2. Dalton Risner, guard

2019 stats

Games started: 16

The Broncos kind of had Risner fall into their laps in the draft as many analysts had a first-round grade on him. The team got a good one in the former Kansas State Wildcat with Colorado roots.

Risner came in and started all 16 games at guard and handled his own each game. He will be one of the team’s key building blocks for many years to come.

From top to bottom, this was the Broncos’ best rookie in 2019.

Grade: A

3. Drew Lock, quarterback

2019 stats

Completion percentage: 64.1

Passing yards: 1,020

Touchdowns: 7

Interceptions: 3

Rushing yards: 72

Lock spent much of his rookie season on injured reserve with a thumb injury while the team toiled around with Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen. There were rumors that the team might just leave Lock on injured reserve all season.

What a bad idea that would have been.

Lock ended up starting the final five contests for the team and was as good as could possibly be expected in those games. He also shut down the idea of needing to look for a quarterback any time in the near future.

Lock gave the fans and the organization plenty of hope to build on.

Grade: A-