Category: Broncos Buzz

Broncos re-signing DB Kareem Jackson to 1-year contract

The Broncos are bringing back safety Kareem Jackson a one-year contract.

The Denver Broncos are re-signing veteran safety Kareem Jackson to a one-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Jackson, 35, signed with the Broncos in 2019 after spending the first nine years of his career with the Houston Texans. A former cornerback, Jackson converted to safety later in his career.

In Denver, Jackson teamed up with Justin Simmons to form a dynamic safety duo. He spent the last four years with the Broncos, totaling 232 tackles, 19 pass breakups, four interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble in 61 games (all starts).

The veteran safety and team captain will likely serve as a rotational defensive back and locker room leader this year. Caden Sterns appears to be the favorite to start across from Simmons in 2023.

Denver also used a sixth-round draft pick to select Boise State safety JL Skinner in April. Skinner will likely contribute primarily on special teams as a rookie but he has the long-term potential to eventually win a starting job with the Broncos.

In the meantime, Simmons, Sterns and Jackson are poised to serve as the team’s top three safeties this fall.

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Ex-Broncos QB finds home in free agency; roster cuts on deck for Denver

If our UDFA tracker is accurate, the Broncos will have to make five roster cuts to make room for the new rookie signings.

Two former Denver Broncos players signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday.

The Niners signed quarterback Brandon Allen and tight end Troy Fumagalli, the team announced. Allen started three games for the Broncos in 2019, posting one win and two losses. He then served as a backup with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020-2022.

Fumagalli was drafted by Denver in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft out of Wisconsin. He started five games in 2019 but battled injuries through two different stints with the Broncos (2018-2019; 2020). He spent time with the Houston Texans in 2020 and has had brief stints with the New England Patriots and 49ers since then.

Meanwhile, back in Denver, the Broncos are yet to officially announce their expected 17 undrafted free agent signings. After the draft, Denver had room to sign 12 UDFAs, so if our signing tracker is accurate, the Broncos will have to cut five players to make room for the new UDFAs.

With rookie minicamp set to begin on Friday, Denver will likely officially announce the UDFAs and corresponding roster moves this week. The Broncos will also likely announce rookie jersey numbers this week (the club previously announced numbers for veteran additions last week).

In addition to UDFA signings, roster cuts and jersey number news, Denver is also expected to have its 2023 schedule announced later this week. Stay tuned.

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ESPN links free agent RB Kareem Hunt to the Broncos

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler called the Broncos “a team to watch” as running back Kareem Hunt seeks a landing spot in free agency.

The Denver Broncos did not select a running back in the 2023 NFL draft, sparking speculation that the team might add a veteran free agent.

During an appearance on SportsCenter on Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named the Broncos as “a team to watch” for Kareem Hunt. It’s unclear if that was simply Folwer’s opinion, or an informed statement based on information he has about Denver’s potential interest in the running back.

Hunt, 27, spent the first two years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Cleveland Browns in 2019. The Chiefs cut Hunt during the 2018 season after a video was released showing him shoving and kicking a woman. Hunt was not charged for the incident, but he served an eight-game suspension in 2019.

In four career games against the Broncos, Hunt has totaled 364 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns. Over the last four years in Cleveland, Hunt has totaled 2,847 yards from scrimmage and scored 23 touchdowns.

The Broncos could use more depth at running back because Javonte Williams (knee) is facing an uncertain recovery timeline and he might not be ready by Week 1. Samaje Perine is a capable fill-in starter, but Denver will need more depth behind him if Williams misses time early in the season.

Lou Ayeni, the Broncos’ new running backs coach, coached at Toledo while Hunt played at the school, so Denver’s staff does have a connection to the RB.

The list of notable free agent RBs still available also includes Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and J.D. McKissic. Phillip Lindsay is also a free agent after playing in the XFL this spring and his agent has reached out to Denver about a potential reunion.

With limited salary cap space, the Broncos seem unlikely to make a splash signing at running back, but a budget free agent could be in play.

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Broncos’ updated defensive line depth chart after the NFL draft

The Broncos could use another veteran defensive end to shore up their defensive line depth chart.

DE NT DE
Zach Allen D.J. Jones Matt Henningsen
Eyioma Uwazurike Mike Purcell Jonathan Harris
Elijah Garcia PJ Mustipher Jordan Jackson
Sione Asi Haggai Ndubuisi

After not selecting any defensive linemen in the NFL draft, the Denver Broncos’ defensive end depth chart has a few question marks as the team prepares for the start of organized team activities this month.

