Who Is The Best Pure Route Runner On The Broncos Roster?

Demaryius Thomas? He's good, but he's more of a straight line runner at his age. Emmanuel Sanders? I would say prior to this year Sanders was Denver's best  route runner, but he has been dethroned. The Broncos drafted who I believe to be their best pure route runner on their roster. His name is Daesean Hamilton, and he could easily be the most used rookie on this year's team. He played for Penn State University which is just now returning to being a powerhouse program after one of the worst scandals in college football history.

A team not usually known for producing good wide receivers found a diamond in the rough in Daesean Hamilton. Penn State is coming off a terrible sports scandal, but seemed to have found their way back to being one of the top programs football programs in college football. A team not known for throwing the ball found an amazing receiver while making a comeback to being one of the stronger programs in the country. Daesean Hamilton set the Penn States all time receptions record last year, and has shown over 4 years he is a player who can get open. He is an average size receiver at 6'1 and 204lbs, so on top of being a top route runner, he can also provide yards after he catches the ball.  Setting an all time receptions record at a Big 10 school is no small feet. Even though he his best time in the 40 was 4.47 seconds he is mostly known as a 4.5 40 guy who has the ability to run routes and get open. 

Is he physically gifted? Sure, but I think that by drafting Hamilton the Denver Broncos stayed the course of valuing the players leadership ability, and personality a little bit higher than pure athletic talent in their pre draft grades.  Drafting Daesean Hamilton is an instance of this of working in Denver's favor. He had 214 catches over 4 years at Penn State. Without blazing speed, or elite size  Hamilton's route running ability is what made him an elite college receiver. His work ethic is what I believe will make him a successful receiving threat for the Denver Broncos for the next coming years. 

Denver has positioned itself in a very smart position here from the stand point of their receiving corps. Should Courtland Sutton come in, and convincingly take the other outside receiver role moving Emmanuel Sanders inside I think we will see less of Daeseaan Hamilton, but he will get on the field. If Emmanuel Sanders stays on the outside next season I think that will mean Daesean Hamilton has a very good chance of being the slot receiver next year. Hamilton exploded onto the scene as a freshman with 82 receptions, and there is no reason he couldn't make the same splash in his 1st NFL season. 

Not being overly fast, or especially big, to be able to become a record holder for receptions at a Big 10 school is a clear sign he knows how to get open. If you asked most draft scouts who the best route runner in the 2018 draft was I feel a good number would say Hamilton.  He won't run away from many people, and he isn't a big body receiver like Courtland Sutton or Demaryius Thomas, Hamilton will make his impact in his ability to get open across the middle. This is a talent Denver has missed for the last couple years. It is hoped that along with Jake Butt, Daesean Hamilton will provide another threat over the middle of the field for Case Keenum. This is why, of all the Denver Broncos draft  offensive draft picks Daesean Hamilton might be the one to make the biggest impact in 2019.