Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos MUST KEEP Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones Safety Duo Together

Starting point is 00:00:00 2026 could be the last year that Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufongar, the Denver Broncos safety dynamic duo. You are locked on Broncos. Your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Happy Friday, Broncos country. Cody or Sarah Beninger here for another episode with a locked on Broncos as we break down the safety position going into OTAs.

Starting point is 00:00:30 Miles Scott was taken with a seventh round selection, but he's going to push an establishment. veteran for some snaps, especially on special teams. Devin Key, J.L. Skinner, both of these guys are returning with seniority this upcoming season, and that plays into their hands as they're on a one-year deal as well. We're going to kick things off by talking about Brandon Jones, Talanoa Hufanga, the Bronco's starting safety duo. 2026 could be the last time we see this duo together. Hopefully that's not the case.

Starting point is 00:00:58 I'll tell you about that a little bit more here on today's episode, the show. Sare. OTAs is coming up quicker than most people realize we're going through and break it down. every position for those that haven't been tuning in here. Safety is where we land today. This a few years ago was always a position. I think you and I were thinking to ourselves, man, if there's just one injury to a, you know, Justin Simmons or to a Kareem Jackson, we're worried about this position. It doesn't feel like that with the amount of depth that Denver has at this position, though I say that's still some of the guys behind Jones and Hufanga. It's a little questionable, but, Sarah, 26 could be the last year that we see, Tallanoa,

Starting point is 00:01:35 and Brandon as the duo here for Denver because Brandon is on the last year of his deal. And there have been no reported talks of discussions yet. And that sounds like it's kind of a theme with all the guys who are, you know, on expiring deals or the last year of their contracts with the Denver Broncos here in 2026. Maybe a wait and see approach as the Broncos get into OTAs. And I know that a number of their 27 free agents, Cody, have dealt with some injuries over the past year or two. So that might be part of the reason why they're not necessarily just, hey, let's get to the negotiating table right away.

Starting point is 00:02:10 But for Brandon Jones, you kind of get the feeling that, okay, he's proven to be an ideal type of free agent signing, right? Because when he came over from Miami, the Broncos put a lot of faith in him to be a full-time starter where he'd only really been a spot starter and rotational player in his time with the dolphins previously to coming to Denver. And what we've seen from him is that he's just a consistent, steady presence back there when he's healthy. He's a ballhawk. He's got great ball skills, great instincts. He obviously is very physical, very tough. But yes, there are, there's a reality that this might be the last year that he has in Denver just because at some point you can't keep everybody, right? You can't keep extending everybody.

Starting point is 00:02:54 But here's what I would say. I think the safety position is one of those positions when you look at a roster and you look at the percentage of a salary cap that it's going to take up, even for some of the higher priced guys in the league, it's really not prohibitive. So to me, the Broncos re-signing Brandon Jones at some point, whether it's before the season, during the season, after the season, that just makes way too much sense to me, especially because the guys behind them, most of them at this point, they're both, they're just special teams, right? That's what they play.

Starting point is 00:03:26 They play special teams. And we haven't seen a ton of these guys, meaning Devin Key, JL. Skinner and even Tyson Anderson playing a ton of defense. So you want to keep that elite defense intact. And I think the Broncos will take that approach. Well, and I hope that they do because look, there's a saying. If it's not broke, don't fix it. The Bronco safety dynamic between Jones and Hufong, I mean, I felt like last year for

Starting point is 00:03:48 them to just, it's the first time that they've played together, right, to watch them how they play off of one another without even having to verbally communicate. Like they got to a point where I'm watching the game was a week three against the chargers where they're communicating a specific route without even saying anything. Like you could just see that Hufonga's got his eyes peeled backside. Jones is waving him off like, I got it. I got it. The way that they just seamlessly play together, I think is beneficial to this defense.

