As the summer begins to heat up, we shift our focus from the off-season to the start to the regular season. Teams have acquired their free agents and signed most of their draft picks in hopes of finding that magic combination. With the off-season additions, the defending champion Denver Broncos hope to capture that special dynamic once again and make a run to Super Bowl LI. While many expect to see first round pick Paxton Lynch eventually become the starting quarterback, there are a few other rookies that deserve equal, if not more attention. Devontae Booker, Justin Simmons and Adam Gotsis are three Denver Broncos rookies to watch in 2016.
Three Denver Broncos Rookies to Watch for in 2016
Devontae Booker
Devontae Booker, the fourth round pick out of Utah will prove to be the draft’s biggest steal in 2016. With his quick, decisive cuts and his downhill running style, he is the ideal type of back for a Gary Kubiak offense. Booker has come into Denver ready to compete and win the starting job. It will not be an easy task unseating C.J. Anderson for the top spot, but he is focused and eager to prove himself.
While at Utah, he averaged 157.9 yards rushing per game. which is significantly higher than the 107 the Broncos averaged last season. He also added 80 receptions during his two seasons with the Utes, making him a threat as a receiver as well. His skills with the ball in his hands and his ability to make defenders miss will force Kubiak to put him on the field more and more. Though it will take some time to familiarize himself with the playbook, expect Booker to make a significant impact when he sees the ball later in the season. In fact, don’t be at all surprised if he becomes RB1 by the tenth or eleventh game. This kid is that good.
Justin Simmons
Justin Simmons, the third-round pick from Boston College, is a ball-hawking safety that can hit and tackle with the best. He is long and fast, allowing him to cover ground from either the free safety or strong safety position. This rookie will be a perfect fit alongside T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart, adding depth to an already strong secondary.
During his four years with the Eagles, Simmons had eight interceptions and over 220 tackles. Some of his best performances came against highly ranked teams, including a doozy against 4th ranked Notre Dame, where it seemed he was playing all 11 defensive positions. He has a knack for anticipating routes, which allows him to break up passes and terrorize receivers. His upside is huge, especially his football IQ, which many say will make him a star for years to come. Throw him into an aggressive Wade Phillips defense and the sky is the limit. Pay attention to this young man, he is a throwback player with modern day skills.
Adam Gotsis
Australian native Adam Gotsis was a standout defensive tackle in his three seasons with Georgia Tech. Though he has played more Aussie rules football than American football, he is a quick learner with the strength to withstand double teams. He is not a great pass rusher yet, but is a solid force as a run stopper, finishing last season with 31 tackles before a knee injury in the ninth game ended his senior year early. Still, he was voted as a third team All-ACC performer.
He will be a second string defensive tackle to start the season as he continues to rehab his knee, and learn the defensive scheme. But by mid-season, there is no doubt that he will be a valuable piece to Denver’s front seven. He should be a nice replacement for Malik Jackson, who signed with Jacksonville in the off-season. The upside to Gotsis is he hasn’t played much American football, so every snap in practice and games is a learning experience. He will be learning from some elite coaches and players, making his techniques and fundamentals all that much better. Once the former yellow jacket understands his role in Wade Phillips system, he is sure to become a stalwart interior lineman.
With the skills and passion these young stars will bring, they are sure to have a big impact this year, which is why these are three Denver Broncos rookies to watch in 2016.
