Broncos Veterans Grades in 18-17 Preseason Loss to Cardinals
Denver Broncos football is back, but unfortunately, it came with a loss in the preseason opener. The good news is the Broncos were leading the Arizona Cardinals 10-0 with their first and second unit.
It wasn't until the Broncos went to primarily third and fourth-stringers that the Cardinals made their way back. The Broncos' starters turned in plenty of bad performances in the game, but they managed to overcome it.
With that said, it's time to hand out my first player grades of 2023. For the preseason, every play gets evaluated, which leads to a wide range of grades.
The small sample size for so many Broncos creates some issues, but that's what we have to analyze, so let's first talk about my grades for the team's veterans. The rookies will be coming in a follow-up article.
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson: 61.2 | Jarrett Stidham: 31.6 | Ben DiNucci: 63.6
There were issues with the Broncos' offensive line, but Wilson and DiNucci played well. It wasn't all great from Wilson, as his ball placement was hit-and-miss. However, dealing with such a bad O-line, the Broncos' starting QB hung in there and made a few big plays to keep the offense moving.
The second-string QB, Stidham, had a rough go. His accuracy was all over the place and held the Broncos' offense back.
Stidham made some good plays with his legs and a couple with his arm. It wasn't enough as the QB2, and if it doesn't turn around, DiNucci could overtake him.
Running Backs
Samaje Perine: 39.5 | Tyler Badie: 58.3 | Tony Jones Jr: 42.8
The running backs didn't have much to work with due to the blocking upfront, but each of them made a play or two. Badie was the most consistent as a runner and receiver.
Perine had a bad drop on a shovel screen that could've been a huge play for the offense. As for Jones, he's not on the same level as the other running backs on the Broncos' roster.
Fullbacks
Michael Burton: 21.6
Burton played five snaps, and four of them went terribly. He was used as a lead blocker and consistently whiffed, creating a significant problem for the running backs.
Wide Receivers
Courtland Sutton: 68.4 | Jerry Jeudy: 81.7 | Marquez Callaway: 39.8
Sutton and Jeudy displayed some good route running and were getting consistent separation. Unfortunately, again, the O-line didn't protect long enough to give Wilson a chance to hit Sutton and Jeudy for more plays.
Callaway was alright, but if he wants to make this roster, he has to show more over the final two games.
Kendall Hinton: 53.7 | Jalen Virgil: 61.7 | Lil'Jordan Humphrey: 68.9
All three receivers showed well, though Virgil and Hinton played 40 snaps between them. Hinton didn't receive a target, but he fought hard as a blocker and did get separation multiple times.
Virgil showed off his speed on a 25-yard end-around, while Humphrey showed some quickness on a short route that saw him pick up 26 yards. The problem is these three receivers were targeted six times, with only one catch from Humphrey.
In a hotly-contested wide receiver competition, these players have to show more.
Michael Bandy: 56.6 | Montrell Washington: 50.0
Both receivers are smaller slot-only receivers. Washington brought his speed to the offense, but that was about it.
Bandy isn't overly fast but quick, which showed with his routes. With four targets, he came down with three of them.
Tight Ends
Adam Trautman: 63.9 | Greg Dulcich: 43.5 | Albert Okwuegbunam: 49.7 | Tommy Hudson: 54.2
Trautman made it clear why he is the top tight end. His versatility as a blocker and receiver was on display early.
Dulcich didn't get targeted but did get separation a few times and did alright as a blocker, but overall, it wasn't enough. Okwuegbunam was inserted into the game late, was used almost exclusively as a receiver, and didn't get much separation, while Hudson came in near the end of the game and played 12 solid snaps.
Offensive Tackles
Garett Bolles: 33.1 | Isaiah Prince: 54.7 | Cam Fleming: 42.8
The Broncos cannot go into the season with what they got from their top three tackles in this game. Bolles struggled to win his one-on-one matchups.
Prince was the best of the starting five, but that isn't saying much. As for Fleming, he showed why he was bouncing around the league and didn't look anything like he did last season.