Starting point is 00:04:17 And more importantly, Brandon Jones has been an impactful player for them when healthy. Look, the pectoral injury was something unfortunately he dealt with. But aside from that, the Broncos had been able to rely on him quite a bit. Hufanga, he's an enforcer. He's the tone setter. I feel like defensively now for the Broncos that they lost. Maybe when Drey Greenlaw was there, I felt like that's why they brought Drey and Hufanga to Denver because, you know,

Starting point is 00:04:42 they had a good defense, but you want a couple of guys who could be just some tone setter, some dogs. Well, those two guys brought that. Hufonga is going to bring that back this upcoming season. But Hufonga's got two years left on his deal, Jones in the last year of his deal. And you mentioned something, too, about the Broncos and how they've negotiated a certain deal. Sarah, to me, I'm looking at is the Broncos have taken care of guys they believe are cornerstone guys. Now we have to ask ourselves this question. Do the Broncos think that a guy like

Starting point is 00:05:08 Brandon Jones, do they think he is a cornerstone guy? I feel like he can be 110%. He's also the vibes guy inside the locker room. Not a lot of people know that. He's one of the best personalities in there. But I think his impact on the field when you see it, it's, hey, it makes sense to have him in this locker room on this team, not only in 2026, but I think in the next two, two years. You can give them a two or three year extension. It's not going to break the bank. To me, that's what keeps the Broncos competitive defensively. Or they're going to take a chance on one of these young guys if they don't extend Brandon. They're going to take a chance of one of these young guys to have to carry the load, the mantle a little bit. It's possible that they can

Starting point is 00:05:46 do that. But man, like, once again, it's not broke. Don't fix it. And I think that's 100% in it, right? It's because you want to, if your identity as a team is, you know, you play elite defense. That's where you're wanting to be at the end of the season. There is a time for next man up, but then there's also a time where you have to say, hey, it doesn't make sense for us to go next man up here right now. We just don't have that player in the building.

Starting point is 00:06:13 And for Brandon Jones, I mean, he's coming off. I'm looking at his contract right now. Three years, $20 million. He has a cap hit this season of $9.243 million. And Cody, no guaranteed money left. I mean,

Starting point is 00:06:25 he has some bonuses that he can achieve this coming season. and certain snap thresholds. He can make a million this year if he plays 80% of the snap. So he's got some incentives this coming season. But the guaranteed money, it was all at the front end of this contract, right? It was his signing bonus, 2024 salary, and then a chunk of his 2025 salary. So that may give him every reason to come to the negotiating table and say, hey, we want to get some more guaranteed money on the books coming off a season in which I suffered a pectoral injury.

Starting point is 00:06:56 I don't have any guaranteed money on the books right now. And like, I want to be here long term. So that gives the Broncos leverage. I mean, it's just they do such a great job of structuring these contracts. And so Brandon has an opportunity. He's what, 28 years old this coming season. He'll be 28 this coming season. So I just think if you have a good thing going, it's more so even than just, hey, if it ain't broke,

Starting point is 00:07:21 don't fix it. I'm saying like, if you've got a good thing going, keep that train chug. along. Yeah, keep it going. So with these two players, we didn't even get to see the fullness of what they bring

Starting point is 00:07:32 to the table unlocked together. Like, we wanted to see Brandon Jones and Tala Noah Hu Fonga in the playoffs. We wanted to see those guys in a playoff run. We didn't even get to see that,

Starting point is 00:07:43 right? So I know PJ Locke came through, intercepted, you know, Josh Allen in the postseason. So it's not to say that, oh, man, we just, we totally missed out. But at the same time,

Starting point is 00:07:52 these are the two guys that you envision being in that spot. And I think, As we've talked about all offseason, the Broncos needing to find a way to create more takeaways, I think these two guys, Jones and Hufanga, are going to be the absolute catalyst for that happening. Like if the Broncos are going to be in the top 10 of the NFL and takeaways, it's going to be because of Brandon Jones and Tala Noah Hufanga.

