Justin Edmonds - Getty Images
Eddie Royal of the Denver Broncos celebrates with his teammate Russ Hochstein after catching a touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 8, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Wide Receiver Eddie Royal arrived in Denver as the Broncos second round (42nd overall) selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. He started out like a rocket, earning the Pepsi rookie of the week in Weeks 1 and 10. That first week, Royal drew the coverage of Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall because Brandon Marshall was serving a one-game suspension. Royal had a field day and ended up with 9 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown, while adding two carries for 9 yards and 18 yards on punts returns. Broncos Quarterback Jay Cutler only completed 16 passes and Denver stomped the Raiders 41-14 in Oakland. Eddie finished the year with 91 receptions, 2nd most in NFL history for a rookie, behind only Anquan Boldin who had 101. His 980 yards and five touchdowns are both Broncos rookie records. He was seventh in the league among wide receivers in receptions, and sixth in the NFL in total yards.
5-10
185
May 21, 1986 (Age: 25)
Virginia Tech
Agent: Todd France (FAAM)
In 2009, Eddie became just the second Bronco and 11th player in NFL history to return a punt (71 yds.) and a kickoff (93 yds.) for touchdowns in the same game at San Diego (Week 6). He was also the first player since the 1970 NFL merger to record his team’s longest run (71 yds.), reception (93 yds.), kickoff return (95 yds.) and punt return (36 yds.) in the same year. Early in the 09-10 season, Royal became the 3rd fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 career receptions (20 games). He is also one of two players in the NFL (New Orleans RB Darren Sproles) to post at least 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 2,000 return yards since 2008. He registered 1,093 combined yards in 2010 en route to becoming the fifth Bronco in team history to post at least 1,000 combined yards in each of his first three NFL seasons.
Royal was targeted 49 times, had 8 catches that resulted in 1st Downs, one catch over 20 yards and 69 Yards After the Catch.
2011 Season Highlights:
1 recs | 67 comments
I say no because I think he can be easily replaced. I think Matt Willis can do just as well as Eddie has done for us the last couple years
and I think he’ll come cheaper too. I think he can also be replaced (possibly) with Mark Dell or DeAndre Goodwin as deep threats and possibly returners.
BroncoMath101 - February 20, 2012
Considering th trouble we've had with everyone below Royal
Unless we plan on drafting a WR, we need to bring him back. With only guys who struggled WORSE than Royal behind him, we need to either draft a replacement or bring him back, because currently guys like Hill, Willis, or Goodwin have all shown they aren’t really built as starters. Add in he won’t require a big contract, where is the downside?
Topher Doll - February 20, 2012
I say grab a guy in FA and draft a guy. It isn't like we will be missing much without Royal out there. Let him go reunite with Cutler or Shanny.
Willies actually had a better season last year than Royal did. Goodwin was an undrafted rookie last year so it is premature to say they have shown they aren’t built as starters. How are they built any different from Eddie? I think we’ve seen Eddie’s ceiling and in this offense he’ll never get there again IMO.
BroncoMath101 - February 20, 2012
Even if our FO wanted him back
I doubt he’d resign with us. He’ll either be a Patriot or a Redskin
DBroncs1414 - February 20, 2012
or a Bear.
Bron#1 Fan - February 20, 2012
He'll go to Chicago. Bates and Cutler are there.
Zac Man - February 20, 2012
Chicago Really?
I doubt it w/ Hester there as returner. Royal as a receiver isn’t much better than Cutler’s chum Bennet.
littletinybroncos - February 20, 2012
I'll reply to myself
Maybe w/ Knox out for 6 mos. with back surgery.
littletinybroncos - February 20, 2012
Chicago is the perfect place for him to rebirth. Familiar faces and such.
Zac Man - February 20, 2012
Sure Eddie
go to the Bears, put up big stats but miss the playoffs. Cutler will put up big numbers but that defense is getting old
the new Bradfather - February 20, 2012
I dunno
Royal says he wants to return, he’s said it multiple times. But I also wonder if he might be one of those addition-by-subtraction guys. I think even an unknown receiver could come in and be more reliable as a WR than he has been, at least when you look at things like catch rate. What sucks is that we’d be losing the 2-3 explosive plays a year where Royal manages to catch the ball in open space, and the return skills (during the times when they actually let him be the returner).
tunesmith - February 20, 2012
Id say sign him.
we’ve looked for a long time for a return guy and Eddie sure is a return guy. we’ve put Willis in the roll and he fumbled 2 of em, was then sub-planted by Royal. Royal on his twitter account has said numerous times he wants to stay. id personally rather have him that Willis, Goodwin or Mark Dell. We know Eddie can be a threat, maybe not with Tebow as the Qb and a run first offense but he can be a threat.
broncs27 - February 20, 2012
If its for the 1.3-1.5mil/year range mentioned
… that is fine for his good return skills… any receiving skills above that are gravy.
