2019 Broncos' Season — Special Teams Needs


With the Broncos' coaches mostly in place, it's time to start thinking about the team needs this off-season. I'll be looking at all three phases before we hit free agency, starting with the Special Teams.

2019 Outlook: This is the only major unit on the Broncos with coaching continuity heading into 2019, as coordinator Tom McMahon is returning. And that's a good thing as the Broncos' Special Teams took a step forward last season. Brandon McManus is under contract and returning, and looked decent in 2018. Colby Wadman is under contract, too, and he looked solid as an inexpensive punting option. That feels like a decent place to start for the Broncos, and it doesn't make a lot of sense to risk big money on a punter as we did last off-season. If it doesn't pan out, it can really hurt.

2019 Need: We need a dynamic returner. We have for a while. At times we've had some interesting options, including drafting Isaiah McKenzie, who was dynamic at times but ultimately had some issues that led to his release. I still wish we'd hung on to him, as he's done some things for the Bills that give me the feeling we may have cut bait too early. We also need to get away from using key offensive players for returns. Philip Lindsay is great on offense, and shouldn't be used as our main punt or kick returner. Ditto Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, and Emmanuel Sanders. We've used some players like Devontae Booker and River Cracraft, who are fine in a pinch, but not dynamic enough to be a great option. And Adam Jones was decent in 2018, but was released.

How to fill it: This isn't a position likely to be a primary signing, and I still think looking in the draft is a good way to go. Getting a couple decent return options on Day 3 seems like something that could pay off. But we'll have to see. Jordan Taylor, providing he's back healthy, and Cracraft will likely also get a look, as will perhaps Brendan Langley.

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