Starting point is 00:08:18 Also, the Denver defense this year, Pastor Tann announced it through at credit union that every interception, they're going to donate $20,000. So more interceptions this upcoming season, folks. Obviously benefit children's hospital. I think that's just a fantastic thing that Denver's doing. But no, I agree. Keep these guys together. Broncos country, we want to hear your thoughts on today's episode show on Brandon Jones

Starting point is 00:08:39 and Talano Hu Fonga whether or not they'll be back in 2027, but we know one thing, 2026, it's it. And if it's the last hurrah, I imagine that Brandon Jones is going to go out there and showcase why the Broncos should absolutely pay him here. But coming up next, Broncos country, Denver's depth at safety, He certainly has been tested in the last couple of seasons. We'll tell you why guys like Devin Key, JL Skinner, returning with seniority, benefits them more so than does guys on the back end of the roster. Here on today's episode of the show.

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Starting point is 00:10:01 Fandu, play your game. But Denver Broncos quietly had an all pro at the safety position this past season. Devin Key playing special teams at an elite level, but he might be the next in line at the safety position as well. We'll see if he gets an uptick in defensive snaps this coming season. And Cody and I are going to break down the depth on the Broncos' depth chart ahead of OTAs at the safety position on today's. episode of the show in Broncos country. We appreciate every single one of you so much for being in Everydayer and making us your first listen of the day every single day.

Starting point is 00:10:35 And if you want an ad free version of Lockdown Broncos, check out the Everdair Club at lockdownbroncos.supercast.com. Cody, Devin Key was a shocking revelation this past season. I mean, I think we all knew he could play special teams, but he set a franchise record with special teams tackles. And that drew the attention of not just Sean Payton and the coaching staff, but the entire NFL world, as Devin Key was named in all pro. So obviously you get him back as what,

Starting point is 00:11:05 an exclusive rights free agent this year or restricted. I can't remember which one he was now at this point. But he was restricted. A bargain. I mean, at whatever price, right? I mean, to get him back on that type of a deal, a one-year deal, and it's not going to break the bank. You know what he brings to the table on special teams.

Starting point is 00:11:23 but we did see a slight uptick late last season in defensive snaps for Devin Key. And he showed pretty well in those snaps. Do you think the Broncos are confident that he can be their backup safety in the event that either Jones or Hufanga does miss some time? I do think that is the case. And I want to correct myself, he was an exclusive rights free agent. Going into next year, I think he will be a restricted free agent. So I had to correct myself on that one. I got that wrong, Broncos country.

Starting point is 00:11:53 But, I mean, yes, I do think that is the case here. And I'm curious to how new coaching additions of Robert Livingston and Doug Belk maybe changed things because I felt like with Devin Key and J.L., Jim Leonard loved those guys. And I imagine that they're going to love these guys as well, the new coaching staff. But part of me is wondering how that changes things. Look, I think Devin Key, because he was a first team, all pro special teams ace, I even think at times when Devin has stepped onto the field defensively when, what was a Monday night football, Jones had a groin injury that popped. up. He did a really good job coming in in that second half and doing a good job and not allowing explosive plays. He made some tackles, had some past breakups. Early on in the season, he had to fill in as well when I think Brandon wasn't necessarily where he wanted to be just yet. He has

Starting point is 00:12:37 proven, I think, in a small sample size, that he's got upside to be able to play a lot more defensively. But here's another thing too, Sarah, I don't know how many times. I mean, it wasn't very often, but there were times, do you remember, and this even happened in 2024 against the Bengals, there were certain times where a goal line package, Devon Key J.L. Skinner on the field and Brande Jones and the other safeties were not necessarily on the field. And you're sitting there wondering to yourself like, wait, I think it was PJ Locke and Brandon Jones. Like, why aren't these guys the starters on the field here in the second quarter against the Bengals in this game? That was weird.

