,” McMahon said.

Conversely, Martin had a punt blocked and the kick coverage unit struggled against Seattle, allowing returns of 45 and 30 yards, drawing criticism from McMahon and coach Vic Fangio.

“Didn’t tackle well and didn’t get off blocks well,” McMahon said. “We don’t have a chance to tackle until we get off blocks. It got better as the game went on. The tipped (punt) — some people call it a tip, I call it a block.”

McMahon said McManus has done “a great job” on field goals, but “we just want more hang time,” on the kickoffs.

“We need about another two-tenths of a second to help the guys in coverage,” McMahon said.

The Rams game was the final audition for bubble players to make an impact on special teams.

“It definitely factors in a big, big (way) when you’re talking about the backup positions everywhere but the o-line, d-line and quarterback,” Fangio said.

Entering the Rams game, the leading special teams players in terms of snaps (not counting the specialists or offensive linemen) were tight end Eric Saubert and safety P.J. Locke (19 apiece), cornerback Parnell Motley (17), tight end/fullback Andrew Beck (16), outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka and safety Jamar Johnson (15 apiece) and safety Caden Sterns and cornerback Saivion Smith (14 apiece).

Jobs are up for grabs on special teams because of the roster turnover from last year. Gone are linebackers Jeremiah Attaochu (144 snaps, now with Chicago), Anthony Chickillo (144, retired), Austin Calitro (230, on Chicago’s injured reserve) and Josh Watson (181, released by the Broncos last week), and safety Alijah Holder (173, now with Detroit).

Safety Trey Marshall (276 special teams snaps last year) hasn’t played since spraining his ankle on the opening kickoff of the Minnesota game two weeks ago.

Asked if any leaders had emerged on special teams, McMahon mentioned Beck and Saubert.

“Leaders produce,” McMahon said. “When you make a tackle, you have a voice. Right now, none of those young guys have a voice. They haven’t made enough plays yet.”

McMahon said one fewer preseason game hasn’t made a big difference in assessing the roster.

“I think we’ve had four when you add the (two) practices with Minnesota,” he said. “That helped us. I used those two days as an evaluation.”

When the Broncos lost to Las Vegas in last season’s finale, Michael Ojemudia and Parnell Motley played all 67 defensive snaps and Will Parks saw 53 plays of work.

Translation: Something needed to be done to address a cornerback position riddled by injuries, suspension and ineffectiveness and new general manager George Paton went to work.

In are veterans Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller and first-round pick Pat Surtain II.

The three cornerbacks from the Raiders game? Ojemudia will start camp at No. 4 or 5 on the depth chart, Motley faces a tough climb to make the roster and Parks is in Kansas City.

“(The front office) went out and hit the ground running to dress up our whole secondary and give us great depth,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said. “We’re delighted to have some veteran cornerbacks (Fuller/Darby) and then a Top 10 pick (Surtain).”

The new cornerbacks join the formidable safety duo of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson. Simmons is the game’s highest-paid safety in terms of average salary ($15.25 million) and Jackson was re-signed shortly after his contract option was declined.

Who’s back

S Justin Simmons (third round 2016), S Kareem Jackson (free agent ’19), CB Bryce Callahan (free agent ‘19), CB Essang Bassey (undrafted free agent ’20), CB Michael Ojemudia (third round ’20), CB Duke Dawson (trade ’19), S Trey Marshall (undrafted free agent ’17), S P.J. Locke (free agent ‘19), CB Nate Hairston (free agent ’20) and CB Parnell Motley (free agent ’20).

Simmons has played every defensive snap the last three years and totaled 97, 93 and 96 tackles and a combined 12 interceptions. Franchise tagged for the second consecutive offseason, he signed a four-year, $61 million contract in March.

Jackson was released with one season remaining on a three-year, $33 million deal, but after testing the free-agent market, returned on a one-year, $5 million contract.

Callahan was playing well until a foot injury shut him down in early December. The cornerback additions will likely move him into a full-time nickel role.

Ojemudia missed a team-high 15 tackles and, well, if he’s playing a lot this year, it����ap because the position group has again been decimated by injuries.

Locke and Marshall could be fighting for one roster spot as a reserve safety/special teams ace.

Who’s new

CB Ronald Darby (free agent), CB Kyle Fuller (free agent), CB Pat Surtain II (first round), S Jaden Sterns (fifth round), S Jamar Johnson (fifth round), CB Kary Vincent (seventh round) and CB Mac McCain (undrafted free agent).

The 27-year old Darby signed a three-year, $30 million deal after he played all 16 games for the first time in his career.  He has eight interceptions in 73 games, but five seasons of at least 10 pass break-ups.

Fuller signed a one-year deal with the Broncos literally hours after being cut by Chicago. He played for coach Vic Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell with the Bears. Fuller has 19 interceptions in 96 games.

Wait, there’s more. Surtain was available at No. 9 in the first round when Carolina chose cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall. Surtain intercepted four passes in 41 games for Alabama.

Sterns and Johnson will provide safety and special teams depth.

Who’s gone

CB De’Vante Bausby (Las Vegas), S Alijah Holder (Detroit), S Will Parks (Kansas City), CB Kevin Toliver (free agent), CB A.J. Bouye (Carolina) and CB Chris Cooper (free agent).

