Broncos at the Bye: Player Grades | Offense
Let’s examine how the Denver Broncos’ offensive players have graded out over the first eight games.
While the Denver Broncos began the season poorly, starting 0-3, then 1-5, the team has corrected the ship by winning back-to-back games. Now sitting at 3-5, those back-to-back wins have, technically, put the Broncos right back into the playoff hunt with nine games left.
Denver’s offense has been hit or miss, even over its two consecutive wins. The Broncos have had issues in every aspect of their offense and can’t quite put together a consistent showing. If the offense can figure out how to play a complete game, it can be a high-powered unit, but it has yet to do that this season.
For the grades over the first eight games, the snap count minimum was 150 snaps, which is why Marvin Mims Jr. (143 snaps) and Jaleel McLaughlin (97 snaps) won’t be included. Don’t worry; there will be an article breaking down the grades of all the rookies on the roster this year.
The grading process isn’t an average of the games but a running tally. Whatever grade a player exits one game is what he opens with in the next, instead of resetting back to 50 each time.
There are also changes to grades as the All-22 angle is available and was used for this analysis, whereas the weekly grades are done with the broadcast angle as All-22 isn’t available right away.
Also, while players who don’t play 20 snaps in a game don’t qualify for the weekly grades, those snaps do get included in their overall grades. So, with that all said, let’s dive in.
Quarterback
Russell Wilson | Grade: 48.7
Wilson, unfortunately, had two of his worst games this season in the past four games. His grade for the first four weeks was 65.3, and he now finds himself below the average mark of 50. His performances in Week 5 and Week 7 were two of his five lowest grades since becoming a Bronco.
Wilson’s issues of holding the ball too long, missing receivers, panicking before pressure is there, and lowering his eyes, have hurt the Broncos’ passing game. There are still plenty of bright moments, but if the Broncos want to be serious about a playoff push, they need consistency from their $250 million quarterback.
Running Back
Javonte Williams | Grade: 62.3
The running back started the season well as he returned from a severe injury, but he still got banged up and missed some time. Over the first four games, while he was good, he had a few issues, which saw him earn a 51.2 grade.
Williams missed Week 5 with an injury. Over the last three games, he has looked more comfortable carrying the ball, and more like he did in his rookie season.
Samaje Perine | Grade: 47.2
It has been rough for Perine as he has found himself more limited in the offense. He did not qualify for a weekly grade for the last three games, failing to meet the 20-snap minimum for an individual game.
There have been ball security issues and drops in Perine’s limited time, which caused his overall grade to drop from 48.6 over the first four weeks.
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Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton | Grade: 68.4
Sutton has been doing a good job for the Broncos this season, except for Week 3. Over the past couple of weeks, the Broncos’ offense has remembered how good Sutton is in contested catch situations, with his proficiency at either coming down with the ball or drawing a penalty.
Sutton’s grade for the first four weeks was 57.3, brought down by Week 3, but he had his highest and third-highest-graded game this season over the past two weeks.
Jerry Jeudy | Grade: 42.5
While Jeudy has made some plays, his inconsistent effort has hurt the offense. Not to mention his inability to contribute as a blocker, leading to some predictability.
Jeudy started the season well, ending with a 55.4 grade over the first four weeks. His issues have become a bigger problem over the past four games.
Brandon Johnson | Grade: 48.9
Johnson has found himself on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but his play wasn’t so hot. He was limited in Week 6, which didn’t qualify him for a grade, and he was on IR for the last game, so he only received a grade for two of the past four games. His overall grade dropped from 53.9 over the first four weeks.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey | Grade: 49.7
Humphrey has been a hit-or-miss player for the Broncos in his limited role. He has only qualified for a grade in four of the eight games despite seeing the field on offense each game.
Humphrey has improved some over the past four weeks, causing his grade to increase from the 47.7 it was over the first four games.
Tight End
Adam Trautman | Grade: 44.4
There have been improvements from Trautman, but he’s still inconsistent as a blocker and has offered nothing as a receiver. His grade has improved from 42.8, but Denver needs so much more from him going forward.
The Broncos need Trautman to figure out a way to get involved as a receiver to bring more balance to their run/pass success rates in certain formations.
Chris Manhertz | Grade: 59.7
It was a rough start for Manhertz, but he has balanced out as a blocker. There isn’t anything there as a receiver to work with, though the Broncos could do with getting more out of him there. His balance and consistency as a blocker are why his grade improved from 48.5 over the first four.
Offensive Line
Garett Bolles | LT | Grade: 64.6
Bolles has been mostly consistent this season, but he has struggled a bit more over the last four than he did in the first four. Still, his grade is good, but not quite as good as his 71.9 over the first four games.
Over the past four games, Bolles has allowed eight of his 14 total pressures, one of his two sacks, and been called for two of his three penalties, which is why his grade has dropped.
Ben Powers | LG | Grade: 67.5
There has been a significant improvement from Powers over the past four games. He has become less of a liability in pass protection and is finding his grove as a run blocker. He has averaged one pressure allowed over the past four games, which is part of why his grade has improved from 62.5 over the first four games.
Lloyd Cushenberry III | C | Grade: 63.4
Cushenberry is coming off his best game as a Broncos. While the Broncos still give him help in pass protection, they are lessening the time before his help peels off.
There are also consistency issues as a run blocker, but those have started to fade over the past four games as well. Cushenberry’s grade improved from 55.6 over the first four games.
Quinn Meinerz | RG | Grade: 52.8
Meinerz had an extremely rough start to the season, struggling for multiple games. He started to right the ship in Week 5 and has improved each week, but he took a massive jump in his play in Denver’s latest win.
While 52.8 is low, Meinerz’s grade is hampered by his 42.7 overall grade from the first four games, and he had a 75.3 grade in Week 8. Hopefully, he can stay on this path.
Mike McGlinchey | RT | Grade: 46.2
It’s been hard watching McGlinchey struggle in pass protection. He seemed to be correcting course, as he went from 12 total pressures in the first two games to one pressure to close out the first quarter of the season, leading to a grade of 48.1 over those four games.
However, McGlinchey has allowed 23 of his 31 pressures since then but has cut back on the penalties. His grade has dropped because of his issues in pass protection, even though he has minimized his penalties and is doing well as a run blocker.
