Power Ranking the Broncos' Roster: Players 30-21
In our third installment, we continue to power-rank the most important Denver Broncos, taking a look at the players that came in ranked 30-21. If you missed them, you can check out 50-41 here and 40-31 here.
This next group of Broncos are a bit of a mixed bag. Some of these players are younger and have flashed potential, but still need to develop and put it all together on the field. Others in this list have uncertain futures with the Broncos due to their contractual situations.
Many of these players will likely shift outside of this range, either up or down, as the season continues to progress. Let's get to it.
30: Garett Bolles, LT
Contract Status: $3,510,154 due in 2020 with team option for 2021.
Many will probably think No. 30 is too high for Bolles. The first several weeks of the season, Broncos Country was screaming from the mountaintops to replace him at left tackle. He was even publicly called out after the Week 2 loss against the Bears, after committing five holding penalties, four of which were accepted.
Bolles responded to the criticism by reeling off a few 'average' games with no holding calls. Well, that was short-lived. Add three more holding penalties from the Week 7 Chiefs loss to his total for the season and frankly, I can't even keep track of how many he's got.
At this point in time, it seems like this Bolles experiment has to be nearing the end, right? Well, yes and no. The reason he's ranked this high is because, 1.) Denver has no other viable left tackle options currently on the roster and 2.) he's still under contract through at least the 2020 season.
It seems unlikely Denver picks up his fifth-year option for 2021, but the team doesn't exactly have any other options right now. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Broncos continue to trot Bolles out on the field each week, hoping and praying O-Line Coach Mike Munchak can work his magic. All things considered, that seems like wishful thinking, though.
29: Elijah Wilkinson, OL
Contract Status: RFA in 2020.
Wilkinson was thrust into the starting right tackle spot in Week 1 following an injury to prized free-agent acquisition Ja'Wuan James. Wilkinson has been average at best through the first third of the season filling in at RT.
Wilkinson's value to the team is his versatility. Last season, he had to step in at right guard (also due to injuries) and played quite well. Wilkinson's position versatility should warrant a restricted free agent tender this upcoming offseason, keeping him in Denver through at least 2020.
This very well could be the last season Ron Leary plays for the Broncos, and Wilkinson could be the first option to replace him at right guard if that actually happens. At worst, Wilkinson continues to be a valuable sixth lineman that can play at either guard or tackle.
28: Shelby Harris, DL
Contract Status: UFA in 2020.
First off, how can anyone not love Harris? What a good dude. After a breakout 2018 season, Harris was basically nonexistent the first several weeks of this season. Why? He was playing the wrong position!
Trust us, Shelby, DeMarcus Walker also feels your pain. Now that Harris is playing in his natural position at defensive end, we have already started seeing the impact he can have on a game, bringing pressure up the interior.
He is playing on a one-year RFA tender and will be an unrestricted free agent following the season. Harris' future with the team is a bit in question beyond this season, though, as the Broncos are going to have to make some tough calls on who to retain going forward.
27: Isaac Yiadom, CB
Contract Status: Rookie contract through 2021, UFA in 2022.
Yiadom is certainly not trending in the right direction so far this season. Many expected him to take a giant leap forward in his second year, but we are still seeing a lot of the same mental mistakes from him in coverage.
His play this year has been poor enough to drop him down the depth chart behind recent additions like De'Vante Bausby and Davontae Harris. The potential is still there for Yiadom, though, and hopefully he is able to turn things around and start playing with a little more confidence.
His progression is going to be vital for the Broncos beyond 2019, as it appears the team's longtime stud cornerback — Chris Harris, Jr. — could be on his way out of Denver. This ranking is maybe a little generous for Yiadom given his play so far this year, but it's more a representation of his potential value going forward.
26: Tim Patrick, WR
Contract Status: RFA in 2020.