Overview

The motive of the cornerback overhaul is two-fold: Build depth so a repeat of last year doesn’t happen when the Broncos were forced to bring back Parks and immediately make him the nickel, and create more turnovers.

During their five-year playoff drought, the Broncos are 18th with 105 takeaways (105) and tied for 21st with 61 interceptions. In coach Vic Fangio’s two years, they are tied for 27th with 33 takeaways and tied for 25th with 10 interceptions.

The cornerback depth will allow Fangio to play more dime (six defensive backs) and have four true cornerbacks on the field with Simmons and Jackson.

Number of note

4

Interceptions the last two years by Broncos cornerbacks — one by Chris Harris in ’19 and one by Essang Bassey and two by Bryce Callahan in ‘20

Friday: Tight ends.

In: Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller and Pat Surtain II.

Out: A.J. Bouye, De’Vante Bausby and safety-turned-corner Will Parks.

Demoted: Michael Ojemudia.

But what about Bryce Callahan, who at the time of his foot injury last year was the Broncos’ best cover man and arguably their best defensive player?

Don’t forget about No. 29.

“He’ll be out there somehow, some way,” coach Vic Fangio said after Tuesday’s fourth organized team activity workout.

Corner? Nickel? Dime?

“All of the above,” Fangio said.

Callahan has Fangio’s trust to play outside and inside, versatility that is difficult to find in the NFL. That could be why Callahan wasn’t fretting the additions of Darby, Fuller and Surtain.

“I wouldn’t use the word ‘worried,’” Callahan said. “I was more excited. Having more ballplayers on the field is going to give us all more opportunities to make plays.”

Callahan made plays last year, a bounce-back season after he missed all of 2019 due to foot surgery. He didn’t allow a touchdown or a completion longer than 20 yards in man coverage, intercepted two passes and made 42 tackles in 655 snaps.

But the foot issue returned and Callahan was shut down for the final five games. He has yet to play more than 13 games in a season.

“I’m tired of the injuries more than anybody else,” he said. “This (offseason) is a little bit different because I didn’t have to get surgery. I’m not coming off too much rehab. My confidence is a lot higher. I’m not even worried about my foot.”

A healthy Callahan gives Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell myriad options.

By late 2020, the players they trusted were injured or suspended and the players they were forced to throw onto the field mostly struggled.

Enter new general manager George Paton’s offseason vision. Darby was the first free-agent signing, followed by Fuller after he was cut by Chicago. Surtain was drafted ninth overall.

The goal was obvious: Create more takeaways — the Broncos’ 10 interceptions last year were tied for 23rd — and have better depth.

In last year’s finale against Las Vegas, the Broncos used Ojemudia, Parks and Parnell Motley at cornerback. Parks and Motley weren’t on the team early in the season. Their dime player was Alijah Holder, who was released after the year.

Compare that to the group Fangio could use in Week 1 against the New York Giants.

Nickel package: Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson at safety and Surtain, Darby and Callahan/Fuller as the cover men.

Dime package: Simmons and Jackson at safety and Surtain, Darby, Callahan and Fuller as the cover men.

The four corners/two safeties lineup is Fangio’s preferred dime-package personnel.

“When I’ve played dime in the past, it����ap more of the corner-type player than the safety-type player,” he said. “The way teams are lining up on offense, they’re putting guys all over the place — receivers are ending up in the traditional tight end spot, tight ends are ending up in the traditional wide receiver spots. I think it����ap more imperative that your dime position is more of a corner type than a safety type.”

In the Broncos’ dime package, the aforementioned six defensive backs could be joined by defensive linemen Shelby Harris and Dre’Mont Jones, edge rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb and a coverage linebacker (maybe Justin Strnad or Baron Browning). Not a bad start to defend the pass better.

“The expectations are very high,” Callahan said of the secondary. “You see the depth. We have all of the guys and all of the pieces to have the best secondary in the league.”

Editor’s note: Second in a series looking at each Broncos position group heading into the NFL Draft.

2020 review: The safety position was in good hands — Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson both started all 16 games. … Simmons, playing on the franchise tag, led the team with five interceptions and all 1,088 defensive snaps and was third with 96 tackles. … Jackson played all but five snaps and was fourth with 90 tackles. … Simmons and Jackson both missed eight tackles. … At cornerback, six players started at least one game and none started more than 11. … The corners combined for only four interceptions. … At the time of his November foot injury, Callahan was playing at a high level (two interceptions).

In-house offseason moves: Franchise tagged Simmons, but signed him to a four-year, $64 million contract ($32 million-plus guaranteed) to make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. … Signed Jackson to a one-year, $5 million contract after not picking up his $11 million option. … Re-signed S Trey Marshall to his exclusive-rights tender.

Additions: Signed Washington CB Ronald Darby to a three-year, $30 million contract. … Signed CB Kyle Fuller to a one-year deal worth around $9 million after he was released by Chicago.

Departures: CB A.J. Bouye and S Alijah Holder were released; Bouye signed with Carolina. S Will Parks and CBs De’Vante Bausby and Kevin Toliver remain free agents.

Under contract: Simmons, Jackson, Darby, Fuller, Marshall, Callahan, Michael Ojemudia (CB), Duke Dawson (CB), Essang Bassey (CB), P.J. Locke (S) and Chris Cooper (S).