Interior Offensive Line
Ben Powers: 18.5 | Quinn Meinerz: 37.2 | Lloyd Cushenberry: 47.1
Denver has to get improvement here. If the Broncos want to be a run-heavy offense, they can't deal with Powers getting beat almost every play.
It was a rough go from Meinerz, but he wasn't as bad as the high-dollar free-agent acquisition Powers. Cushenberry was the same hit-and-miss guy he's been for the past two seasons. He did well in pass protection but struggled as a run blocker.
Kyle Fuller: 51.5| Quinn Bailey: 58.2 | Luke Wattenberg: 67.3 | Will Sherman: 60.2
The play on the interior improved when the backups entered the game. Granted, part of that was the Cardinals' backup defensive linemen entering the game.
Wattenberg had one of the best nights of the O-line, excluding getting bulldozed on the blocked field goal, but special teams play doesn't get factored into the grades. Bailey and Sherman did well, for the most part, while Fuller was inconsistent, doing well as a run blocker but struggling in pass protection mostly.
Interior Defensive Line
D.J. Jones: 54.1 | Zach Allen: 45.8 | Jonathan Harris: 56.3 | Tyler Lancaster: 44.4 | Matt Henningsen: 57.2
Jones played four snaps before leaving with a concussion. Allen struggled to get off blocks and did little as a pass rusher. Harris did alright, but it wasn't enough to cement himself as a starter on the unit.
Henningsen had a great game until the two-point conversion. Not everything was perfect, but he held up consistently against the run and even got some pressure and a sack.
At nose tackle, Lancaster has to do better holding up in short-yardage situations and not getting pushed onto his back.
Jordan Jackson: 52.6 | Elijah Garcia: 71.4 | Forrest Merrill: 42.7
It would be nice to see Garcia make those big plays against the second and third-string guys. In the preseason, players go against whichever opposing units they draw, but the key is they have to capitalize.
Garcia did that with gusto by beating a mostly fourth-string Cardinals' O-line. Jackson got a batted pass, while Merrill was noticeable because he is a big guy, but he didn't do anything overly noteworthy.
Edge Defenders
Randy Gregory: 55.5 | Jonathon Cooper: 62.6 | Nik Bonitto: 59.1 | Christopher Allen: 32.1
Gregory played 10 snaps, and his quickness and explosiveness popped. If he can stay healthy, he will do great things this year.
Cooper started opposite Gregory and looked even better as a run defender after showing growth in 2022. Bonitto looks thicker than he was as a rookie, and while he seems to have kept his explosiveness, he still showcased technical issues against the run.
Bonitto also has a habit of getting upfield too quickly against the run, leaving a lane open behind him. Allen wasn't overly noticeable when he wasn't falling into teammates' knees.
Linebackers
Josey Jewell: 56.2 | Alex Singleton: 61.4 | Justin Strnad: 64.5 | Ray Wilborn: 42.2
Jewell and Singleton looked like an improved duo from where they were last year, even though their time was limited. Strnad was pleasantly surprising with how well he did on the field, while Wilborn has to show more if he wants to make a push for a practice squad spot.
Cornerbacks
Damarri Mathis: 59.5 | Ja'Quan McMillian: 75.8 | Essang Bassey: 47.6
Mathis was clean out there, and McMillian was the starter opposite him. McMillian played on the boundary and did quite well before moving into the slot, where he showed tough run defense and pass-rush ability.
Bassey had a lucky interception with a receiver slipping, but he got beat only a few plays prior. It also was a rough go with Bassey's run defense.
Delonte Hood: 31.6 | Fabian Moreau: 54.8 | Faion Hicks: 53.3 | Tremon Smith: 25.7
Hood and Smith struggled all game. The two corners shoulder a significant share of the blame for the defensive collapse due to their issues in coverage. Hicks and Moreau did well enough, though.
Safeties
Kareem Jackson: 52.7 | Caden Sterns: 48.2 | P.J. Locke: 54.7 | Delarrin Turner-Yell: 55.8 | Devon Key: 56.1
Sterns missed a tackle, and Jackson still looked slow on the field. Locke did well, but he was sometimes slow to read and react to the play.
Turner-Yell did well on defense and seemed more comfortable than last year. Key was a good surprise in the game, even though he got in later.
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