NFL Offseason 2019: Ranking the 5 most improved AFC teams
By Lucas Schuh
3. Denver Broncos
At the beginning of the 2019 NFL offseason, it seemed as if the Denver Broncos were going to have another poor offseason after their trade with the Ravens for Joe Flacco. However, they ultimately made the right moves in free agency and the draft.
The Broncos already had one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL with Chris Harris Jr. but added another great slot corner by signing the former Chicago Bear Bryce Callahan. Along with Callahan, the Broncos stole another Bear, but instead of a player, it was the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Fangio, along with Callahan, helped lead the Bears to have one of the best defenses in the NFL last year. On top of the great additions in Callahan and Fangio, the Broncos also added Ja’Wuan James to help solve their pass blocking and offensive line problems overall.
In the draft, Denver slid back from No. 10 to No. 20 to select a great modern-day tight end, Noah Fant, while also acquiring more draft picks. With the two second-round picks that the Broncos had then, they selected a good offensive tackle in Dalton Risner and then took quarterback Drew Lock, who was a good value with where they selected him.
Lock is a good quarterback prospect who has the potential to become a very good starter but he still has his weaknesses. Lock occasionally makes some errant throws while under pressure in the pocket, but if he can work some kinks out he could become quality NFL quarterback. In the third round, the Broncos took Dre’Mont Jones should create some pressure from the inside.
The AFC West might be the hardest division in the NFL with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, but the Broncos could still possibly sneak into the playoffs this coming year.