Starting point is 00:13:11 So the Broncos have, and Bench Joseph has used these guys in packages late in that game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Remember the Broncos went pre-vent. They had J.L. Skinner and kind of playing that big. nickel linebacker just playing that middle of the field while everybody else played deep. They had him in the mix as well. He had a pass breakup in that game kind of late in the end. But that's where I think things are at right now. Both these guys in the last year of their deal, Devon's a little bit different because he's

Starting point is 00:13:35 going to be restricted this upcoming season. J.L. will be unrestricted after this season. And J.L. necessarily hasn't been on the field as much defensively. I mean, Sarah, if you look at his snaps, his rookie season, he played one snap defensively. sophomore campaign. He only played 19 defensive snaps. And then last year he played 34 total defensive snaps. Like since coming in, we thought he was going to be this guy that's just going to be downhill in the box type player. He has not been able to be used that way. But man, both of these guys have been spectacular, stellar. I'll even go to the magnitudes to say

Starting point is 00:14:10 that as special teams, ace contributors playing over 300 plus snaps. And here's the thing about JL, Sarah. He's one of those players right now that's coming off of off-season surgery. He played with a torn labor all season long last year. He suffered that early on in the Tennessee game, managed to play through the whole season. That to me was wild. Yeah, I mean, it really is.

Starting point is 00:14:30 Like when you talk about NFL players, they're always, everybody's getting hurt, right? I mean, they may not all participate on the injury report or they may not all be on the side field at practice. But, man, these guys go through a lot to get through an 18-week season. And the NFL is only going to make it even more grueling. at some point going forward in the future, Cody. But there is a lot at stake for this group of backups, right? I mean, even though Devin Key has the team control of being a restricted free agent,

Starting point is 00:14:58 I think all three of these guys between Key, Skinner, and Tyson Anderson, they're all playing for obviously like long-term stability. And I think in today's NFL, you're valuing special teams guys even more than you used to because of the kickoff format and because of how important the hidden yardage is to a coach like Sean Payton and obviously Darren Rizzy, who is one of the best special teams coaches in the entire NFL. And you look at those three guys and the way that they are able to impact games in that way, the thing that stands out the most is starting field position for the opponent. And it just plays into the Broncos hands so well when you're able on kickoff coverage

Starting point is 00:15:38 to, you know, get somebody down at the 25 consistently on a kick coverage instead of, you know, touchback at what, 35? Yeah. And the same applies to the punk coverage when Jeremy Croshaw puts one inside the 15 or inside of the 10 and the team decides to return it. You have three guys out there who can absolutely shut that down immediately. And so I think you've given yourself not just margin for error on special teams, but you've given yourself a huge advantage by having these three guys. And like you mentioned, I mean, the defensive snaps, they've been few and far between.

Starting point is 00:16:11 Actually, Devin Key has played the most defense out of any of these guys over the last three seasons. and it's not even really particularly close. He played over 250 snaps in the 2024 season, Cody, which that's kind of hard for me to even remember. I've struggling to even remember him playing that much, but it's been, you know, 60 snaps here and there, 70 snaps here and there. These guys don't play a ton of defense.

Starting point is 00:16:36 So even though these guys are like I feel it's so funny because these three guys, it seems, gives the Broncos tremendous quality depth and special teams options, but also largely unproven when it comes to if you need to step up in place of one of the starters. Yeah. So I think really for the coaching staff for Vant, it's going into things saying, hey, like, where are we at? And remember what Vance said about Devin last year when there were injuries at safety? Vance said, Devon Key could be starting on Monday.