Outlook: New general manager George Paton didn’t need to look at too much tape to realize the cornerback position required an overhaul.

Out is Bouye. In are Darby and Fuller as the starters, allowing coach Vic Fangio to slide Callahan to a full-time nickel role.

Darby didn’t have an interception last year, but was fifth in the NFL with 16 pass break-ups. Fuller arrives with full knowledge of the scheme Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell run because of their time together in Chicago.

But don’t rule out using a first- or second-round pick at cornerback — Alabama’s Patrick Surtain is at the top of the class.

At safety, Simmons was second-team All-Pro in 2019 and a Pro Bowl selection in ’20 and is a model of durability. Jackson didn’t show signs of slowing down last year so the decision to bring him back is sensible.

Need scale (1-10) — 8. Like at linebacker, where many players are in the final year of their contracts, the Broncos need to make sure they have reinforcements ready for 2022 at cornerback (Fuller/Callahan will be free agents in March) and safety (ditto for Jackson). Take a cornerback and safety in the first 3-4 rounds would be smart.

Monday: Tight ends.

And it would really be sensible if they used their second- or third-round pick on a safety.

Kareem Jackson is currently on the books for a $12,882,353 cap charge, the final season of his three-year contract. Justin Simmons is scheduled to be a free agent next month save for the franchise tag being applied or a long-term deal getting hammered out.

After Jackson and Simmons, though, depth for 2021 is needed and a Jackson replacement (if he is brought back this year) for ’22 required.

In the Broncos’ six-defensive back personnel (dime) last year, coach Vic Fangio had to use Duke Dawson and Alijah Holder as the dime defenders, partly because No. 3 safety Trey Marshall fought multiple injuries.

Draft a safety in the second or third round and he can be groomed to play a complementary role this year and start next year.

Four candidates:

Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State. A box defender who had 221 tackles in his first three seasons, but tore his ACL late in 2019. He returned for the final two games of ’20 (13 tackles, one interception).

Paris Ford, Pittsburgh. A two-year starter for the Panthers who had 147 tackles and six interceptions in 29 games (18 starts).

Jevon Holland, Oregon. He played 27 games in 2018-19 and had 110 tackles and nine interceptions, but opted out of the 2020 season.

Trevon Moehrig, TCU. A high school cornerback who moved to safety, he had 125 tackles and seven interceptions in 34 games. He was second-team All-America in ’20 (47 tackles).

New coaches. The Broncos added two members to their coaching staff this past week. Chris Cook is the offensive quality control coach, replacing Rob Calabrese (now the New York Jets’ quarterbacks coach). Cook most recently coached tight ends and offensive tackles at Akron and his link to the Broncos is tight end coach Wade Harman (training camp with Atlanta in 2018) and offensive quality control coach Justin Rascati (Chattanooga in 2017-18).

Christian Parker is the new defensive backs coach, replacing Renaldo Hill (now the Chargers’ defensive coordinator). Parker, 29, was Green Bay’s defensive quality control coach the last two years and previously worked at Virginia State, Norfolk State, William & Mary, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Around the league

Watt on the move. Defensive end J.J. Watt asked for and received his release from the Houston Texans on Friday. A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Watt����ap 101 sacks since he entered the league in 2011 are second-most behind the Broncos’ Von Miller (106). Watt played 16 games and 91% of the snaps in 2020, but had only five sacks. Tennessee and its wheezing pass rush and Pittsburgh (to play with younger brother  T.J.) make a ton of sense for Watt, who is free to sign immediately.

Remembering Marty. Former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer died on Tuesday at age 77 due to Alzheimer’s. No coach in league history faced the Broncos more than Schottenheimer (35 games — 13-22 record, including 0-3 in the playoffs). Among the many missteps through the years by Washington owner Dan Snyder, near the top is firing Schottenheimer after one year as coach (2011 — started 0-4, finished 8-8).

Looking ahead to 2022. The top first-year eligible Hall of Fame candidates in ’22 are Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, DeMarcus Ware and Robert Mathis. Ware finished his career with the Broncos and his 138 1/2 sacks are ninth all-time so he merits strong first-year consideration. But the lack of a locked-in candidate could help offensive tackle Tony Boselli, the Boulder native who has been a finalist the last five years.

Simple fix to hiring rules. The usual hubbub returned during Super Bowl Week: Did Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Tampa Bay coordinators Byron Leftwich (offense) and Todd Bowles (defense) suffer due to their team’s success? They couldn’t accept a head-coaching job until their season was over. There’s an easy fix to this: Allow teams to make their hires official in a window after the conference title game.

Lawrence holds Pro Day. A day after trying to explain the Doyle hiring, Meyer was in Clemson, S.C., for presumptive top pick Trevor Lawrence’s Pro Day, which will be followed by surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Lawrence wrapped up the session with a broken play/scramble play when he set his feet and threw it 60 yards on a rope. The Jaguars should be organizing his surgery and rehabilitation schedule.

Safety Alijah Holder, wideout Fred Brown, tight end Jordan Leggett, defensive end Joel Heath and tackle Darrin Paulo were all waived.

Only Holder and Brown had seen action for the Broncos. Holder appeared in 10 games over the past two seasons, with three tackles in eight games in 2020. The safety originally signed with Denver as a college free agent out of Stanford in 2019.