Patrick was (hopefully) going to capitalize on a very strong first season in Denver, but unfortunately, he found himself on IR quickly after suffering a hand injury against the Raiders in Week 1. It's possible he returns this season, but he will be competing with Drew Lock, Theo Riddick, and Jake Butt as one of the two players eligible to return from IR.
Patrick figures to find himself squarely in the Broncos future wide receiver plans with veteran Emmanuel Sanders set to hit unrestricted free agency following the season (if he's not traded first). It will be interesting to see what level of interest other teams will have in Patrick this coming offseason, as that will dictate what level the Broncos tender him as he hits restricted free agency.
If Sanders ends up with another team, look for Denver do make a strong effort to keep Patrick around.
25: Juwann Winfree, WR
Contract Status: Cheap rookie contract through 2022, UFA in 2023.
This may feel a little high to have Winfree ranked, but if you consider he will be under a very cheap contract for the next three seasons, he's an important piece of this offense going forward. I know the coaching staff is extremely high on his potential.
We saw glimpses of what Winfree can do during the preseason. He has the size (6-foot-2) and speed (4.5 40-time) to give defenses a challenge. He has yet to make an impact on the season, only logging snaps in one game against Green Bay in Week 3 (10 on offense, 13 on special teams), but this rank is more about his potential going forward than his current impact.
Get this guy a full year to adjust to the NFL and get completely healthy and there's no telling what he can do in the coming seasons.
24: DeMarcus Walker, DE
Contract Status: $1,614,410 salary in 2020, UFA in 2021.
Fans are finally seeing the DeMarcus Walker we expected to see when he was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2017 draft. And I'll tell you what, the timing couldn't be better.
As discussed previously, Denver is set to have a lot of UFAs on the defensive line following this season. Having a guy like Walker, who appears to be on the verge of breaking out, under contract through 2020 gives a lot of reassurance for this position group. Do not be shocked to see Walker rise up this list throughout the current season.
23: Derek Wolfe, DE
Contract Status: UFA in 2020.
When I first put this list together, I had Wolfe much much lower than No. 23overall. Why? Well for starters, he's on the last year of his contract and is set to hit unrestricted free agency following the season.
Wolfe is also not making the same type of game-changing impacts on a week-to-week basis that he used to and has battled minor injuries in recent years. But, he is a stable veteran leader in the locker room, which can prove to be invaluable on a young roster like the Broncos have.
In addition, Wolfe has recently expressed interest in staying in Denver and retiring a Bronco. It'll be interesting to see what type of contract he demands this offseason, but I hope he finds a way to stick around on a team-friendly deal.
22: Alexander Johnson, LB
Contract Status: $660,000 due in 2020, RFA in 2021.
Too soon to put Johnson this high? I don’t think so. This guy is a player. And his energy is infectious for the rest of the defense. If he continues at this pace, what a serious game changer he is for this Denver defense.
Inside linebacker has been an issue since the Broncos won the Super Bowl with Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall holding it down. If the Broncos have one piece of the puzzle figured out with Johnson, they have a lot more options on how to tackle other positions in the upcoming offseason.
Johnson is under contract for cheap in 2020 and is set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2021. So the Broncos are able to have him on the team relatively cheap for the next couple of seasons.
21: De'Vante Bausby, CB
Contract Status: RFA in 2020.
Even after suffering a terrifying injury against the Chargers and finding himself on IR, I have Bausby ranked this high because he was looking like a legitimate starting cornerback prior to the injury. He's going to be one of many restricted free agents for the Broncos in the upcoming offseason, but I think Denver finds a way to retain him.
His market may be limited given the serious injury he just suffered. Bausby is at worst the third-best cornerback on the team currently. With Chris Harris, Jr. seemingly on the way out the door, Denver is in desperate need of cornerbacks going forward. Bausby gives them a little bit of insurance if he returns following this year.
So there are your 30-21-ranked Denver Broncos. Chime in with your thoughts in the comment section below and look out for the next part of the series unveiling 20-11.
Follow Trevor on Twitter @TrevorJudge and @MileHighHuddle.