Starting point is 00:17:04 I wouldn't lose sleep. So there's your endorsement right there. And it wasn't like he was asked about Devin or this and that. He went out of his way to say, look, if Devin, if we had to start Devin Key like, so he was asked a question about. about depth. He said if Devin Key had to start for us on Monday, I wouldn't lose an ounce of sleep. Like, Devin's a very, very smart player. He has done the work, not only just the special team stuff, but man, this guy does get some of those reps defensively. He scouts. He gets the mental reps. He goes through it during practice. After practice, he lines up. Like he does everything that

Starting point is 00:17:36 you want, I think, as a coach for a player to do. And look, it's not just saying like, you know, guys who work extra hard, get favored by the coach. But, I mean, typically guys who are doing the right thing that are winning the reps in practice that are getting those looks and aren't making mistakes, you're going to trust those guys more naturally as a coach. And he shows that. So Devin, in my opinion, out of everybody probably has the best chance to play safety. And look if it kind of ties into what you and I were talking about in segment one, about Brandon Jones at the Broncos don't look to bring Brandon Jones back.

Starting point is 00:18:06 I would automatically think they're going to go with the cost effective approach of Devin key because they've seen Devin play in that role before. They like what they have seen. And then it allows maybe some of your other guys to develop on the back in a little bit more, including a guy in Miles Scott, who I'm excited to talk about here in a minute. But I just have a hard time. And I feel for J.L. Because I feel like J.L.

Starting point is 00:18:26 The vision for at least what we were told is that, you know, this guy, his length is obviously going to be something that can be useful for us defensively, especially in the passing windows across the middle. Unfortunately, we haven't seen him on defense. And I don't think that's necessarily JL. I just think that's the Broncos have had solidarity at safety for a long. long time to the point JL just hasn't gotten those opportunities and it's tough. But I also think that there's a belief that JL knows, hey, I'm one of the best special teams players in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:18:56 I can go out and I can have a long, I can have a 10 plus year career by just being one of the best special teams guys. Same thing with Devin Kee. Like that's the thing in today's game that I think is more valuable than anything is can you impact a core four? These guys are a core four special. So I'm curious to see how everything pans out here. But covering up next Broncos Country, Denver decided to take a safety in the seventh round of the

Starting point is 00:19:17 2026 NFL draft. And this is a player who's got high upside. But he also has a chance to challenge for a roster spot. Whose spots in question, though? We'll discuss that here on today's episode of the show. Brockos Country, today's episode of the show was brought to you by our friends over there at Square. Support for today's show comes from Square. It's the system that helps fix one of the biggest headaches in running a business.

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Starting point is 00:20:50 making us your first listening here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network in the country. Also, where, you know, it's your team every day. We appreciate you so much here. Sarah, the Broncos, I know a lot of people we're talking about in the pre-draft process, never might have to go with safety early on. And I think there were some valid arguments. Okay, well, Brandon Jones entering the last year of his deal.

Starting point is 00:21:08 If the Broncos don't believe in any of the depth that they have, well then maybe they go out there and they add a safety well they did they didn't add them in the premium rounds but they added a guy who's got high upside in miles scott a illinois former wide receiver converted to safety and my goodness did he make that position switch look fruitful and now he's here in the mile high city and he's got an opportunity to challenge for a roster spot sarah i'm going to come out and just say it right here i think even though the day signed tyson anderson from the cincinnati bengals this past season special teams aes i think miles scott is going to challenge Tyson for that roster spot. I think because we go through and I'm curious for

Starting point is 00:21:45 your thoughts, I've got Denver keeping five safeties. I don't have them keeping six, though they could. I could see it happening. I've got them keeping five and I've got Miles Scott actually upending Tyson Anderson for that fifth and final spot at the safety depth. Now, where are you out with this? Because I always feel like between safety and corner, you can always alternate one year six at safety, one year five at corner and vice versa. You can switch it around. Where are you at here when it comes to the safety position. Yeah, that's a, I mean, you put out kind of the exact scenario that I'm seeing play out in my head as well.

