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Denver Broncos: 5 Big Takeaways vs. Bears

By Michael Longhofer

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos looks on from the bench area during an NFL preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos looks on from the bench area during an NFL preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 18: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos catches a pass for a second quarter touchdown against the Chicago Bears during an NFL preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

WR might be the deepest it’s been in Denver.

We know that we have Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.  Those are locked-in.  Beyond that, Denver has secured several young, talented players that are battling for roster spots.  The Broncos are expected to keep six wideouts, with DT and Sanders already occupying the top-two spots.

Rookies Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton have showed enough thus far in camp that they should be the next two.  From there, if Saturday’s game is any indication, Tim Patrick should be  a safe bet at the fifth spot.

Patrick, a 2017 free-agent pickup by the Baltimore Ravens out of Utah had two stints on Denver’s practice squad last season but has made that leap coaches look for entering his second NFL season.  While he had only one reception Saturday night, it was spectacular, with Patrick adjusting to a short throw and making an acrobatic catch coming back, over the defender. Coupled with standout work in camp, it’s hard to imagine Patrick isn’t on the 53-man.

River Cracraft, Bryce Bobo, Jordan Leslie and the aforementioned McKenzie are all competing for the final roster spot.  McKenzie may have an advantage because of his punt return ability but if Philip Lindsay can fill in at PR, that’d be a blow to Isaiah’s chances.  Lindsay has proven valuable on multiple fronts so a roster spot for him is virtually guaranteed.

Bobo, a rookie is a sentimental choice, coming out of the University of Colorado.  Cracraft and Leslie have had solid camps.

Courtland Sutton’s TD catch from Chad Kelly was a fantastic play, the SMU rookie has exceeded expectations, even as a second-round pick.

It is an exciting time as the Denver offense crawls out of the offensive pit it’s been in for the better part of three seasons.   The wideouts are generating a lot of buzz and Denver looks to have secured another pair of standout wideouts in Sutton and Hamilton.

There’s also a revolution on the defensive side, it starts with and is centered around Mega Star Von Miller and the Denver front-seven:

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