Denver Broncos: Can Cody Latimer Make The Leap?

ByKhaled Abdallah|

In the second round of last year’s NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected wide receiver Cody Latimer out of Indiana University. This was a surprise pick for the Broncos considering how deep the team already was at the wide receiver position. They of course already had two time Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas and five time Pro Bowler Wes Welker on the roster to play in the slot. The team had also just recently signed former Pittsburgh Steeler Emmanuel Sanders who was not a Pro Bowler before he came to Denver but was always a productive receiver.

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Most mock drafts had the Broncos focusing on the defensive side of the ball with the offense already largely taken care of. The Broncos had Peyton Manning, a stable of running backs, one of the better tight ends in the league in Julius Thomas, and the aforementioned receiver corps. The defense was still a bit of a question mark despite the additions of veterans Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware through free agency.

Aug 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer (14) during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 21-16. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Names like Florida DT Dominique Easley were mentioned along with DE Demarcus Lawrence out of Boise State were mentioned in mock drafts. Instead, the Denver Broncos selected Cody Latimer and focused on defense on three of their six draft picks. Latimer was largely anonymous for his rookie season and was not able to make the impact that many fans hoped he would have after having a strong preseason.

Latimer struggled with learning a complex playbook, made even more complicated by the fast-paced style employed by Manning. The constant checks and audibles at the line of scrimmage kept Lattimer off the field as he tried to learn the intricacies of the team’s playbook. After a quiet first year, can Cody Latimer make the leap from bit part player to full-time contributor? His Head Coach Gary Kubiak certainly thinks so.

Kubiak, speaking to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, said “I think it’s time for him to make a big jump. Not just a little jump. Obviously his play time is fixing to pick up, and it needs to pick up, so we need him to make a big jump in year two”. With free agent Wes Welker looking unlikely to return, Latimer is moving up the depth chart and as Kubiak said, his “play time if fixing to pick up”.

With Emmanuel Sanders playing mostly in the slot and only Andre Caldwell to beat out for the spot opposite Thomas, Latimer should have a straightforward path to a starting position. Caldwell is a serviceable receiver but he has only one season with over 50 receptions in his seven year career. The Broncos know what they have in Caldwell and that is a fourth or fifth receiver in the rotation.

Latimer also has prototypical size and speed as he measures in at 6’2″ 215lbs and ran a 4.39 40 at his pro day, which according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, he did with a broken foot. So if this young and very exciting player can learn the playbook and get up to speed in Peyton Manning’s offense, there is no reason to believe he can’t be an impact player in this Broncos offense.

Sanders reached career highs last year with 100+ catches for 1,400 yards to earn his first Pro Bowl trip playing opposite of Thomas. If Latimer can earn his way in to the starting lineup he will give Denver a tremendous one-two punch of receivers on the outside with tremendous size and speed. Peyton Manning has made ordinary receivers look like Hall of Famers but next year is Cody Latimer’s chance to prove he is anything but.

Next: Broncos In Need Of Offensive Line Help

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