BRONCOS

Projecting the Broncos 2020 opening day starting lineup on offense

Nov 18, 2019, 2:14 PM | Updated: 2:15 pm

As the Broncos make the turn toward the stretch run of the 2019 season, they need to turn their attention toward 2020 and beyond. That process starts with determining which players on the current roster will be here in the future. At 3-7, finding those answers is the best use of the remaining six games on the schedule.

One of the things the Broncos have to accomplish during the offseason is to create some stability. The constant turnover amongst the coaching staff, coupled with a revolving door at several positions, has made it difficult for Denver to create any chemistry and/or cohesion. It’s part of the reason why the team got off to such a slow start this season.

To accomplish this, they’ll need to retain some players who are on expiring contracts. At a lot of key positions, the Broncos will have players who are still on rookie contracts. Thus, they’ll have some money to fill in other spots with veterans.

Rather than going down the route of signing big-money free agents from other teams, Denver would be much better off to retain players who are already familiar the system. While it’s impossible to keep everyone, keeping four pending unrestricted free agents and three upcoming restricted free agents would make the most sense for the Broncos.

They’ll certainly have the money to do it, as Denver is projected to have roughly $70 million in salary cap space heading into next season. A part of that will go toward Joe Flacco, as the Broncos will have to eat $13.6 million in dead cap when they part ways with the veteran quarterback.

That should leave plenty of money for a pair of relatively big-ticket signings in Chris Harris Jr. and Justin Simmons. It will allow Denver to spend the money needed to keep Connor McGovern and Shelby Harris from hitting the open market. And finally, it’ll provide the room to get deals done with Tim Patrick, Elijah Wilkinson and Mike Purcell.

That’ll leave very few holes for the Broncos to fill. It’s reasonable to assume that the team’s first- and second-round picks can start in year one, as that was the case in 2019 with Noah Fant and Dalton Risner. Then, it’s up to current backups to make the leap into the starting lineup.

Following that game plan, here’s how Denver’s starting lineup would look for the season opener:

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OFFENSE

QB – Drew Lock
He’ll need to show in the final five games of the season that he’s up to the task, but the Broncos need to find a young quarterback to groom. Lock is in the building. He has first-round talent. He makes the most sense to get the first show in 2020.

RB – Royce Freeman
The local story of Phillip Lindsay is great, but Freeman is a better fit for Rich Scangarello’s offense. He’s a one-cut, downhill, move-the-chains back, who is also more reliable in pass protection.

FB – Andy Janovich
After an injury-plagued 2019 campaign, Jano will return to fill a vital role in Denver’s attack. They’re one of the few teams in the NFL still using a fullback, so they need to make sure they’re stout at that crucial position. If not, there’s a huge void that causes a domino effect on offense.

WR – Courtland Sutton
Sutton has emerged in 2019 as a bona fide No. 1 wideout in the NFL. He has the speed to be a big play threat, but his size it what sets him apart. Sutton is tough for cornerbacks to cover, as he has the physical advantage in almost every situation.

WR – Tim Patrick
After returning from injured reserve, Patrick showed that he’s ready to be an every-down receiver. Opposite Sutton, he gives the Broncos bookend wideouts that will be a match-up nightmare for almost every defense in the league.

TE – Noah Fant
Plenty of people are down on the rookie, but Fant has been solid in his first season. He’s a big target, which makes him a great option on third down and in the red zone. And he has game-breaking speed, something that was on display during his 75-yard touchdown against the Browns.

LT – Andrew Thomas (R)
The Georgia offensive tackle will go early in the draft, which will put him right in the Broncos wheelhouse. If Thomas isn’t available when Denver is on the clock, taking one of the other top-rated tackles makes sense, as it’s time to move on from the Garett Bolles experiment.

LG – Dalton Risner
As a rookie, Risner has already emerged as the most-consistent player on Denver’s offensive line. He’s also become a team leader in year one, as it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he’s a team captain in 2020.

C – Connor McGovern
McGovern hasn’t been perfect during his first full season at center, but that’s to be expected. He’s rectified the problems with shotgun snaps that plagued him during training camp and has been relatively solid in the middle. There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel, as McGovern is a known commodity who is just fine at center.

RG – Elijah Wilkinson
Wilkinson has done yeoman’s work in 2019 at right tackle filling in for Ja’Wuan James. He should be rewarded with a new contract and a day one starting spot in 2020. While he can play either tackle position, moving him inside in place of Ron Leary makes the most immediate sense.

RT – Ja’Wuan James
James has been a colossal disappointment this season, having barely played after signing a four-year, $52 million contract in the offseason. But he has a lot of talent, so the Broncos have to cross their fingers and hope he can stay healthy next year.

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To see the projections on defense, CLICK HERE

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