Under Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos have transformed their secondary into one of the most scary looking units since the No Fly Zone — on paper, anyway. They have a strong starting lineup, but also have filled out their depth with some good, young talent. One of those guys being Boise State alum, JL Skinner.
Player Profile
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 220 pounds | Age: 24 years old
Experience: 3 year | College: Boise State
The Broncos drafted Skinner in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and he was a guy some analysts had ranked as high as a late third, early fourth round talent. The back end of the draft is where you hope to find quality depth and special teams players. So far, that’s what Skinner has been for Denver.
How he fits with the Broncos
JL Skinner’s role for the Broncos has been very special teams heavy in his career. He will log between 70-90% of special teams snaps in every game. In 2024, he also saw the most snaps of his career on the defensive side of the ball, but he was still used quite sparingly over there. He piled up nine total tackles and a fumble recovery in just 20 defensive snaps.
The caveat with the defense the Broncos have built is that some of the guys they added have been prone to injury. That is the primary reason why Skinner being available is key. While he won’t be considered a 1-to-1 replacement for a starter, you have to have a guy who can come in and fill the role without hurting the overall defense.
Final Word
While I don’t consider Skinner in line for a starter-level role, it doesn’t mean I don’t love what he brings to the table for the Broncos. He is a guy I can trust to hold down the fort for a short while, but he is also a guy who has ample special teams experience. You need your depth to be good at special teams, because that’s where they will get on the field in games.
You need a guy who can come in cold off the bench and handle himself in games, but also be good on the special teams side of things. I think JL Skinner fills both of those needs well. I think we’ll see him on the roster again in 2025.