ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For the second year in a row, a Broncos offensive lineman has made the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team.
Lloyd Cushenberry III, a third-round pick by the Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft, earned the honor after starting all 16 games for Denver. No other rookie at the position accomplished that feat in 2020. Cushenberry was also the only player on Denver's offense and one of two rookies in the NFL to play every single snap. Cushenberry is just the third center in the last five seasons to start all 16 games during his rookie year.
Even better play may be on the horizon for the former LSU Tiger, as Head Coach Vic Fangio identified him as the player who may have improved the most over the course of the season.
"He was a guy that constantly got better inch by inch," Fangio said in his end-of-season press conference. "He never made a big jump one week to the next, but he just kept getting better in small increments and by the end of the season was playing his best football. I think after this offseason and he gets to watch himself in cut ups and getting coached by [Offensive Line Coach] Mike [Munchak] and 'Kupe' [Assistant Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper], that he'll come back a better player. I expect him to flourish next year even more so."
Cushenberry is now the fourth player on the Broncos' current offensive line to have earned this distinction. Guard Dalton Risner (2019), left tackle Garett Bolles (2017) and right tackle Ja'Wuan James (2014) were named to previous PFWA All-Rookie Teams.