Starting point is 00:22:17 That's Tyson Anderson, maybe versus Miles Scott for one spot. Maybe J.L. Skinner is in that mix, but I think he's too good at special teams, honestly. So it just, yeah, the Broncos are in a great position because they have so much depth in the defensive backfield, so many guys who can do a lot of different things, right? And they have corners that I think, you know, five of them who could start on NFL teams. and then they have guys like Reese Taylor, who was on the team late last year, who is somebody they also really believe in

Starting point is 00:22:45 in his development behind the scene. So there's a number of players who could kind of maybe surprise folks when it comes to roster projections, but I do see Miles Scott as somebody this team is going to want to have a round. And we've talked about the idea that the Broncos could potentially,

Starting point is 00:23:00 you know, save a couple of roster spots for guys who may not really play a ton as rookies or this season. Like they have the luxury. to be able to do that. They have depth. They have veterans that they could stash on the practice squad. There's just there's plenty of flexibility.

Starting point is 00:23:16 Yes, this is a loaded roster. Yes, roster spots are hard to come by. But at the same time, the Broncos are not in a position where every single spot has to be filled by only guys who can help them presently. They need to make sure they're doing some forward thinking. And Miles Scott is doing some forward thinking. This guy was the green dot guy at Illinois. Like he was a wide receiver who became their,

Starting point is 00:23:38 communicator of the entire defense. And that speaks volumes. And there's just so much with this player that when you peel back the layers, it feels like the Broncos got a steal. I know that you and I have talked a lot about that this offseason with pretty much every draft pick, but it really does feel like the Broncos got guys around or two later, even all the way through their undrafted class where they got Tori and York. And, you know, the Tyler Miller or whatever, his name is from Iowa State,

Starting point is 00:24:07 we haven't done a ton of digging on yet, but just value, value, value. And Miles Scott, ball, ball skills, physicality, great head on his shoulders, quick learner, clearly an instinctive player. This is the type of guy that you want to invest in. You want to invest in his long-term development. You don't just take a player like this in the seventh round and say, well, he's a seventh-round pick. So he's kind of just an expendable asset to us.

Starting point is 00:24:33 We don't necessarily really care. We'll see what happens in training camp. if he can help us right now. No, the perception from my seat and what I see with this guy is that the Broncos are saying, we got him in the seventh round this year, but we feel like he's on a trajectory to well significantly outplay that draft status by year two or year three. And so when you have a guy on that kind of a plan,

Starting point is 00:24:57 you have to invest in that. And that means a roster spot. Yeah. And here's the thing, too, just early glimpses from the one practice that I've got to see. And obviously OTAs begins here on June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Broncos will allow media to be out there at least one of those days. And so I'll be there.

Starting point is 00:25:13 But here's what I liked about what I saw at Broncos rookie minicamp. You can tell that he used to play wide receiver just because at safety, he uses that knowledge, I think, to his benefit. Because when he's looking at a formation that the offense comes out in, and let's say it's trips to one side, he's measuring, he's calling. I hear him talking to the cornerback about the splits that the wide receiver. have, right? Like sometimes if you have, let's say two wide receivers that are within five yards or less of within each other, then you communicate and you have an understanding of the different route

Starting point is 00:25:45 concepts that can come out of it. Now, if you're condensed closer to the offensive line and you're stacked where you have one guy on the line, one guy behind him, well, now there's just a communication of, hey, something's going to come vertical, something's going to come across or it's going to come outside, but we know there's going to be a vertical threat. I've got the vertical threat. So he does that. He knows that. And I also think that plays into his hand knowing that, hey, I've played wide receiver. I know based on what number one is running. If he runs, let's say, a slant, is number two going out? Is he going vertical? He knows how to counteract that. So he knows the different route concepts that could be thrown his way. Plus, he's a super smart player. So I imagine when you get into

Starting point is 00:26:23 scouting and you start looking at opponents, this is what I'm excited to see here in the preseason. And maybe if he makes the roster in the regular season at some point is how he can use his scouting background in terms of just being able to because he's a film guy like that's one thing that comes out of you know the scouting reports of mild scott is this guy lives and breeze the film room the exes and o's he is truly a technician at the position and cerebrally he prepares the same exact way as well that's what excites me about him is that he's got a little bit of a you know knowledge he's got like the answers to the uh the scantron that we used to do back and he's got the little key sheet right there so i'm excited to see what he can do ultimately i think this is it

Starting point is 00:27:03 Like I think special teams, because he's not a starter, special teams are going to be where he has to get in alongside Devin Key. Because we saw it last year. It was Key, Skinner, PJ Lock. Three safeties as core four specialists. That's worth challenging Tyson Anderson is going to come into the mix here for him. And I'm curious. I just have a feeling, Sarah.

