Tag: Returner

Marvin Mims likely to return punts for Broncos as a rookie

“I’m excited to bring that to the next level if that’s my role for the team,” Marvin Mims said of possibly returning punts for the Broncos.

No rookies are handed a starting position. Marvin Mims will have to compete for the punt return job this summer, but he’s clearly the early favorite to win that role.

Before the draft, Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted that Denver was looking for a new returner at the NFL owners’ meetings. Then the Broncos traded up into the second round of the draft to select Mims, who ran a 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at the combine.

His speed stood out on film.

“The one thing that I think we found that was different was lot of these receivers you felt were in rush hour traffic — Monday through Friday,” Payton said. “This was one that looked like he was driving on Saturday and Sunday. He was open, and it was cleaner. That’s because of his speed.”

Payton replaced most of Denver’s coaching staff this offseason and brought in Ben Kotwica as the new special teams coordinator and Mike Westhoff as an assistant head coach with an emphasis on special teams. Payton believes those coaches will get the most out of Mims as a returner.

“When you have a guy like Kotwica and Mike Westhoff — we feel like he’s one of the best return coaches that’s ever coached in the NFL” Payton said. “To have a prospect come in and compete was exciting for us.”

Mims returned 33 punts for 391 yards in three years at Oklahoma, averaging 16 yards per return in 2022. He also returned three kickoffs for 108 yards.

“I’ve done punt return and kick returner,” Mims said. “Kick return — I’ve kind of been in and out as they let younger guys do it. Punt return — I’ve started ever since I was a true freshman in college with my first career game. I’m really comfortable with it. It’s something I’ve done for three years, and I’m excited to bring that to the next level if that’s my role for the team.”

This offseason, the Broncos signed cornerback Tremon Smith, who has returned 94 kickoffs for 2,323 yards in his career. Again, nobody will be handed a starting job, but Smith (kickoffs) and Mims (punts) appear to be the obvious favorites to handle return duties in Denver this fall.

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Broncos host CB/KR Isaiah Bolden on pre-draft visit

Isaiah Bolden, who led the NCAA with an average of 36.9 yards per kick return in 2021, visited the Broncos’ facility earlier this month.

The Denver Broncos recently hosted Jackson State cornerback Isaiah Bolden on a pre-draft visit, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Bolden (6-2, 205 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds at Jackson State’s pro day, according to Andscape.com’s Jean-Jacques Taylor. He was selected by the Memphis Showboats in the USFL draft in February but opted not to play in the spring league, instead focusing on preparing for the NFL draft.

Bolden started his college career at Florida State, spending two years with the Seminoles before transferring to the Tigers in 2021. He had a breakout season as a returner in his first year at Jackson State, leading the NCAA with an average of 36.9 yards per kick return. Bolden returned 16 kickoffs for 591 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.

Last fall, Bolden returned 10 kickoffs for 260 yards, an average of 26 yards per return. He also totaled 44 tackles and broke up seven passes in 2022.

Bolden told J.T. Keith of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger that he has heard he could be drafted “anywhere from the third to fifth round,” but most mocks have him going undrafted. Bolden might be a late-round prospect or undrafted free agent candidate for the Broncos later this month.

Denver likely views Bolden as a potential candidate to compete for their return job this summer. The draft will be held from April 27-29.

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Broncos’ special teams depth chart before the NFL draft

Here is our projected special teams depth chart for the Broncos before the NFL draft.

As the Denver Broncos prepare for the 2023 NFL draft, the team currently has 18 open spots on their 90-man offseason roster (view the players currently on the roster).

The Broncos are going into the draft with five picks, and they might add more picks through trades. After the trade, Denver will fill its 90-man offseason roster by signing undrafted free agents.

As the NFL draft draws closer, we will be reviewing the team’s projected depth charts on special teams, defense and offense before any rookies are added to the roster.

Today, we’re starting with a look at special teams, and there are some notable changes since the last update.

Broncos view Tremon Smith as an ‘elite special teams player’

Broncos coach Sean Payton believes cornerback Tremon Smith will be an “elite” special teams player in Denver.

The Denver Broncos added more depth at cornerback and on special teams when they signed Tremon Smith to a two-year contract last month.