Brown, meanwhile, had two catches for 21 yards over 13 games in 2019. The former college free agent out of Mississippi State appeared in one game this year as a practice squad COVID-19 elevation, in Week 8 against the Chargers, but wasn’t targeted.

Leggett and Paulo were on the Broncos’ practice squad this past year, and Health joined the team as a practice squad addition in December 2019 but opted out of the 2020 season.

The releases were George Paton’s first moves as Broncos general manager.

I read (Broncos president/CEO) Joe Ellis say that the GM position is considered one of the top destinations. But with the state of the ownership, who would really want this job? If the team does sell, the new owners might want their own people in place. So how would you go about selling the position at this juncture with a trial looming and siblings squabbling?

— Del, Lamar

I would have been surprised had Ellis not said the Broncos’ GM post was a premier opening. Judging by the candidates who have interviewed so far, Broncos fans should feel good about the type of talent who have expressed interest, particularly Minnesota’s George Paton, who has turned down several interview opportunities through the years.

Here would be my stump speech. The Broncos have some young talent on the roster. The entire building knows the defense must be addressed. Led by Ellis, any financial resource requested — be it adding employees or changing things in the building — will be approved. And if a new owner arrives, it may not be until the 2023 offseason so that����ap two years to build a winner and show the new owner sweeping changes aren’t necessary.

A league source ranked the Broncos’ opening behind Jacksonville, Atlanta, Houston and Detroit. That got some attention, but think about it: The Jaguars have the No. 1 pick, Atlanta has stable ownership, Houston has Deshaun Watson (we think) and, well, I would put the Broncos ahead of the Lions. But this source’s main concern was ownership.

Ryan, let’s put the GM hat on you. Who do you take at No. 9 and who’s your starting quarterback?

— Danny, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Let����ap go to commissioner Roger Goodell for the announcement: “With the ninth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select Patrick Surtain, cornerback, Alabama.”

Surtain’s father, also named Patrick, played several years in the NFL as a cornerback so he has the pedigree and the talent. Surtain has started 38 consecutive games and was a first-team All-American in 2020. Listed at 6-foot-2, he has the size to go against the league’s physical receivers.

I’ll say Drew Lock will be the Broncos’ Week 1 quarterback.

In 11 games, the Broncos’ offense failed to score more than 21 points, which led to a 2-9 record. I know John Elway focused on building up the offense last offseason, but it didn’t seem like it made a big difference. Is getting Courtland Sutton back going to help that much? I don’t know if it will if Drew Lock keeps blowing simple passes.

— Karl, Fort Collins

How would you grade the Broncos’ 2020 draft class? Jerry Jeudy put up about the type of numbers I expected him to and Lloyd Cushenberry III seemed OK for a first-year center. What did you think?

— Ross, Seattle

Karl and Ross were on the same topic asking about the young offensive talent …

I’ll argue with you on the rookies not making much of a difference offensively. Cushenberry was the only player on offense to play every snap. Jeudy led the team with 23 “explosive” catches (gain of at least 16 yards). And KJ Hamler was a change-of-pace player who also scored two touchdowns in the win over Carolina.

In the regular season, teams that scored 25 points in a game went 187-72 so getting to that average needs to happen for the Broncos to be more competitive.

Yes, getting Sutton back will be critical. He would have had 100 catches in Pat Shurmur’s offense and been a key to the red zone plan.

As for a grade, I would give them a B.

Is it realistic that the Broncos are in the market for a new quarterback? Drew Lock is a work in progress, but at least we have an idea of what we have with him. Will the next general manager go after someone like Carson Wentz or Cam Newton or would he use their first-round pick on someone like Justin Fields?

— Ken Thompson, Colorado Springs

What kind of odds do you place on Drew Lock starting for the Broncos next year? He had a mix of good and bad moments, but man, did he struggle to maintain consistency in his play. Do you think the Broncos will go after someone like Mac Jones in the draft or try and get a trade for Carson Wentz or Jimmy Garoppolo to produce some QB competition?

— Mike, Denver

Ken and Mike both asked about quarterback options. It����ap realistic the Broncos are looking at every spot on the depth chart to decide if an upgrade is necessary. Will the new general manager think an overhaul at quarterback is required? I doubt it. My guess is the new GM will focus on finding a No. 2 who can be a solid relief passer and take over for Lock if needed.

Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson was fired Monday, which could mean Wentz stays with the Eagles. I wouldn’t call about him. The same for Cam Newton. Did you see him try and throw the football this year? Yikes. Garoppolo is coming off an injury-plagued season. No thanks.

Fields, the Ohio State quarterback, won’t be on the board at No. 9, so the Broncos would have to give up several picks, including their 2022 first-rounder, to leap over other teams.

Jones, the Alabama quarterback, will be available late in the first round, but I doubt that����ap in-play.

How’s the team’s salary situation if we re-sign Justin Simmons? Do we have enough money to go after a quality cornerback (or two) in free agency?

— Mike, Denver

The industry website Over The Cap does a great job with the cap mechanics so I use them as a reference to answer your question, Mike.

Just for starters, the Broncos can create more than $25 million by cutting cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive end Jurrell Casey. That would allow them to re-sign or tag Simmons and keep safety Kareem Jackson at his number of $12.88 million.

