Broncos' 3 Key Players to Build Around Revealed by PFF

Some offseason lists and rankings around the internet are designed to agitate fans across the NFL. However, Pro Football Focus listing the three key players for each team to build around shouldn't find much push-back from Denver Broncos fans.

Unsurprisingly, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (mainly due to quarterback Russell Wilson's expected return to grace), star cornerback Patrick Surtain II and veteran safety Justin Simmons got the seal of approval from PFF's Brad Spielberger as the players for Denver to build around.

Denver was aggressive during free agency, in particular bolstering the offensive line with left guard Ben Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey. A move they didn’t make could prove to be the sharpest, as they reportedly turned down trade offers for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy after a strong finish to the 2022 campaign. From Week 7 on, Jeudy’s 82.2 receiving grade ranked 15th among wide receivers and his 2.53 yards per route run was good for seventh. A fully healthy Jeudy in a Sean Payton offense could finally break out in a big way.

On the other side of the football, Patrick Surtain II has a case as the best young cornerback in the NFL, with his 86.7 coverage grade in 2022 ranking second in the NFL and his 0.66 yards per coverage snap allowed placing fifth. Justin Simmons keeps everything in front of him on the back end, with his 93.8 coverage grade over the past four seasons ranking second among safeties over the span.

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The Broncos dangling Jeudy on the trade market early this offseason countervails his apparent worth to the team under the fresh leadership of head coach Sean Payton. Payton has the coaching chops to finally maximize Jeudy's route-running prowess to the utmost in 2023. Payton's insistence on spending to upgrade the offensive line will obviously have a direct impact on the time Wilson will be afforded to hit Jeudy in stride this season.

On defense, the presence of Surtain out on the perimeter and Simmons in centerfield anchors the unit. In recent days, an ESPN poll revealed Surtain as the NFL's top cornerback, per league execs, coaches, and players, while Simmons was listed as the third-best safety. When you factor in the added degrees of difficulty that Patrick Mahomes presents the Broncos, how well Surtain and Simmons perform is of paramount importance.

Payton will be savvy enough to understand that getting production from his pass rushers will massively help out his star DB duo on the backend. Similarly, Jeudy will come to rely on Wilson and to what degree Payton is able to breathe new life into the down-but-not-out veteran QB.

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