Starting point is 00:27:23 I have a feeling. That's when he'll win. And there's a chance maybe that Tyson Anderson isn't on the 53 going into next season. But I don't want to ride a guy off too early. I'm saying that's just the hunch that I feel inside. personally from my vantage point. Yeah, and we know Tyson has a huge advocate on the coaching staff and Robert Livingston, right? So, I mean, they work together in Cincinnati and he's proven what he can do.

Starting point is 00:27:45 Like he's in the league still because of what he can do on special teams. And so I'm interested to see, I think to circle it back really quickly to the Miles Scott discussion too, Cody. I know this might be maybe a bit of a reach here with this kind of a point, but stick with me if you're listening. I think the expansion of the Big Ten in recent years to add teams and include teams like Oregon, USC, you know, others who were previously part of the Pac-12, right? I think that transition has really helped the pro projection of somebody like a Miles Scott, because what was the Big Ten previously? The Big Ten previously was smash-mouth football.

Starting point is 00:28:27 You know, it's going to be a six to nine score in the middle of November. the cold and it's going to be all about kickers and all about stopping the run. And, you know, there was a time for that. But as the, as that conference has expanded, you have to do a lot more. And you have to not only be able to play those smash mouth teams like Iowa's and Wisconsin's and those type of things, but you have to be able to play teams that run pro style offenses like USC, Oregon and things like that. And that's where I feel like having all that experience three seasons in the big tent,

Starting point is 00:29:00 starting for Miles Scott making that transition from receiver playing that level of competition. I mean, how many how many top picks have come out of the Big Ten in terms of offensive skill players in just recent years. I mean, the Broncos have one at quarterback and we just saw the USC kid go first round to the Eagles. So what I'm saying with that and the reason I bring that up is because I feel like he's going to be much more tested coming up to the NFL as opposed to where you might have been four or years ago playing in the Big Ten. Yeah, and if you play some of the smaller schools or in the smaller conferences,

Starting point is 00:29:35 you're not necessarily going to always face the best competition. But the Big Ten has kind of transformed as of late into the premier crop where NFL talent is. And obviously the SEC is always going to have NFL caliber players there. But it's always been so SEC laden in terms of how people view it. But it's like, hey, put some respect on the Big Ten. They're producing tons of NFL talent. A lot of these guys are going in the first round. You see it at the schools with how things are set up now.

Starting point is 00:30:02 Those teams seemingly are dominating the NIL game as well. So for me, I think that experience there, as you mentioned, what Miles is going to benefit him. He's got the traits, man. And that's what you like about him is because he's a ball hawk. He knows how to recognize tendencies, route concepts, because he used to play the receiver position. And so that puts him in a position where he might be able to think a step quicker

Starting point is 00:30:24 than some other guys. So I'm curious to see. Ultimately, it has to translate on the field. the Broncos take OTAs when they go to minicamp, when I go to training camp, and obviously in the preseason where right now I don't think the Broncos are scheduling any joint practices with any teams, which is nice. But unfortunately, three Friday preseason games, that's a subject for our lockdown Broncos squad show that we'll obviously be discussing here at some point here. But with that said, Broncos, cont you to wrap up today's episode of the show here as we focused

Starting point is 00:30:52 on the safety position for all you every dayers. Next week, we're going to be taking a look at the wide receiver position, including the competitions we can see playing out here. This arguably might be one of the new strengths of the Broncos will tell you why. On Monday's episode, Lockdown Broncos, enjoy your weekend.

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