The top free agent cornerbacks, based on regular season playing time, are Cleveland’s Terrance Mitchell, Arizona’s Patrick Peterson, Washington’s Ronald Darby and the Los Angeles Rams’ Troy Hill.

Translation: The best way to address cornerback will be in the draft.

Ryan, when a player is forced to sit out games due to a league suspension, is there salary credited back to the salary cap?

— Bill Neel, Georgetown, Texas

Yes, Bill. This year, when cornerback A.J. Bouye was suspended for the final four games, the final quarter of his salary was taken off the Broncos’ cap. The same when right tackle Ja’Wuan James opted out of the season before training camp — his $10 million cap charge was tolled ahead to 2021.

Why should Broncos’ brass expect anyone to spend a dime watching this team next year if Vic Fangio is going to be coaching them? Whether it was the 70-yard field goal, calling timeout for Las Vegas when they didn’t have the right personnel on the field or not bothering to get a few more yards with nine seconds remaining in the final game, if Fangio hasn’t shown the ability to learn from his mistakes, why would you expect his players to? This is why other teams don’t hire first-time coaches in their 60s.

— Steve, Forks, Wash.

Fangio started the season with a timeout fiasco (not using them soon enough as Tennessee drove for the game-winning score) and ended the season with a timeout fiasco (calling a timeout before Las Vegas’ two-point conversion try when the Raiders were scrambling to get the right personnel on the field).

In between though, I didn’t see a big issue with how Fangio managed the game in terms of timeouts and replay challenges. That said, two hiccups is enough for the Broncos to have a discussion about who should be well-versed in time management and has Fangio’s ear.

Ryan, it may be a little early for this, but is there any indication one way or the other that the NFL will continue some of the special altered rules next year? Specifically, the more flexible use of injured reserve and the practice squad. Thanks again.

— Fred Waiss, Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Too early for an official answer, Fred, but it����ap a good topic to bring up because it seemed to help teams out in 2020. The practice squad was expanded to 16 players — that����ap not a big ask since the practice squad was already expanding from 10 to 12 players in ’20 even before the pandemic.

What the NFL does with the injured reserve rule will be interesting. In ’20, teams could activate unlimited players after they sat out three weeks; previously, they could activate only two players and not until they had been out eight weeks.

The rule I hope they keep is the ability to call up practice squad players to the game-day roster and then return them to the practice squad twice without being subject to waivers. The Broncos took advantage of that with safety Alijah Holder and inside linebacker Josh Watson.

Here’s hoping there is a vaccination system in place so the NFL doesn’t need to keep its COVID-19/reserve list in 2021.

With no owner in place, are the Broncos limited at what they can do when it comes to signing big-name free agents or doing big contract extensions? Also, do the Broncos cut Gordon and re-sign Philip Lindsay?

— Victor, Alameda, Calif.

The Broncos’ football business is not impacted by the lack of an owner, as evident by their free-agent/trade activities and re-signing their players over the years.

Cutting Gordon/re-signing Lindsay didn’t appear to be on the table two weeks ago, but the bet is off now that a new general manager is on the way. He may think Gordon, who is likely to start ’21 with a three-game suspension (DUI arrest), is too expensive and create $4 million of cap space by cutting him. Some of that money, but not much, could then be allocated to Lindsay.

If the Broncos cut Gordon, they shouldn’t bank on a Lindsay/Royce Freeman tandem. They would have to draft a running back.

Would it be possible to revisit Drew Lock’s stats and see what they would look like had Jerry Jeudy caught those five dropped passes against the Chargers?

— Tim Monroe, Kingston, Idaho

Tim, you made me dig into my stat books just when I thought I had put them in the bookshelf for a few weeks.

In the Week 16 loss to the Chargers, Lock was 24-of-47 passing for 264 yards.

Jeudy’s five drops came five, six, eight, 12 and 45 yards downfield.

If all Jeudy did was catch the passes and gained no yards post-catch, Lock would have been 29-of-47 for 340 yards.

Ryan, who do you think is going to win the Super Bowl? Any dark-horses in your mind?

— Mark, Portland, Ore.

Mark sent this question in last week before the six wild card round games. Had I been able to address it then, I would have listed the Los Angeles Rams. Well, they’re still alive after winning at Seattle and now they go to top-seeded Green Bay. It was an interesting weekend with the Rams, Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Cleveland winning road games. Of those, I think Tampa Bay has the best chance to reach the Super Bowl — and play at its home stadium. Yes, the Buccaneers lost twice to New Orleans during the regular season, but Playoff Time is Tommy (Brady) Time.

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

A third double-digit loss season in four years, something that hasn’t happened around these parts since the late 1960s.

And potentially only the third last-place AFC West finish in 21 years.

So what happened to the Broncos this year? Why are they 5-10 entering Sunday’s finale against Las Vegas at an empty Mile High? Why are they essentially in NFL’s No-Man’s Land — unwilling to tear it down and unable to compete with the league’s elite?

“We had an inordinate amount of injuries, which I think hurt our progress some,” coach Vic Fangio said. “We turned it over too much (32 times), which hurt our progress. We didn’t get takeaways (only 12), which hurt our progress.”

But …

“I think, individually, there’s been a lot of progress,” Fangio said. “We’ve gotten a lot of young players a lot of playing time that they’re going to grow from and learn from and I think that����ap where the progress has been made.”

