5 players who Broncos need to be great in 2019

The Denver Broncos will have a brand new look to them in 2019, as they welcome in a new head coach, and quarterback, with hope to change their fortunes.

Fresh off a six-win season from a year ago, the Denver Broncos head into the 2019 campaign with hopes of creeping out of the bottom of the AFC West. From 2011 to 2015, the Broncos were the kings of the AFC West, winning five straight division titles, and capping that run off with a win in Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.

Since then, it has been all downhill, as they went 9-7 in 2016, and have won only 11 games since. They have made some moves this offseason, including bringing in a new quarterback in Joe Flacco, and a new head coach in Vic Fangio, but they will have their work cut out for them if they hope to right this ship.

Here are the five Broncos that need to be great in 2019.

During the 2019 offseason, the Broncos signed free agent offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James away from the Miami  Dolphins, and will fit him in as their starting right tackle. Adding James gives the Broncos two very good, and very young tackles, as he will team with former first rounder Garett Bolles as the bookends for new quarterback Joe Flacco.

The deal James signed with Denver was for four years, and $51 million, and will reunite him with Chris Kuper with the Broncos. In addition, James will now get to learn from offensive line coach Mike Munchak as well, who just happens to be one of the more elite offensive linemen from the 1980s and early 1990s.

James is a part of a Broncos offensive line that has been revamped a bit this offseason, as they also drafted Kansas State’s Dalton Risner in the second round. In order for this offense to work, the Broncos need to be better up front, and if James and Bolles can gel on the outside, that should give Flacco the kind of time he needs to utilize those solid weapons he has on the outside in Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick.