Broncos roster 2016: Wide receiver Cody Latimer

It's that time of the year again. Mile High Report begins our annual 90 players in 90 days roster breakdown. Last year went fairly well, but starting today and through August 27th, we'll break down every player on the Denver Broncos roster.

Name: Cody Latimer
Position: Wide Receiver 
Height: 6'2"   Weight: 215
Age: 23   Experience: 3rd
College: Indiana

The Denver Broncos surprisingly used a second-round pick on wide receiver Cody Latimer during the 2014 NFL Draft.

Latimer joined the Broncos after the 2014 NFL Draft and high expectations were placed on the young rookie.

As we remember, the Broncos offense was coming off a record-breaking performance and were trying to find a replacement for Eric Decker who left via Free Agency and signed with the New York Jets. The Broncos did sign free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, but many felt Latimer would step into an important role on the offense.

That never happened.

It's actually been a disappointing NFL career thus far for Latimer. After two seasons, Latimer has only totaled 8 receptions for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.

That's it.

He has contributed on special teams but overall has been a disappointment thus far in his career.

(Photo via The Denver Post)

Now Latimer is entering his third NFL season with an opportunity to once again carve out a major role in the offense, and Head Coach Gary Kubiak thinks he is on his way to doing so.

"I think he’s on his way to doing that, he’s behind two great players," Kubiak said. "And my position with him has always been ‘Cody, guys at your position do one of two things, some guys sit there and say 'Heck, I’m not going to pass up those two great guys' or some guys say 'I’m going to be better',’ and he’s taken the working approach to it. Now it’s got to transfer to the field. I think Cody mentally having a better understanding of the big picture offensively of what you’re trying to do his job, it’s allowing his talents to take over more."

Latimer also thinks he is ready to make that "big step" and start being a playmaker on offense for the Denver Broncos offense.

"I’m ready for a big step, from my rookie year, to last year and now to what I think I can do this year," said Latimer "I just have a lot of confidence right now, I’m just ready to play, I feel like it’s time to make an impact."

Latimer has all the physical tools to be great and everything is starting to slow down for him on the field, so hopefully great things are on the horizon for him.

The good:

Cody Latimer has all the size and tools to be a playmaking wide receiver in the NFL. He's a big guy 6'2", 215lbs, he has good speed(reported 4.4-speed pre-draft), and he's a helluva blocker as well.

Being a great run blocking wide receiver should help him hit the field in a Gary Kubiak offense. Kubiak had Eddie Mac and Rod Smith who both were great run blockers in their glory days, so maybe that will help Latimer this year.

Honestly, if Latimer can put together the mental side of the game I still think he can be a really good wide receiver for the Broncos.

What also helps Latimer is the wide open competition for the number three wide receiver spot on the offense. After Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, it is wide open. His competition is Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor, Jordan Norwood, and other UDFA's, but looking at talent alone, Latimer should easily win this battle.

Being able to help out special teams always helps a player make a roster, and that's what Cody Latimer did last season He caused a fumble on a punt return that helped turn the entire game around against the New England Patriots during the regular season.

The bad:

Latimer never seemed to grasp the mental side of the game. He didn't play much while Peyton Manning was here because he didn't know the playbook as well, and didn't know the audibles as well.

I thought he would step up once Brock Osweiler became the starter last season for the Broncos, but that never really happened either. He did catch one touchdown against the Bears, but other than that he didn't do much else on offense.

If Latimer once again falls behind Bennie Fowler and maybe even Jordan Taylor on the depth chart, is spot on the Broncos roster could in be in danger.

It's a make or break year for Latimer.

Quotable:

Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak on the game speeding up for Cody Latimer

"But when you don’t know what you’re doing in football you get slow, when we first got here, to me, he was playing slow," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. "He wasn’t showing his God-given talent, but now he’s starting to play faster."

Roster status:

It's a make or break year for Cody Latimer. I want to think he can take that big step during Training Camp and the Preseason, but at the same time, I can see him struggling once again.

I wouldn't say Cody Latimer is on the bubble, but he's about as close as one can get to the bubble without actually being on the bubble.

Latimer needs a strong summer and I will be rooting for him. He has all the talent in the world to be a very good receiver. Hopefully, he puts it all together for the Broncos.