Smith has only started five games on defense in his career, including four over the last two seasons with the Houston Texans. After breaking up four passes and intercepting two others last year, Smith has proven to be more than just a special teams ace, but his biggest contributions in Denver will likely come as a returner.

“With Smith, I see a player that obviously competes outside of corner,” coach Sean Payton said at the NFL owners’ meetings last week. “I see an elite special teams player. Corner, special teams — I see 24 snaps [a game]. You have to look at it that way. The vision is pretty clear.”

Smith played 361 snaps on special teams and 202 snaps on defense with the Texans in 2022. He’s been far more involved on special teams (1,163 snaps) than on defense (462 snaps) through five seasons in the NFL.

Smith returned 19 kickoffs for 417 yards and four punts for 53 yards in Houston last season. He’s now set to compete with Montrell Washington for the Broncos’ kick return duties this summer.

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos CB/KR Tremon Smith

Tremon Smith seems poised to become a key special teams player for the Broncos this year.

The Denver Broncos added depth at cornerback and competition at returner this week when they agreed to terms on a two-year deal with defensive back Tremon Smith.

Smith, 26, spent the last two seasons playing for the Houston Texans. Last year, he totaled 22 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions in 17 games (two starts) with the Texans.

In addition to getting rotational playing time on defense, Smith returned 19 kickoffs for 417 yards and returned four punts for 53 yards in Houston last year. In Denver, Smith will likely be a top candidate to return kicks for the Broncos this season.

Here are some of Smith’s highlights from his time with the Texans:

(If the video does not play here, you can watch it on YouTube).

Mic’d up for a touchdown return:

And another return touchdown from his rookie season:

Smith seems poised to become a key special teams player in Denver while also providing depth in the secondary.

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Broncos signing CB/KR Tremon Smith to 2-year contract

The Broncos are signing cornerback/returner Tremon Smith to a 2-year contract.

The Denver Broncos are adding more depth at cornerback and perhaps a new designated returner.

The Broncos have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth up to $5.5 million with cornerback Tremon Smith, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

Smith (5-11, 190 pounds) entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick out of Central Arkansas with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. He went on to spend time with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts before joining the Houston Texans in 2021.

Smith has served as a rotational cornerback and special teams ace with his five previous teams. He totaled 22 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions in 17 games (two starts) with the Texans last year.

Perhaps more notable, Smith returned 19 kickoffs for 417 yards and five punts for 53 yards last season. He has averaged 24.7 yards per kickoff return in his career.

Montrell Washington, who handled most of the Broncos’ return duties last season, averaged 18.9 yards on kickoff returns in 2022. Washington now appears to have serious competition at returner, and Denver has more depth at cornerback.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos returner Montrell Washington aims to bounce back in 2023

Broncos returner Montrell Washington will aim to bounce back from an ugly rookie season in 2023.

The Denver Broncos used a fifth-round draft pick to select Samford’s Montrell Washington last April.

Washington is a wide receiver by trade, but the Broncos picked him primarily with his return abilities in mind. The 5-10, 170-pound speedster was quickly named the team’s returner, but he did not keep the job.

After five fumbles in 15 games, Washington was benched when Jerry Rosburg took over as interim coach late in the season.

“The whole season has been a learning experience for me to be honest with you,” Washington said last week. “The good, bad and ugly. The returns were good, but the muffs — the muffed kick I had one time when I should have downed it. Just things like that — situational things. The whole season has been a learning experience.”

Rosburg benched Washington, but he didn’t suggest the Broncos should give up on the young returner. Rosburg acknowledged Washington’s talent, and he said the returner can improve.

“I believe everything Coach Jerry says,” Washington said. “I respect the man. Anything coach says I should work on and get better, that’s what I have to do and that’s what I am going to do.”

Washington returned 32 punts for 271 (8.5 yards per return) and 18 kickoffs for 340 yards (18.9 YPR). If he’s going to win back the return job this offseason, Washington will have to show a lot of improvement this summer.

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Montrell Washington accepts blame after muffed punt

“That’s on me. I have to be louder,” Broncos returner Montrell Washington said of Monday’s muffed punt.

