Emmanuel Sanders Sees Big Things on the Horizon for Broncos Offense

Drew Lock is poised to lead something 'special' with the Broncos in 2020, according to Emmanuel Sanders.

Emmanuel Sanders might not have been around to actually participate in the five-week romp Drew Lock had down the stretch last year, but he spent several months in the same locker room and on the same roster with the then-rookie quarterback. Granted, Lock spent most of the time together with Sanders on the Denver Broncos roster on injured reserve, but the veteran wideout got to glimpse the raw talent and charisma the young quarterback possesses. 

By the time Lock received his shot to play in Week 13, Sanders was many weeks into his tenure as a San Francisco 49er. But Sanders kept a close eye on his former team down the stretch. 

Now with the New Orleans Saints, Sanders recently connected with Broncos first-round wideout Jerry Jeudy to run some routes together and work out. Undoubtedly, Sanders shared what wisdom he could with the Broncos rookie. 

In a video clip posted on social media by Jeudy, Sanders is caught talking about the Broncos' 2020 prospects and what he sees unfolding for Jeudy, Lock, and company. 

"I'm looking forward to seeing ya'll boys play," Sanders said to Jeudy. "In his [Drew Lock's] second year, if he do what he did last year, it's gonna be special." 

We 10 toes down with this shxt✊🏾! @ESanders_10 pic.twitter.com/RMM5dEEFuy

— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) July 17, 2020

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Jeudy is taking on the mantle and legacy of Sanders' No. 10 jersey in Denver. Perhaps that has something to do with the interest Sanders is taking in the rookie, maybe it has something to do with their Broncos ties, or perhaps it just comes down to two pros wanting to work together to get better and share tips. 

Sanders got to catch passes from Peyton Manning for his first two years in Denver before suffering under the QB carousel the Broncos fielded post-Super Bowl 50. While the Broncos wandered the quarterback desert, Sanders was there for almost all of it. 

He missed the chance to play with Lock by a matter of weeks. Lock's emergence led to a reversal of fortunes for the Broncos, who had won just three games by the time he took over. 

The Broncos would finish the season by posting four wins in the final five weeks, culminating in a 7-9 record. Not great but the trend established by Lock is what's got outsiders like Sanders seeing big things on the horizon for the Broncos. 

Indeed, with Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and Phillip Lindsay as the incumbents, injecting the offense with the dynamic attributes of Jeudy and second-round WR KJ Hamler could result in something 'special' unfolding for the Broncos. If Lock is who the Broncos team brass think he is, that's how it will shake out. 

While Lock and company still have more than their fair share of skeptics in the national media, inside the NFL, the players are buzzing about Lock. It's not just his swagger, confidence, and contagious joy for the game, but he backed it all up with production in the box score and in the standings. 

For the first time, really, since the Manning years, there are some real expectations in the Mile High City. It's going to be fun to see whether Lock, Jeudy, and the Broncos can meet them. 

Jeudy will join his fellow rookies in reporting for training camp at UC Health Training Center on Thursday. Although most of the veterans won't join the rookies until the next week, Lock will also be reporting on Thursday (Mike Klis), which means Jeudy and Hamler will have a little extra time to bond and gel with their new QB before the cleats hit the grass in earnest. 

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.