Wouldn’t pay him more than 1.5per year however… but also don’t think anyone else will want to pay him that much either, so he well could return (which would make me happy, because I’m a big Eddie fan)
Agree with Broncs27… for all his inconsistency and flaws, Eddie is heads and shoulders above Willis and the PS riffraff.
cjfarls - February 20, 2012
You hit the nail on the head.
1.5 mil is the max we should bring him back at. I would say more in the 1.2 – 1.3 mil range. If we do implement more of the Urban Meyer offense, as has been alluded to here on MHR, Eddie could become a real stud for us. That being said, he would need to beef up some to become a better run blocker. It seems we all agree about his returns aility, so we just need to see what kind of chemistry he develops with TT. GO BRONCOS!
mtnbikinbronc - February 20, 2012 via Android app
Agree cj...
bfree2bronc - February 20, 2012
Exactly
Add in with the rise of DT and Decker as our outside WR’s Royal can get back to slot and try to make the most of his great speed to get some yards after the catch.
Topher Doll - February 20, 2012
You guys changed my mind.
I voted no, but if we can get him at the right price, we should.
I found this article that outlined drop rates. Decker and DT were both among the worst, something that many of us suspected last season. I was particularly disappointed that Decker, our so-called “possession” receiver, dropped more (frequency-wise) than Brandon Marshall.
Eddie Royal has historically been reliable in the hands department. Just not last season. Odd.
Agent Jerry Fletcher - February 20, 2012
Those don't tell the complete story.
Now go here and we see the rest of the story and how that percentage is skewed.
Decker was targeted 95 times and caught 44. 9 drops aren’t squat compared to the 42 missed passes.
Demaryius Thomas was targeted 70 times, catching 32. 5 drops? No one says anything about the other 33 bad passes.
Royal was targeted 49 times with 19 catches. He didn’t make their list. But…
In 2010 he dropped a whopping 2 passes.
Same article, a bit further down.
From 2008-2010, Eddie had 9 total drops out of 196 catchable passes.
KaptainKirk - February 20, 2012
Both catches per target and drops per catchable passes
Are key stats, but DT and Decker did struggle a bit this season, but when we look at Decker, it was more of a blip rather than trend since he actually spent most of the season having a top tier catch rate, but as the season wore on, he faced tough CB’s as he became viewed as the #1 WR that meant DT saw better chances to make big plays.
Either way, Royal has the best hands of our WR’s since Lloyd left.
Topher Doll - February 20, 2012
That's a good point about Decker's competition improving.
Regardless, as much I like Matt Willis, I think we need to add a wideout this offseason. Fortunately, I think this draft’s class of receivers is really deep and great receivers can be had after the third round.
Agent Jerry Fletcher - February 20, 2012
That may be true
And you can find talent in the mid rounds, but if we don’t add a vet to the WR group, we could be really young there, and in an offense where being able to read what the QB is doing, lacking experience may hurt.
Topher Doll - February 20, 2012
Interesting stuff.
What do you think we should conclude from those figures?
As an aside, am I the only one who felt like Eddie Royal gave up on some passes/plays last season? It seemed out of character to me. But that was my read.
Agent Jerry Fletcher - February 20, 2012
"But that was my read." Me too and discussted when Tebow couldn't get the ball to him when he was open.
BroncoCUbuffs - February 20, 2012
Nothing we all know
Tebow needs to improve and people need to stop acting like he can do no wrong, i.e., playcalling, receivers don’t do anything but drop all his passes, etc. The current offense is limited and will only improve as much as he does. Yes the receivers dropped some passes, but that percentage stat from PFF is charted like it’s a big deal. I think it’s very reasonable for anyone to drop 10% of passes thrown their way. 1 out of 10 is human, IMO. Now to be fair, that number doesn’t take into consideration if the receiver was open or how open, nor does it account for something like getting far enough downfield to gain a first down in his pass route. That was something that really bugged me with Royal—not running far enough in his pass route to get 1st down yardage. I can’t imagine he was coming back to the ball that often, but I cannot say with complete confidence. It just peeved me that he was catching passes 2-3 yards short of the marker.
