Category: Broncos Buzz

Broncos offseason roster: No. 82, TE Adam Trautman

After being traded to the Broncos during the NFL draft, tight end Adam Trautman has a chance to win the team’s TE2 job this summer.

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fourth-year tight end Adam Trautman, No. 82. 

Before the Broncos: Trautman (6-5, 253 pounds), was selected out of Dayton by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft (163rd overall). In three years with the Saints, Trautman played in 43 games (starting 28), where he caught 60 passes for 641 yards and four touchdowns.

Broncos tenure: During the 2023 NFL draft, the Broncos traded their second pick in the sixth round (195th overall) to New Orleans in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round selection (257th overall) and Trautman.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: Trautman has the advantage of having played under Broncos head coach Sean Payton while with the Saints (2020-21), making him a favorite to make the team. Payton obviously likes what Trautman brings to the table, and the tight end will likely get an opportunity to emerge as the team’s second-string TE behind Greg Dulcich this offseason.

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Patrick Mahomes ranks Peyton Manning, John Elway among top-5 all-time QBs

We still don’t like Patrick Mahomes, but he’s a smart guy.

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Patrick Mahomes will one day be amongst the pantheon of greats when he retires, but he is being modest about it. 

Mahomes recently ranked his all-time top five quarterbacks to play the game but has yet to count himself. Instead, he ranked two Denver Broncos greats, Peyton Manning and John Elway, in his top five while Tom Brady takes the crown. 

Mahomes’ top five:

5. Dan Marino/John Elway

4. Joe Montana

3. Aaron Rodgers

2. Peyton Manning

1. Tom Brady

Indeed, a section of the earth believes that Mahomes is already in the top five, and rightfully so. Two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP, two-time NFL MVP, and three-time All-Pro. Not to mention, five-time Pro Bowler. Many other stats solidify Mahomes’ greatness, but we can stop there. Nevertheless, Mahomes claiming the two Broncos legends in his top five is a respectful gesture, as Elway’s style of run-n-gun and Manning’s arm talent and cerebral play influenced Mahomes’ play. 

Check out Mahomes’ whole interview with Complex Magazine, in which he elaborates more on his top five list, here. 

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Broncos offseason roster: No. 83, WR Marvin Mims Jr.

The Broncos’ first pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Marvin Mims will aim to make an instant impact as a rookie.

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims, No. 83.

Before the Broncos: Mims, (5-11, 281 pounds) was a force to be reckoned with at the University of Oklahoma. As a member of the Sooners, Mims played for three years, where he racked up catches and touchdowns. In 2020, Mims led all Big 12 receivers with nine touchdowns. In 2021 and 2022, Mims topped the Big 12 in yards per reception (22 yards per reception in 2021, 21.2 yards per reception in 2022). At the 2023 NFL combine, Mims ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-9-inch broad jump.

Broncos tenure: Mims was the first Bronco selected in the 2023 NFL draft in the second round (63rd overall).

Chance to make the 53-man roster: As a second-round pick, Mims is a lock to make the team. The Broncos traded into the second round to select Mims and give another speedy target to quarterback Russell Wilson. Mims joins fellow receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler among the team’s big-play threats in 2023. If Mims stays healthy, there is a chance he will become a key part of Denver’s downfield attack in 2023 and beyond. Mims also figures to make an instant impact on special teams as the team’s new returner.

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos WR Taylor Grimes

Taylor Grimes caught 83 passes for 1,221 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall.

The Denver Broncos signed wide receiver Taylor Grimes as a college free agent following the 2023 NFL draft and he’s now set to compete for a spot at training camp this summer.

Grimes’ highlights from his time at Incarnate Word can be seen in the above video. Because the Broncos have a deep wide receiver depth chart, Grimes won’t be considered a favorite to make the 53-man roster. Anyone can impress during preseason, though, and Grimes could land a spot on the practice squad if he’s unable to secure a spot on the active roster.

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Pat Surtain and Javonte Williams to host youth football camp in July

Pat Surtain and Javonte Williams will host a youth football camp at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood on July 9.

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Denver Broncos defensive back Pat Surtain and running back Javonte Williams will host a youth football camp at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood this summer. The camp will feature the ages 6-16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 9.

Per flexworksports, campers will get development while having fun in the process: 

Over the course of the day, Denver star Defensive Back Patrick Surtain II and Running Back Javonte Williams and our coaches will provide your child with valuable football knowledge and hands-on instruction in a fun, high-energy, positive environment. Camp activities will include lectures, fundamental skill stations, contests, and awards. All campers will be grouped according to age to ensure proper levels of competition and instruction.

Campers will also receive a chance to take a team photo with Surtain and Williams, a football camp t-shirt, and take-home items from the camp’s event sponsors. The camp will be a good way for Surtain and Williams to wind down before training camp starts.

Broncos offseason roster: No. 84, TE Chris Manhertz

Broncos tight end Chris Manhertz finds himself in a crowded tight end room in 2023. Will he make the roster?

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at ninth-year tight end, Chris Manhertz, No. 84. 

Before the Broncos: Manhertz (6-6, 235 pounds) is a grizzled NFL veteran. Manhertz is an alumnus of Canisius College, before his professional career began with the Buffalo Bills in 2015. After playing for the New Orleans Saints from 2016-2017, Manhertz spent time with the Carolina Panthers from 2017-2020.