Dre’mont Jones left the club in free agency and the Broncos replaced him with Zach Allen, but Denver does not have an obvious replacement for DeShawn Williams, a 15-game starting last year who also left during free agency this spring.

Unless the Broncos are planning to have D.J. Jones play as a defensive end with Mike Purcell starting at nose tackle, the DE spot across from Allen could be a weak spot going into the 2023 season.

Right now, Henningsen seems to be the favorite for the job given that he played in all 17 games last season (Uwazurike was only active for eight games in 2022). Harris could also be a sleeper option to watch.

Denver might consider signing a veteran defensive lineman before training camp to shore up the team’s d-line depth this summer.

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Broncos’ upcoming offseason schedule

The Broncos are set to hold a rookie minicamp later this week followed by the start of OTAs two weeks later.

The biggest free agency signings have been made the 2023 NFL draft is now in the rearview mirror, but there are a few more notable dates on the calendar for the Denver Broncos over the next two months.

First, the team will hold a rookie minicamp from May 12-14. In addition to their draft class and undrafted free agent signings, the Broncos will also invite more than a dozen undrafted rookies and veteran free agents to try out at rookie minicamp.

About one week later, the full team will get together for the start of organized team activities. Denver is scheduled to hold OTAs from May 23-25, May 30-June 1 and June 5-8.

Once OTAs wrap up, Broncos players will return for a mandatory minicamp from June 13-15. After that minicamp, players will get a summer vacation before reporting back to the facility for the start of training camp in late July.

Training camp and preseason will run through August, followed by the regular season beginning in September. We’re four months away from the return of real football, but the players will be back on the field soon.

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Broncos believe JL Skinner’s pre-draft injury made him fall to 6th round

“I don’t really consider a drop. I consider it me being placed into the correct hands,” Skinner said of falling to Denver in the 6th round.

The Denver Broncos used a sixth-round pick to select Boise State safety JL Skinner last month. Landing him that late in the draft could prove to be a steal.

Broncos general manager George Paton said the team liked Skinner’s size (6-4, 209 pounds) and physicality. Skinner stood out to Paton and head coach Sean Payton on film, but he fell in the draft due in part to a pectoral injury.

“Sean and I have watched a lot of tape on him, and he’s a fun watch,” Paton said after the draft. “I think the injury did impact where he was drafted. We felt very fortunate to get him where we did.”

Even without participating in drills at the combine, Skinner was projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick by NFL.com. He instead slid to the sixth round — but Skinner believes it was meant to be.

“I tore my pec before the combine — about two days before the combine,” Skinner said. “That’s the reason why a drop may have happened, but I don’t really consider a drop. I consider it me being placed into the correct hands. The Denver Broncos are the correct hands for me and I’m excited to be out there.”

Skinner said he is ahead of schedule in his recovery and he expects to be fully cleared for football activity by minicamp in June.

“I’m running and doing everything right now — lifting and doing all that stuff,” Skinner said. “So, not too far. I’m about a month out from my full expected recovery to be fully cleared, but I’m back doing all my normal activities — my normal things every day. It’s been good.”

Skinner is expected to contribute primarily on special teams as a rookie while competing for rotational playing time in the secondary.

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Peyton Manning teases new schedule release video for Broncos

Peyton Manning seems to hint that Sean Payton and/or George Paton will be involved in the Broncos’ schedule release video this year.

Two years ago, Peyton Manning announced the Denver Broncos’ 2021 schedule in a funny video that presented him as an “intern” with the team.

Last year, Manning returned to make a second intern video, this time with new quarterback Russell Wilson joining in on the fun.

In a video posted on their Twitter page last week, the Broncos teased this year’s upcoming schedule release video with Manning featured once again. Only this time, the former quarterback is acting like he doesn’t want to participate.

“A trilogy, really? A trilogy? I mean, it’s lazy is my first reaction,” Manning says. “I mean look, they couldn’t even get Macaulay Culkin to do Home Alone 3, all right? Try one of the other Peytons!”

That last line seems to be a very clear hint that new coach Sean Payton could be featured in the schedule release video this year. Denver general manager George Paton might also be a candidate — or all three: Peyton, Payton and Paton.

