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Name: Hunter Sharp
Position: WR
Height: 5’11" Weight: 198 lbs
Age: 23 Experience: 2nd
College: Utah State
The Denver Broncos have loaded up on the wide receiver position to start their 2017 offseason and one guy you may not have heard of is a second-year player out of Utah State, Hunter Sharp.
After signing with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent last season, he was injured and cut before the start of the season. In early January, the Broncos signed him to the roster to compete.
The Good
Despite his small frame, he finds ways to make plays in the deep passing game. During Broncos minicamp, he turned coaches heads with some big touchdown catches from Kyle Sloter. He has a solid first step off the line and get down the field in a hurry. He also has potential as a kick or punt returner.
His path to the 53-man roster or the practice squad will rest squarely on his ability to make some big plays down the field. Especially if he can show he can do it against the real No Fly Zone.
The Bad
Currently, just about every other wide receiver would be considered ahead of Sharp on the roster. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Carlos Henderson, Isaiah McKenzie, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor and Cody Latimer are seemingly in real play to make the final 53-man roster. Then you have Anthony Nash, Kalif Raymond, Marlon Brown, and Sharp also in the mix at wide receiver.
That’s a tough draw considering the Broncos will likely keep just six wide receivers on their active roster. Sharp better bring the juice in training camp.
Status
I think Sharp’s best path to making the team is another year on the practice squad. If the Broncos are keeping six wide receivers and I see seven guys ahead of him that I think are better 53-man roster additions, then the odds can’t be all that good.
His versatility on special teams and penchant for big plays, however, could be the kind of juice the Broncos would want to stow away on the practice squad. He will need to put up some head turning plays in training camp to do so.