Broncos roster review: wide receiver Jalen Virgil

Jalen Virgil had a decent career at App. State (now a BCS school, but formerly an FCS powerhouse and national champion). He finished his college career with 98 catches for 1436 yards and 11 TDs over five seasons and 61 college games. He never had more than 24 catches, 383 yards or four TDs during a season.

He was supposed to be very fast, but he didn’t show that as his pro-day ONLY running a 4.40s 40 with a 1.59 10-yd split. The 1.59 split is poor, meaning that he does not accelerate quickly off the line (in shorts). Virgil plays faster than he tested, but his terrible 3-cone made sure that he was not drafted. He spent the 2021 out of the NFL, but he was invited to training camp for the Broncos in 2022 and made the 53-man roster based upon a great training camp and pre-season.

Jalen was active for 9 games in 2022 and played 74 offensive snaps for the Denver Broncos catching 2 passes for 75 yards and one long touchdown.

Player Profile

Jalen Virgil | Wide Receiver | #15

Age: 26 | Experience: 3rd year | College: App. State

Height: 6-1| Weight: 210 pounds

2023 stats: on IR all season

What Role might Jalen Virgil have for the 2024 Broncos?

The 2022 Broncos had plenty of turmoil and the WR room did not escape that.

Relative to the 2022 WR room, few players remain, but Jalen is one of them. With 12 WRs currently on the 90-man roster, many of whom have much more experience than Jalen, he might have a difficult time even making the practice squad. Jalen has a game similar to Courtland Sutton in that he is good on contested catches, but he lacks the short area quickness that Courtland has. He will also have to contend with Tim Patrick who also is quite good on contested balls.

Maybe his niche can be the speedy guy, but just like in 2022, he doesn’t have the acceleration or the top of end speed of the “true” speed merchants. While Jalen plays faster than his 40 time, so does Troy Franklin and Jalen doesn’t have the familiarity with the presumptive starting QB that Troy has. Marvin Mims is also in the mix and the deep threat with blazing speed.

There is also a possibility that Phillip Dorsett finally turns his 4.33 speed into an asset that makes him a viable NFL WR instead of just another speedy highly drafted WR who is a bust because he can’t catch or run routes.

I’m routing for Jalen, but I love it when UDFAs turn themselves into viable NFL contributors, but Jalen has long odds to make the team with our crowded WR room. Jalen has something that Mims doesn’t which is strength. At 210 lbs, but only 6’1” he is the most solidly muscled of our WR group. That also makes him the only “heavy” WR with deep speed. However, he lacks the height of Devaughn Vele (6-5) or Tim Patrick, Courtland Sutton and LJ Humphrey who are all 6-4.