KaptainKirk - February 21, 2012
Yeah, Tebow needs to improve.
I think for a while, many of us (myself included) were intoxicated by the magic. But as last season shrinks in the rearview mirror – and as I sober up – it’s easier to assess Tebow’s performance objectively. And he needs to improve dramatically. That’s why I wish I’d stop seeing him on Jimmy Fallon and accepting awards on Cartoon Network.
Regarding Royal, I feel your pain. Aside from Orton, I think I cursed Eddie Royal more than any Bronco offensive player last season.
Agent Jerry Fletcher - February 21, 2012
Just a little confusion on my part Kaptain, were you saying my view is that Tebow can do no wrong?
The main point I was referencing was Royal’s body language and thinly disguised facial expressions of disgust when Tebow would throw the ball in the ground or miss him by 10 yards when he was open. If I were Royal I would have been frustrated too but it appeared to me that Royal’s attitude affected his play, including physical effort and mental, which could at least in part explain the “2-3” short of the marker.
I’m on board with A.J. Fletcher in the following post in that Tebow needs to improve but I think part of Tebow’s lack of production lies at the feet of McCoy’s not designing plays to match Tebow’s current skill set. Coaching and work can improve that. It’s attitude like I felt was witnessed with Royal that I find hard to stomach, however subtle it might have been.
BroncoCUbuffs - February 21, 2012
No I wasn't speaking to anyone in particular
and my statements weren’t made in reaction to yours.
I agree with your body language reference. It’s hard for him to help the team when the QB can’t get him the ball with some room. Tim ought to know how to use his receivers too.
KaptainKirk - February 21, 2012
I cannot be objective about Eddie
I like him and would love to keep him around, hopefully EFX is wise in regarding Royal. We’ve never been able to use him properly
the new Bradfather - February 20, 2012
Royal must stay... if only so that I don't have to change my name
In all serious though, we need to give him some more time. He’s still young and hasn’t had time to get used to a quarterback for us. Let him and Tebow have a full offseason and hope he learns to catch passes from a lefty while also starting to bring in ones that aren’t dead-on. If we put him in a position to succeed and enough opportunities to do so and he still fails at it… we still have one helluva kick returner.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - February 20, 2012
I keep fantasizing a speedy poor mans Welker
He can be dangerous in the slot where his routes would leave him with some open space to make a man miss.
I think he can do it, plus I don’t think we get the same value for the 1.5 mil on the open market. Don’t forget that he also has spent time as a pitch man in our offense, and has the speed to get outside.
The Patsies are out. They have Welker and Edleman. How many undersized receivers do they need.
Trapped in O.C. - February 20, 2012 via Android app
That's what I've been dreaming of as well
His inability to hold on to any ball that wasn’t spot on has me a bit worried though. If we can get him to catch like Welker, it’ll be money. I really do enjoy the fact that he seems to do whatever the team asks of him though. He blocks, he does end-arounds, he doesn’t complain when the ball doesn’t come his way… Model receiver traits that are extremely hard to come by these days. I’m sure there are plenty of teams willing to take a chance on him if we don’t though, and I’d hate for his potential to be realized under another uniform. I really hope he’s back with us next year and shows what he can do with a little bit of consistency.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - February 20, 2012
Why I am an Eddie Royal fan:
the kid tries hard on the football field, is an asset in the community and always has a positive, upbeat attitude, in fact he inspires me with his positiveness, which is why I am the way I am. Eddie Royal is my lifeblood, gosh dang it GO BRONCOS
the new Bradfather - February 21, 2012
I feel the same way Bradfather
With all the egos in the NFL, it’s hard to find a guy like Royal.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - February 21, 2012
that is why
we both have Eddie Royal-related avatars, or dopplegangers if you will :)
the new Bradfather - February 21, 2012
I agree
Eddie is a professional and holds himself that way. He also is serious about taking care of his body.
KaptainKirk - February 21, 2012
I think the Broncos will offer him a new contract, but if he opts to the free agency market, I wouldn't go chasing after him...
bfree2bronc - February 20, 2012
Royal's body language and affect says he's not coming back and can't wait to get out of here.