With the Panthers, Manhertz played in 67 games (starting 26), where he caught 12 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown. Manhertz then moved south, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.  Using primarily as a blocker, Manhertz played in 34 games (starting 21 games) and caught 12 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown in two seasons with the Jags.

Broncos tenure: Manhertz signed with the Broncos on a two-year, $6 million deal in March of 2023, with the option for Denver to pick up the second year of the contract.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: The Broncos tight end room is extremely crowded in 2023. Of all the tight ends on the roster at the moment, Manhertz by far is the most battle-tested of them all. Despite his seniority, it may come down to who the Broncos like more between Albert Okwuegbunam and Manhertz when they trim the roster down to 53 players this summer. Due to his blocking ability, Manhertz seems to be the early favorite.

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Sean Payton ranked 4th in Ross Tucker’s head coach power rankings

Ross Tucker has Sean Payton ranked as the fourth-best coach in the NFL going into the 2023 season.

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High praise for new Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton.

Ross Tucker, who writes for the NFL website The 33rd Team, recently released his NFL head coaching rankings. Tucker has Kansas City Chiefs head man Andy Reid taking the top spot and new Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon coming in last.

Although he just sat out a year, Payton comes into the 2023 season as the fourth-best head coach in the league, according to Tucker.

Here is Tucker’s commentary with Payton’s rank:

I give coaches that have success with multiple organizations and/or multiple quarterbacks a huge boost over those that haven’t, so Payton’s tenure with the Denver Broncos will prove significant for his coaching legacy.

Payton has his hands full, but it appears that things are on the positive side. Russell Wilson seems to be responding well to Payton’s expectations for him and the team. In a few months, we can only wait to see if the team responds fully.

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Broncos offseason roster: No. 85, TE Albert Okwuegbunam

Following the arrival of Adam Trautman and Chris Manhertz, Albert Okwuegbunam won’t be a lock to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, No. 85.

Before the Broncos: Okwuegbunam (6-5, 258 pounds) played college football at Missouri, earning second-team All-SEC recognition in 2017 and 2019. “Albert O” hauled in 98 receptions for 1,187 yards and 23 touchdowns in three seasons (27 games) with the Tigers.

Broncos tenure: Okwuegbunam was selected by Denver in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. He played in four games as a rookie before tearing his ACL. Okwuegbunam then had a bounce-back year in 2021, totaling 33 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Albert O was expected to have a breakthrough season in 2023 but such a season never materialized. Okwuegbunam was inactive for half of last season and in the eight games he did play, the tight end caught just 10 passes for 95 yards and one score.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Following the arrival of Adam Trautman and Chris Manhertz this offseason, Okwuegbunam certainly won’t be a lock to make the active roster. The Saints carried three tight ends and a fullback on their Week 1 roster in 2021 (Sean Payton’s last season). If Payton uses similar roster construction in Denver, Okwuegbunam could be the odd man out at tight end behind Greg Dulcich, Trautman and Manhertz.

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Broncos CB Pat Surtain ranked No. 7 on PFF’s Top 25 under 25 list

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain is ranked at No. 7 on PFF’s 25 under 25.

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Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain is ranked No. 7 on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 25 NFL players under 25. Surtain, in two years as a pro, has left his mark — in 2022 he became a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro, all while spearheading a top-five defense. 

Pro Football Focus discusses why they chose Surtain at No. 7: 

Surtain’s 66.3 coverage grade in 2021 was solid for a rookie (don’t let Sauce Gardner’s grade this past year skew your thoughts of an expected rookie year for young cornerbacks). But his 86.7 coverage grade in 2022 was exactly the kind of jump into elite play we were hoping for. He allowed just 417 passing yards in coverage with eight forced incompletions.

For 2022, his traditional stats were also impressive: 55 total tackles, two interceptions and ten pass deflections. Although his interceptions were down from four in 2021, his 2022 PFF grade proved he was still a force to be reckoned with as a defender. Congrats to Surtain for this well-deserved recognition. 

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Broncos offseason roster: No. 89, Brandon Johnson

A training camp favorite last year, Broncos WR Brandon Johnson will aim to impress and make the 53-man roster this summer.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at second-year wide receiver Brandon Johnson, No. 89.

Before the Broncos: Johnson took advantage of an extra year of COVID-19 eligibility following five years at Tennessee and he played a sixth season at UCF in 2021. In his final college season, Johnson caught 38 passes for 565 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Broncos tenure: Denver signed Johnson as an undrafted free agent last spring. After the receiver suffered an ankle injury, the Broncos took a risk and waived him to try to get him back on their practice squad. Johnson ended up clearing waivers and Denver was able to re-sign him to the practice squad. He was later added to the active roster and appeared in seven games last year, catching six receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Johnson was a training camp favorite last summer and if not for his injury, the receiver might have made the Week 1 roster as a rookie. Now healthy again, Johnson should have decent odds of making the team. The Broncos do have a deep wide receiver depth chart, though, so Johnson’s spot isn’t a lock. If he doesn’t end up on the 53-man roster, Johnson will be a top candidate for the practice squad.

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