Entering Week 17, according to Sport Radar, the Broncos’ 5,902 snaps by first- and second-year players leads the NFL, nearly 1,000 more than Cincinnati (4,955). Against the Raiders, the Broncos could start as many as four rookies and five second-year players, equal parts by design and necessity.

The Broncos’ hope is that individual growth/acquired knowledge while absorbing body blows from some of the NFL’s best (eight games against the 14 teams currently in playoff position — 1-7 record), translates into 2021 team success.

Are the Broncos equipped to make a jump of 4-5 wins to challenge for the playoffs next year? Here is a position-by-position look:

Quarterback

Analysis: Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur wasn’t subtle in his criticism of Lock throughout December, but his tune changed 180 degrees Thursday as he pointed out Lock’s youth (17 career starts) and potential. The inference is the Broncos are entering the offseason with Lock as their projected 2021 No. 1. … Lock’s 15 interceptions are tied for the NFL lead and he’s tied for 24th in touchdowns (14). … Lock has 53 explosive passes (at least 16-yard gain); his 18 turnovers have led to 55 points by the opponent. … Adding a more-experienced No. 2 is critical. Driskel didn’t pan out and the Broncos can create $1.75 million in space by cutting him.

Running back

Also: Jeremy Cox (FB) and Damarea Crockett.

Analysis: So much for that plan of Nos. 1-1A tailbacks with Gordon/Lindsay or Lindsay/Gordon. … Lindsay’s season never got out of the blocks (one 100-yard game) because of injuries and ineffectiveness. … Do the Broncos want Lindsay back? Does he want to be back? One of the top offseason subplots — we think Lindsay has played his last game in Denver. … Gordon is knocking on 1,000 yards (needs 107), has played 576 snaps, has eight of the Broncos’ 12 rushing touchdowns and caught 28 passes. … Maybe Bellamy can be to 2021 what the Broncos wanted Lindsay to be this past year, capable of rushing, catching and protecting.

Tight end

Also: Jordan Leggett.

Analysis: Fant has 12 explosive catches among his 58 receptions and has played 660 snaps. … Vannett (330 snaps) started slowly and was a healthy scratch in Week 3, but found a role during the season’s second half as the in-line blocker/protector. … Okwuegbunam should generate excitement — and maybe take targets away from Fant — if he returns to top form from a torn ACL. … The Broncos should enter the offseason confident this position doesn’t need to be addressed.

Receiver

Also: Kendall Hinton, Trinity Benson and Fred Brown.

Analysis: The Broncos should feel comfortable with Sutton, Jeudy, Patrick and Hamler as their top four entering camp. … Sutton was going to be a 100-catch candidate before his Week 2 torn ACL. … Jeudy has 47 catches and two touchdowns, but also 10 drops and he’ll be the biggest beneficiary from Sutton’s return. … Patrick (team-high six TD catches) deserves a second-round tender (projected $3.442 million). … Hamler won’t get as many touches as Jeudy, but could have a bigger impact next year.

Offensive line

Also: Darrin Paulo (OT), Quinn Bailey (OT) and Jon Halapio (G/C).

Analysis: The Broncos should enter the offseason knowing they have four starters locked in — Bolles, Risner, Cushenberry and Glasgow. … Bolles’ four-year contract kicks in and he’s had his best season (1/2 sack allowed, four penalties), Risner has played better in the second half (one pass protection disruption allowed), Cushenberry has played all 995 snaps (one penalty) and Glasgow (744 snaps) fought an early-season ankle injury and mid-season COVID-19 positive test. … The Broncos are essentially stuck with James, who opted out of 2020. They should re-sign Wilkinson to be a swing tackle. … The depth is solid with Anderson (backup LT) and Muti (backup G).

Defensive line

Also: Darius Kilgo (DL) and Deyon Sizer (DT).

Analysis: It could be (should be?) an offseason of change up front. … Harris is a free agent and this being his only kick at the high-money can, could simply sign with the highest bidder. … Walker hasn’t panned out and needs a fresh start. … The Broncos can create $11,874,750 in cap space by cutting Casey, who was limited to three games because of a triceps injury. … Purcell will be returning from a foot injury and backed up by Agim. … Jones has played 503 snaps and has 11 pass rush disruptions in the last six games.

Outside linebacker

Analysis: The Broncos can create $13.875 million in cap space by cutting Miller, who missed all of 2020 (ankle), but don’t count on that. Would they consider extending his contract to lower his cap number and ensure he’ll be a one-franchise player? Perhaps. … If Miller returns, the Broncos should still be in the draft market for an edge rusher to join him, Chubb, Reed and challenge Tuszka for the fourth spot in the rotation. … Reed and Chubb lead the team with 7 1/2 sacks.

Inside linebacker

Analysis: Johnson leads the Broncos with 117 tackles, but does Fangio still envision him as an every-down player? Johnson’s coverage ability leaves much to be desired. In 1,004 snaps, he has 14 1/2 run “stuffs” and nine missed tackles. … Strnad was penciled in as a sub-package coverage linebacker until his training camp wrist injury. … Jewell emerged as a solid player with 102 tackles (12 run “stuffs”) and only four missed tackles in 922 snaps. … Fangio’s search for a version of Roquan Smith, whom he had in Chicago, will continue.