With just under five minutes remaining in overtime of Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Denver Broncos were set to get the ball back with the game tied 16-16.

Broncos returner Montrell Washington then muffed a punt when safety P.J. Locke was blocked into Washington while the rookie was attempting to catch the ball. L.A. recovered the fumble and kicked a field goal to win the game.

After the loss, Washington put the blame on himself for the blunder.

“That’s on me. I have to be louder and communicate better for him (to clear out),” Washington said after the game, via KMGH-TV’s Troy Renck. “Everything that happens back there, it’s my job to make sure it’s done right, the right way. We will bounce back from it for sure.”

Washington reiterated multiple times that he was at fault for the fumble, but coaches also won’t be happy with Locke, who should have been more aware of where he was on the field.

“We, obviously, need to make a call to be able to let [Locke] know that he was to move. P.J. went to engage into a block, and then, unfortunately, got pushed back into Montrell.”

Washington said after the loss that he did make a call to clear out, but Locke apparently did not hear him.

Outside of the defense, seemingly everything is going wrong for Denver.

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Broncos rookie Montrell Washington making his mark as a returner

There’s hope that Montrell Washington may be the long-term solution to one of the Broncos’ biggest Achilles’ heels: special teams.

It has been a long time since the Denver Broncos had a dangerous returner running back punts and kicks; the last respectable one in recent memory was Trindon Holliday.

However, the Broncos think they may finally have the solution in rookie Montrell Washington.

“Montrell is a hard worker,” special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes said during training camp. “He’s confident in his abilities and so am I. I’ve been pleasantly pleased with how Montrell has handled [returning kicks].”

Already, Washington has a leg up on several other contenders for Denver’s starting returner role. In college, Washington became a dynamic returner of both kicks and punts, ultimately returning 95 kicks (47 punts, 48 kickoffs) for 1,846 total yards and five touchdowns at Samford.

However, Stukes knows that fielding kicks in the NFL is a completely different animal from playing in front of around 3,000 fans at training camp.

“Now playing in a stadium or playing in front of a crowd is a lot different than in training camp right here,” Stukes said. “But when [Washington] enters the stadium, he should be the first on the field to catch the punt off of a live foot when we go to preseason, when we go to the regular season.”

That proved to be the case on Saturday night, with Washington getting the first opportunity to return kickoffs and punts against the Dallas Cowboys. The fifth-round draft pick didn’t disappoint, returning  two punts for 45 yards. That’s the kind of field-flipping the team’s been looking for.

When he was drafted, Washington earned the praises of Broncos general manager George Paton and the hopes of head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Now he’ll aim to continue proving during preseason that he’s the right man for the job.

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Broncos roster series: No. 12, WR Montrell Washington

Montrell Washington will aim to make an immediate impact as a returner with the Broncos.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie receiver/returner Montrell Washington, No. 12.

Before the Broncos: Washington (5-10, 170 pounds) was a wide receiver at Samford, a small FCS university in Alabama. Washington excelled as a wide receiver and as a kick returner. Washington’s stats as a receiver totaled 148 receptions for 1,883 yards (12.7 avg.) with 17 touchdowns to go along with 101 rushes for 520 yards (5.1 avg.) with eight scores. As a kick returner, he totaled 48 kickoff returns for 1,075 yards (22.4 avg.) with one touchdown and 47 punt returns for 771 yards (16.4 avg.) with four scores.

Washington’s breakout game came against the University of Florida in 2021. Washington had 322 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in the game, including a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to go along with two receiving touchdowns.

Broncos tenure: Washington was selected by Denver in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He’ll make his Bronco debut during preseason.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Washington comes into Broncos training camp as one of the most intriguing players this year. As a receiver, Washington is a speedster, reminding Denver fans of a healthy KJ Hamler. As a returner, Washington is reminiscent of electric returner Devin Hester.

“As a punt returner, as a kick returner, [special teams] coach [Dwayne] Stukes thought he would be our guy,” Denver general manager George Paton said in the spring. “He has some dynamic traits that you can’t teach. We feel he will be an upgrade there.”

Washington is projected by Broncos Wire to be a backup receiver, as well as the likely starter at kick returner.

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