He might be “saying” the politically correct things but other indicators he doesn’t have any faith nor want to wait out Tebow’s maturity.
BroncoCUbuffs - February 20, 2012
I don't know what you're talking about.
The only poor body language I’ve ever seen is when he drops a pass he should have had, which admittedly happened too often last season. He’s never been down on the Broncos or disappointed with how they use him… simply in himself, and I’d be more upset if he wasn’t. The reason I like Royal so much is because he is a team-first player. And if that means getting limited looks with Tebow under center while winning games, I’m sure he’d be all for it. And besides, Royal is YOUNG. It’s not like he’s some old veteran who has to win a Super Bowl in the next 2 or 3 years before he retires. IMO, maturing WITH Tebow would be a great career path for him.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - February 20, 2012
Well, my money's on him going somewhere else so quick it will make your head spin...but, been wrong before:O)
BroncoCUbuffs - February 20, 2012
I hope you're wrong again lol
But at least if you’re right on this one, it’ll make it much easier to change my name. If he’s the guy you think he is, it negates nearly everything I love about him.
Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan - February 20, 2012
I saw it too.
And then he fools me again. If he wants to stay let him. If he wants to leave let him.
Digger24 - February 20, 2012
Let him go unless he's cheap.
There are a ton of good free-agent wide receivers this year; the Broncos should be able to land one. Grab a player in the draft who can catch passes and do work behind the line of scrimmage. Like Rainey.
Oregon Crush - February 20, 2012 via mobile
I'd resign him in a heart beat if he would stay
Jon Tollerud - February 20, 2012
I would let him test the market.
I want him back but lets let him see what is out there. I want Eddie to be our #1 kick and punt returner next year. All year I was wondering why he wasn;t returning kicks over Willis and Crosby, even Decker. Eddie can return. Unless we can go get Ginn Jr., I say bring Eddie back for returner roll. We can slot him into #3, 4, or 5 on the depth chart. Can use him out of the back field more next year. Us him on reverses and throw the long ball with him. I have loved Eddie since he got here and would love nothing better then to see him on this team next year.
Bron#1 Fan - February 20, 2012
Career Potential -- Average wideout / explosive return man
That’s exactly who he became. A return specialist. If he wants to be paid as a good receiver, he’ll have to go find another team.
si_ice - February 20, 2012
If Royal goes, I'll miss him the most on madden.
I get him the ball as much as possible because he’s hard to stop. Only if the broncos used Royal the way I do in Madden.
tiderfootball09 - February 20, 2012
He is a multifaceted tool. Great returner. Average WR. Good to very good pitch man and reverse guy. Seems like an upbeat, positive locker room guy who gets along with our QB.
If no one offers him #2 money, and the Bears do not want another height challenged WR, we get a solid player we drafted, fill a need, at the right price, #3 money.
chikndnnr - February 20, 2012
The ideal answer is right here.
Digger24 - February 20, 2012
Royal could be a poor mans percy marvin...great guy, good return guy....bring him back on modest contract and I will be stoked.
boydy2669 - February 20, 2012
PERCY HARVIN...damn this new lion operating system!
boydy2669 - February 20, 2012
Royal
I hate to see him go. But I don’t see Royal staying around. Many times in 2011 they tried to get Royal in to the game. Only very few of those times did he actually produce. He has a major following here, but I don’t see him staying around. I had to say no.
timmaybronco - February 20, 2012
This will be interesting
He hasn’t been very productive as WR since his rookie year, however he is solid as a return guy which is what Denver needs on a consistence basis. He has been the only guy who consistently produces on returns.
weazel - February 20, 2012
there is no shame in him
being a poor man’s Eric Metcalf, he fills a need, we, of all teams, cannot take special teams for granted. I’ll love him forever for what he did in the Black Hole the first regular season game he ever played in orange and blue
the new Bradfather - February 21, 2012
why do people insist
50 catches for 600+ yards, as a #3 receiver (which he was in 2010) is an unproductive season?
Is it #2 production, or as good as his rookie year? No. But it is solid #3 production, which is all we’re looking for.
Did his numbers drop off significantly in 2011? Yes…. but take a look at the rest of the passing offense… hint: he’s not alone.