Cornerback

Analysis: Eight cornerbacks played at least 54 snaps this year. … The biggest offseason need is cornerback — a no-doubt, shut-down player who allows Fangio to deploy Callahan inside/outside. … Broncos corners this year have combined for three interceptions and 24 pass break-ups. Not good enough. … Releasing Bouye, who will start 2021 on suspension, will create $13.375 million in cap space. A no brainer. … Ojemudia’s 14 tackles lead the team and his five penalties are tied for first. … Bassey has solidified the nickel spot until his torn ACL at Kansas City.

Safety

Also: Chris Cooper.

Analysis: Simmons has played all 1,019 snaps, is third with 93 tackles and first with four interceptions. The assumption is he’ll remain with the Broncos via a long-term deal or a second consecutive franchise tag, which would be around $12.8 million (120% of this year’s tag). … The Broncos aren’t in a cap crunch so they can keep Jackson at his scheduled number; he has 87 tackles in 1,015 snaps. … If Fangio and Co., don’t think Holder or Marshall is a dependable third safety, add it to the list of draft needs, particularly when the Broncos play dime (six defensive backs).

Special teams

Also: Taylor Russolino (K).

Analysis: McManus signed a contract extension in September and followed by making 25-of-28 field goals and 22-of-25 point-after attempts in 14 games. … Martin was a solid signing in free agency, able to land punts inside the 15-yard line and directional kick when needed. Overall, he has a 41.7-yard average. … Spencer has return averages of 18.9 (kickoffs) and 15.8 (punts) yards. … The coverage units, which have allowed multiple big plays, need to be addressed.

(Notes: Ages as of Sept. 1, 2021. UFA — unrestricted free agent. RFA — restricted free agent. ERFA — exclusive rights free agent.)

OFFSEASON PRIMER

Key free agents

Unrestricted: S Justin Simmons, DE Shelby Harris and RT Elijah Wilkinson.

Restricted: RB Phillip Lindsay, WR Tim Patrick and ILB Alexander Johnson.

Positional needs

1. Cornerback. Only three of the Broncos’ eight interceptions were by cornerbacks. They need to draft one in the first round to join Bryce Callahan, Essang Bassey and Michael Ojemudia.

2. Defensive end. If Shelby Harris, Jurrell Casey and DeMarcus Walker aren’t brought back, the Broncos need to add two ends.

3. Backup quarterback. If the Broncos are committed to Drew Lock being the starter entering camp, adding an experienced No. 2 to provide guidance/push Lock is a priority.

4. Cover inside linebacker. This spot could go to Justin Strnad (out of all of this year), but if Vic Fangio wants an every-down option, a second-round pick should be used for this position.

5. Running back. If the Broncos part with Phillip Lindsay, they should use a Day 3 draft pick (rounds 4-7) on a back, particularly because Melvin Gordon is facing a three-game suspension.

“Yes, I do think he’s got the right make-up,” Fangio said. “When I (said post-game) it����ap a ‘defining moment,’ sometimes a guy drops a pass here and there, but he had a few of them and I think he’ll learn a lot from that and that the focus needs to be on catching the ball before anything else happens, regardless of whether you’re in traffic or not.

“I think he’ll come out a better receiver for this.”

Fangio and the Broncos should hope Jeudy’s game was merely a blip. The drops overshadowed Jeudy receiving a season-high 15 targets (14 in the previous three games combined). He had six catches for 61 yards.

The five drops: Six-yard out route, eight-yard slant, five-yard slant, 12-yard corner and 45-yard post.

All of quarterback Drew Lock’s throws on Jeudy’s drops weren’t perfect — his throw was slightly wide on the first and a little low on the third — but all were catchable.

The fourth drop would have been a touchdown, but it����ap questionable whether Jeudy’s footwork was precise enough to stay in bounds.

In Sunday’s season finale against Las Vegas, the Broncos should prioritize sending Jeudy into the offseason on a positive note.

“He’s proven during the season, at different times, that he can be a helluva receiver in this league,” Fangio said. “He can catch — he had a bad day (Sunday) in that regard, but he’s proven he has good hands.”

Here is our review of the Broncos-Chargers game:

Offense

Playing time. The Broncos’ 77 offensive snaps were tied for the most this season with the Pittsburgh (Week 2) and Kansas City (Week 7) losses. The skill-position snap counts: WR Tim Patrick (69), TE Noah Fant (64), WR DaeSean Hamilton (61), Jeudy (61), RB Melvin Gordon (51), RB Royce Freeman (18), TE Troy Fumagalli (18), TE Nick Vannett (18), WR Diontae Spencer (13), RB LeVante Bellamy (8), WR KJ Hamler (8) and TE/FB Andrew Beck (2).

Dinking, dunking. Los Angeles was mostly successful in taking away the Broncos’ downfield passing game. Lock was 3-of-12 passing for 62 yards on attempts that traveled at least 16 “air” yards. The completions were 18 yards to Hamilton, 19 to Fant and 25 to Hamilton. Lock threw a catchable 45-yard pass to Jeudy on the final drive that was dropped, but earlier, he overshot Jeudy well downfield on what should have been a 72-yard touchdown.

