My 2009 Favorite Lesser-known Broncos

As is my annual tradition, it’s time to select my favorite lesser-known Broncos.

It’s about this time each year, that I find a few players buried deep in Denver’s roster that I begin championing to friends and family. Over the year’s only a couple have risen to the starting line up while most turn out to be duds — and are quietly sent packing. However, as a fan of the Broncos I feel like pulling for the underdog is as natural as expecting ole #7 to pull out a win in a late 4th quarter game on ESPN Classics. So I’m proud to have promoted the ‘Free Thump Belton Movement‘ and cheer for characters like Kevin Kasper and Nate Jackson. They might have been deep on the depth chart and no one might own their jerseys, but they’re also Denver Broncos. And as a die-hard fan, I want to support the ‘little guys’ as well as the marquee players!

Here’s a look at some of my choices from the last few years:

1999-2000 – 6th round pick, TE Desmond Clark

2001 – 6th round pick, WR Kevin Kasper

2002-03 – FB Reuben Droughns and Safety Sam Brandon

2003-04 – WR/TE Nate Jackson and RB/FB Cecil Sapp

2005 – QB Bradlee Van Pelt and CB Darrent Williams

2006 – WR David Kircus, RB Mike Bell and Safety Hamza Abdullah

2007 – RB Andre Hall and Safety Roderick Rogers

Last year, I picked Special Teamer Jamie Winborn which helped our team out quite a bit last year. I also was a big early supporter of Peyton Hillis (as my boss is a HUGE hogs fan and I had seen some tape on him). Lastly, and with a disclaimer that a 2nd rounder shouldn’t be considered lesser-known, I expressed my fandom for undersized Eddie Royal.

So, on to this year!

First up is Chris Baker. I’m partial to undrafted guys and good sports (anyone that’s attempted a dance-off with Miles has to be a pretty good sport). I’m pulling for Baker as a developing talent and I’m looking forward to seeing him play this preseason. I actually have three D-linemen I’m personally cheering for this preseason. Rookies Chris Baker and Rulon Davis and another D-lineman I adopted as a fav last year after seeing him play in the 2008 preseason — Nic Clemons. Nic and Rulon are almost back from their camp injuries, so I’m looking forward to seeing both of them contribute in these early games as well.

On offense, I like WR Kenny McKinley. As a fifth rounder he might not be Crabtree, but he’s shown some good things in camp so far and I can’t wait to see him in game-type situations this weekend. I also like G Seth Olsen. He just seems like a good guy and I’m a sucker for mid-western O-linemen.

These are my picks to pull for this preseason… What players on the bubble or deep on the depth chart are you watching? After the starters get pulled from these early preseason games, which 2nd, 3rd and 4th stringers are you most interested in?