Is he worth #2 money? Hell no… but I’m also guessing no one will be giving him that… in which case, why the negativity?
cjfarls - February 21, 2012
Bring Him Back
Bring him back please, he brings some much needed explovesiveness. And i got his jersey :)
CtotheB - February 21, 2012
I dig his team-first attitude
He is the anti-Brandon Marshall. He cares more about the team winning, than getting himself some stats.
Then you look at his return skills and his receiver skills, to me, makes him well worth having him on the team.
PearlJamBroncoGFunk - February 21, 2012
he has many talents
even if he never will be a consistently productive receiver. He made his reputation at Va Tech as an adept kick/punt returner so it should shock no one that he produces well enough for us on special teams.
the new Bradfather - February 21, 2012
3 offenses in 4 years can be tough on any O player...
ER has shown me enough to make me say “keep him”. I want to see him a second consecutive year in the same O with a O coordinator that has had him for 3 yrs. now. He does have to work on simply “catching” the ball though. I thought after his 1st year, “wow, this guy has great hands!”, and then he became the guy with great quickness who had marginal hands…enigma.
I think we will all be surprised at how much better all of our receivers are this year at catching the ball. Same system (=confidence), same QB (=confidence). You cannot deny the dude possesses the one trait that I think is most valuable, yet the hardest to quantify…he’s a great “football player”. Confidence and time are now in his favor, he will have a very good season if the ball comes his way. BTW, I feel he has to become a great receiver because return men begin to drop off in productivity after their 4th year or so, so he cannot plan on that being his “ticket” into the NFL much longer.
rubincarterrocks - February 21, 2012
fair enough
it’s just like all of us who work at smalltown radio stations. For instance, at a high school basketball tournament, we have 2 more to go and have completed one of them, I record the stats on my laptop and print out copies for our radio broadcasters to announce during their broadcasts. I then assist our engineer in taking down equipment at a venue, etc. You see where I’m going with this. Anyway, Eddie will be better off if he can do more than one thing well, I hope he progresses as I like him a lot!
the new Bradfather - February 21, 2012
Complicated
Whether we should sign eddie depends on how we plan to use eddie. He is a better player than he is given credit for in some quarters and any issues he has had is because he has been underutilized. Sometime players kind of fall through the cracks and eddie is one of those.
But it makes no sense to keep him if we are going to continue to underutilize him. Hell, if I were eddie I wouldn’t want to stay under those conditions. The production we are getting out of him right now has been acceptable because he hasn’t cost us much but if we are going to double or triple his salary we need to figure out a way to double or triple his contribution to the team. Otherwise, everyone would be better off if he went elsewhere.
Tuttifrutti - February 21, 2012
Good reply.
KaptainKirk - February 21, 2012
I am a huge Eddie backer...
but I disagree that his issues are all about how little we utilize him. His catch rate went from 70+% as a rookie to below 50%… not all of that is because he’s had different QBs…. his production per target has dropped significantly.
Now, a strong argument can be made he’s been used POORLY (e.g., too much outside where he struggled against the jam in 2009)… but I don’t buy the “under-utilized”, because he hasn’t produced in the opportunities he was given.
cjfarls - February 21, 2012
I agree to an extent
You would need to add the targets and their drop off too IMO. I don’t know where to find all those outside of PFF’s Premium access and I’m not paying for that.
KaptainKirk - February 21, 2012
footballoutsiders.com has some of that data for free
They have ER with
50 targets, 38% catchrate in 2011
106 targets, 57% catchrate in 2010
compare this to 2008
129 targets, 71% catchrate
His advanced per play stat rate (DVOA) went from approx.“average” in 2008 to approx 15% below average in 2010, then falling through the floor to fully 50% below average this past year…. those stats of course are likely more highly QB dependent than simple catch rate though, because they depend on the QB targeting the correct open receiver at the correct time in order to move the chains… completions short of success hurt players in this stat, even if the WR is catching the ball and doing their job getting open (though of course, if they are running routes short of the sticks, etc., that could be on the WR).
cjfarls - February 22, 2012
Yes I think so too
There are also times when the WR has to come back for the ball and end’sup coming short of the first down marker..
KaptainKirk - February 22, 2012
Not exactly producing in a contract year.
Digger24 - February 22, 2012
to be fair...
pretty much the whole passing offense graded out terribly in 2011… but yeah, I’m hoping this means we can resign Eddie for cheap.
cjfarls - February 22, 2012
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