Protecting Lock. Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley rushed five or more players on only three of Lock’s 51 drop-backs. The rate of 5.9% was a season low for a Broncos opponent, ahead of 6.4% by the Chargers in the teams’ first meeting (three of 47). Lock was sacked twice, but no blame was booked since they were scrambles that failed to reach the line of scrimmage. The Chargers had four knockdowns and five pressures. RT Elijah Wilkinson had 2 1/2 disruptions allowed and LT Garett Bolles two.

Fourth down success. The Broncos entered Sunday last in fourth down conversion rate (16.7%, 2-of-12), but converted both chances against the Chargers. Trailing 16-6 on fourth-and-7, Lock found Patrick for 27 yards (15 post-catch) over the middle. And on the third-to-last play from scrimmage, on fourth-and-10, Lock’s throw deep middle was deflected by Chargers cornerback Chris Harris and corralled by Hamilton.

Defense

Playing time. S Justin Simmons is one game away from playing every snap for a third consecutive season. He played all 57 snaps Sunday along with S Kareem Jackson and CB Michael Ojemudia. The other leaders were ILBs Josey Jewell/Alexander Johnson (56), OLB Malik Reed (47), OLB Jeremiah Attaochu (46), CB De’Vante Bausby (42), DE Dre’Mont Jones (41) and DE Shelby Harris (39). In the dime package, S Trey Marshall played eight snaps in place of Alijah Holder.

Pass rush recap. The Broncos had 10 total disruptions — two sacks and four knockdowns and pressures apiece. The sacks were by Reed (4.53 seconds) and Jones (2.27 seconds). Attaochu had one knockdown and two pressures.

In coverage. The breakdown in man coverage for the Broncos — Jewell (2-of-4, 18 yards, one TD), Ojemudia (1-of-1, 12 yards), Johnson (1-of-1, 26 yards), Bausby (4-of-5, 46 yards), CB Will Parks (2-of-4, 20 yards) and CB Parnell Motley (1-of-3, 23 yards).

Bausby’s benching. Fangio finally gave up on Bausby following a lackadaisical missed tackle effort led to 21 post-catch yards by TE Stephen Anderson. The book on Bausby — four allowed completions, three missed tackles and one penalty (which came on a third-and-5 Chargers incompletion). During the Chargers’ final drive, the Broncos’ three corners were Ojemudia (rookie who was benched earlier this year), Parks (who was on Philadelphia last month) and Motley (who was on San Francisco’s practice squad last month).

Special teams

Covering punts. Sam Martin’s three punts had hang times of 3.56, 4.38 and 4.19 seconds and his 34.7-yard net average was his lowest since Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay (34.2). Martin’s final punt hit at the Chargers’ 7-yard line, but bounded into the end zone for a touchback when it appeared the Broncos coverage players were watching the returner and not the football.

Answer: Fangio opted to protect his fill-in cornerbacks.

The Bills feasted on the Broncos in man coverage last week so Fangio scaled back his pressure calls, dropping inside linebackers Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell more often into zone coverage to defend the slant and crossing routes.

Minus receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring) and tight end Hunter Henry (COVID-19/reserve list), Herbert was 21-of-33 passing for 253 yards, an average of 7.6 yards per attempt. Last week, Allen averaged 8.9 yards per attempts.

Still, Herbert had six completions of at least 21 yards in the Chargers’ 19-16 win.

Q: Where was the breakdown (or breakdowns) on the Chargers’ 53-yard kick return to open the game?

A: There were breakdowns.

Brandon McManus’ kickoff only went to the 8-yard line and had 4.00 seconds of hang time. Nasir Adderley almost immediately veered left toward daylight.

The Broncos’ LeVante Bellamy tried to avoid a block and took himself out of a running lane. Trey Marshall overcommitted so he was out of position when Adderley turned left. And Alijah Holder (inside) and DaeSean Hamilton (outside) took bad angles.

The kick return led to a Chargers field goal and a near-immediate 3-0 lead.

Q: If you had to rank Lock’s poor throwing decisions this year, where would his opening-drive interception rank?

A: Pretty much at the top of this list. It was a head-scratcher.

The Broncos had put together a solid first possession, stringing together gains of six, eight, six, five, seven, one, seven, six, three, one and 17 yards to reach the Chargers’ 16.

Lock faced a third-and-6, Hamilton was lined up in the left slot and the backfield was empty after Royce Freeman motioned to wide right.

At the snap, Lock dropped straight back, but was flushed left out of the pocket. Lock kept his eyes downfield as he was being chased from behind by defensive lineman Jesse Lemonier. Cornerback Chris Harris was charging toward Lock.

Lock had three options: 1. Throw it away. 2. Scramble to make for a shorter field goal attempt. 3. Force a throw into traffic.

He chose No. 3. His side-armed, awkward throw was behind Hamilton, who deflected it into the end zone and to the hands of Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward.

Bad situational awareness.

Q: On the Chargers’ winning drive, what the key play?

A: Justin Herbert����ap 23-yard pass to Jalen Guyton.

Austin Ekeler started the possession with an 11-yard carry to the 36. Fill-in cornerback Parnell Motley, who had replaced De’Vante Bausby, gave Guyton six yards of cushion.

At the snap, Motley went into a full-speed back-pedal, obviously wary of getting beat deep.

When Guyton caught Herbert����ap pass, Motley was four yards downfield from him. Way too conservative.

One of the reasons why the Broncos have struggled all year with takeaways? They don’t break up many passes, a product of not contesting more routes.