denversports.com

Broncos have three players in CBS Sports’ top 100 rankings

Mandatory minicamp has officially wrapped up for all 32 NFL teams, and the Denver Broncos had already had one week off as the longest stretch of non-football action of the offseason gets underway. With that, most teams have made all the necessary transactions they need as they prepare to cut their rosters down to the 53-man limit for the regular season.

The Broncos made a surprise playoff push in 2024 with a roster that didn’t have a whole lot of weaponry on the offensive side of the ball. While the defensive was phenomenal, as they led the league in sacks and made games a living nightmare for most quarterbacks, the offense didn’t have many of those top players that are difference makers in the big games, and it showed in their Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills. While they made some key additions in the offseason with guys like Evan Engram and Talanoa Hufanga, Sean Payton and the reset of the organization aimed to solve that problem.

However, according to CBS Sports’ recent top 100 player rankings, the Broncos only had three guys make the cut, with none of them being the new additions to the roster. That is less than both the Chiefs (6) and the Chargers (4), and just one more than the lackluster Las Vegas Raiders.

9. Pat Surtain II – CB

Surtain being a top 10 player in the league is a no-brainer. The defending Defensive Player of the Year shut down his entire side of the field on defense a season ago with four interceptions (one touchdown), 11 pass deflections and 45 tackles. While those numbers don’t lead the league in anything, they show that he didn’t see a whole lot of action, as the opposing quarterbacks opted to target the rest of the Broncos’ secondary and let Surtain be. For those who did, like Gardner Minshew, they paid the price.

100-YARD PICK SIX FOR PAT SURTAIN II 💯

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/8nnNccBMBI

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024

Surtain is the top-ranked defensive back, and the second-highest defensive player, only behind Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (third overall). He’s also the second-highest ranked player in the AFC West, only behind Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (first).

The 25-year-old was ranked 25th heading into last year.

51. Quinn Meinerz – G

Meinerz, who was not mentioned in these rankings a season ago, jumped all the way up to the 51st spot after he put together a phenomenal 2024 campaign that resulted in an All-Pro nomination. He only allowed one sack in 682 pass blocking snaps, and had one of the highest grades for both run blocking and pass blocking by PFF. While he’s known for having his belly handing out of his jersey, he can still get around to the outside faster than many other lineman to make key blocks.

A+ block from Meinerz here. Rip/run, reattached, drove & tossed the defender off his feet to finish pic.twitter.com/0Yi2kaLWFW

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) April 8, 2024

74. Garett Bolles – T

Bolles took a huge leap in 2024 protecting Bo Nix’s blindside. While he still committed 16 penalties, a problem that has plagued him throughout his career and given him the nickname ‘Garett Holds’ from Broncos fans far and wide, he only allowed two sacks in 671 pass blocking snaps. He was rated as the fifth-best pass-blocking tackle by PFF, and the 33rd-best tackle, which isn’t great, but it’s solid for that facet of the game not being his specialty.

Garett Bolles pancake and a MEAN Jaleel cutback for a big gain. pic.twitter.com/AVejwgHGJn

— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) December 3, 2024

He was not ranked on this list a season ago.

While shiny rankings are cool and what not, Sean Payton knows what he has in his locker room, and is definitely the last person to care about where his players are rated first overall or 595th. He went out and got the guys he needed to build off a successful year in Nix’s rookie season, but now the Broncos have to take the next step to make a deeper playoff run.

Read full news in source page