The NFL is expected to announce the 2023 schedule on Thursday, May 11. Here is a reminder of who the Broncos will face this season.

Denver Broncos 2023 Opponents

Home Away
Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Chargers
Las Vegas Raiders Las Vegas Raiders
New England Patriots Chicago Bears
New York Jets Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings Buffalo Bills
Washington Commanders Houston Texans
Cleveland Browns

Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the AFC and NFC rotate between having nine home games. This year is the AFC’s turn so the Broncos will have one more game at home than on the road this season.

Broncos Wire will have full coverage of the team’s 2023 schedule when it is announced later this week.

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Projected contracts for each member of the Broncos’ draft class

The Broncos’ draft class will take up about $3.2 million worth of cap space this offseason. Here are projected contracts for each player.

The Denver Broncos added five players to their roster through the 2023 NFL draft last month. Thanks to the structure of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with players, we have a rough idea of what kind of contracts each member of the team’s draft class will receive.

All four players will receive four-year deals. None of them will have a fifth-year option because the Broncos did not have a first-round pick this year.

Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims (second round, 63rd overall) is projected to receive a contract worth $6,068,635, according to Spotrac.com. He’s expected to get a signing bonus worth around $1,413,552.

Linebacker Drew Sanders (third round, 63rd overall) is expected to earn $5,734,727 with a $1,170,711 signing bonus. Cornerback Riley Moss (third round, 83rd overall) will receive roughly $5,447,488 with a $961,809 signing bonus.

Safety JL Skinner (sixth round, 183rd overall) will have a total contract value of $4,036,219 with $196,219 as a signing bonus. Finally, center Alex Forsyth (seventh round, 257th overall) is expected to receive a $3,917,777 contract with a $77,777 signing bonus.

Combined, those players are expected to take up about $3,205,017 in salary cap space this offseason.

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Marvin Mims excited to reunite with 2 college teammates in Denver

The Broncos have five Sooners on the roster this offseason: Marvin Mims, Nik Bonitto, Delarrin Turner-Yell, Samaje Perine and Ben Powers.

When Marvin Mims arrives at the Denver Broncos’ facility for the start of organized team activities, he will be met by two familiar faces.

Mims (2020-2022) played at Oklahoma with Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto (2018-2021) and Denver safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (2018-2021) for two seasons with the Sooners.

“It’s really exciting,” Mims said of reuniting with his former college teammates in the NFL. “OU is a huge brotherhood, so just being able to play with those two again — I played with them for two years. I just talked Turner-Yell not too long ago at the spring game.”

Mims also knows Broncos running back Samaje Perine, who played at Oklahoma from 2014-2016.

“Just being able to reconnect with those guys — I’m also really close with Samaje Perine and his family — being there with them, it’ll be great,” Mims said. “I’m excited and looking forward to it.”

Denver guard Ben Powers also played at Oklahoma from 2016-2018, overlapping with each of Perine, Bonitto and Turner-Yell for one season. There will be five Sooners in the Broncos’ locker room this summer, marking the highest number of players from the same school on Denver’s roster in 2023.

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Marvin Mims will be a versatile playmaker for the Broncos

“I feel like I bring a lot to the team,” Broncos rookie WR Marvin Mims said. “I’m just excited to get a chance to go out there and show it.”

The Denver Broncos traded up in the second round of the NFL draft last month to select Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims.

Mims (5-11, 183 pounds) is a versatile, speedy (4.38) wide receiver who will compete for playing time on offense while likely making an instant impact on special teams as a rookie.

Mims split time between the slot and perimeter in college, and he believes that versatility will translate to the NFL.

“My best-known thing is I’m a playmaker,” Mims said after being picked by the Broncos. “I’m very versatile [and can play] inside and outside. I played both about 50-50 at Oklahoma. I feel like one of my best things is stretching the field and just making big plays out of short routes, intermediate routes, all the different stuff — screen game.

“I’ve averaged around 19 yards per reception in my career and have been very reliable in the return game. With that stuff, I feel like I bring a lot to the team on different aspects. I’m just excited to get a chance to go out there and show it.”

Mims averaged 19.5 yards per catch in three seasons at Oklahoma, including a 20.1 YPC average last season. He also averaged 16.0 yards per punt return with the Sooners last season. With impressive speed and versatility, Mims should be able to quickly win playing time in Denver.

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