12 players Broncos should claim off waivers or sign as free agents

Irv Smith headlines this list of players the Broncos should consider adding after NFL roster cuts.

NFL teams set their initial 53-man rosters on Tuesday after more than 1,000 transactions over the last two days.

Players cut with fewer than four accrued seasons are subject to the waiver wire. Veteran players with four or more accrued seasons become free agents when they are released.

After the Denver Broncos made 30 roster moves today, we’ve put together a quick list of 12 players the team should claim off waivers or sign as free agents, depending on the players’ respective statuses.

Waiver claims will be processed at 10:00 a.m. MT on Wednesday. Veterans are eligible to sign right away as free agents.

Players Broncos should sign after roster cuts

1. OL Ricky Stromberg: Former third-round pick with experience at center and guard.

2. OL Kyle Hergel: After being picked third overall in the CFL draft, Hergel opted to go to training camp with the New Orleans Saints instead. He can play guard and tackle.

3. OL La’el Collins: He’s dealt with injuries, but Collins has 86 career starts on his resume as a tackle and guard.

4. OL Matt Hennessy: A former third-round pick with 22 career starts at center.

5. OL Julién Davenport: He has 32 career starts at tackle as a former fourth-round pick.

6. OL Germain Ifedi: Former first-round pick with 83 starts at guard and tackle.

7. OT Alex Leatherwood: Another former first-round pick, but he’s been a backup since starting 17 games as a rookie in 2021.

8. TE Donald Parham: Denver could use some help at tight end.

9. TE Irv Smith: Broncos GM George Paton was part of the Vikings’ front office that used a second-round pick to select Smith in 2019.

10. FB Jack Colletto: He’s been compared to Taysom Hill and the Broncos hosted Colletto for a pre-draft visit this spring. After cutting fullback Michael Burton on Tuesday, perhaps coach Sean Payton could find a role for Collette.

11. LB Deion Jones: A former second-round pick with 731 career in tackles in 109 games (91 starts) in the NFL.

12. LB Damien Wilson: He’s a former fourth-round pick with 419 career tackles in 127 games (73 starts).

Bonus — LB Easton Gibbs: After hosting him before the draft, perhaps Denver will now attempt to add Gibbs to its practice squad.

We will track all potential signings on Broncos Wire.

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Seahawks sign undrafted LB, waive DL

Seahawks sign undrafted LB, waive DL

The Seattle Seahawks made a pair of transactions on Wednesday morning ahead of joint practices with the Tennessee Titans (which will continue on Thursday). General manager John Schneider added undrafted linebacker Easton Gibbs to the 90-man roster. It represents a reunion after Gibbs initially joined the Seahawks as an UDFA in May before being waived later in the summer.

Gibbs played college football at Wyoming. He was an experienced defender, having started 39 career games for the Cowboys. Gibbs was a big-time playmaker on defense, totaling 362 tackles and earning First-Team All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2022 and 2023. He’ll provide depth at off-ball linebacker behind Jerome Baker, Tyrel Dodson, Tyrice Knight, and Jon Rhattigan. His signing is timely with both Baker and Rhattigan being sidelined from practice with injury.

In a corresponding move, defensive lineman Nathan Pickering was waived/injured to make room for Gibbs the 90-man roster. Pickering initially joined the Seahawks after a strong tryout performance at rookie minicamp. He played college football at Mississippi State, primarily playing the 3-tech and nose tackle positions.

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PFF picks linebacker Easton Gibbs as UDFA to watch for the Seahawks

Gibbs is the team’s UDFA to watch this year, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Seahawks roster turned over pretty heavily this offseason at a few positions. One of them is the inside linebacker group, where Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks and Devin Bush are all gone, having signed with other teams in free agency. Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker and rookie Tyrice Knight are slated to replace them as the top off-ball linebackers on the depth chart. While they all have their finer qualities, most likely Seattle will be taking a step back at this spot in the absence of Wagner, as we witnessed during the 2022 campaign when Bobby was with the Rams.

However, they do have some high-upside depth options at this spot. The most intriguing of them is Easton Gibbs out of Wyoming, who’s one of 15 undrafted free agents currently on the roster. Gibbs is the team’s UDFA to watch this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Here’s what they had to say about his game, per Thomas Valentine at PFF:

“Gibbs is an all-action linebacker who has been a tornado on the Wyoming defense for the last three seasons, registering 319 tackles and 20 tackles for loss as a starter. He might not be an elite athlete but his tackling ability and instincts could see him force his way onto the Seahawks roster. “

Gibbs (6-foot-2, 227 pounds) posted 361 total tackles in college, including 22.5 for a loss. He also posted seven sacks, 11 pass breakups and three forced fumbles. At this point it’s unclear whether he will be backing up Dodson as a middle linebacker or Baker on the weak side. Either way, Gibbs will see more time on special teams.

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Broncos host LB Easton Gibbs on pre-draft visit

The Broncos met with LB Easton Gibbs at the East-West Shrine Bowl and then hosted him on a pre-draft visit. He’s a late-round/UDFA prospect.

The Denver Broncos hosted Wyoming inside linebacker Easton Gibbs on a pre-draft visit last month, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Gibbs had a three-hour dinner with Broncos general manager George Paton, according to Cecil Lammey of DenverSports.com. Denver also met with the linebacker at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January.

Gibbs (6-0, 232 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.59 seconds at the NFL combine earlier this offseason. He played four seasons at Wyoming, totaling 361 tackles (22.5 behind the line), 11 pass breakups, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one defensive touchdown in 45 games.

Gibbs is projected to be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent later this month. The Broncos do not currently hold a seventh-round pick, so barring a trade, Denver might be considering Gibbs as a UDFA prospect.

If picked or singed by the Broncos, Gibbs would compete for a special teams role as a backup inside linebacker. The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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Unpacking Future Packers: No. 86, Wyoming LB Easton Gibbs

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Wyoming linebacker Easton Gibbs.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Over the past four NFL Drafts, the University of Wyoming has had a pair of linebackers drafted in the third round. It was Logan Wilson going to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 and Chad Muma going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. 

The next Cowboy linebacker who will hear his name during draft weekend is Easton Gibbs. With the Green Bay Packers potentially looking for help at linebacker, Gibbs could be a potential Day 3 target for Brian Gutekunst. The Wyoming linebacker checks in at No. 86 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Gibbs recorded 42 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. The following season, Gibbs recorded 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass deflections. In 2022, the California native recorded 121 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks.

This past season, Gibbs recorded 109 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and six pass deflections.

“Gibbs was one of the poster boys for Craig Bohl’s developmental program,” Ryan Thorburn, the Wyoming beat writer for The Casper Star-Tribune, said. “A lightly recruited prospect who bided his time behind some other talented linebackers before emerging as one of the best players in the Mountain West. The loyalty Gibbs and several of his classmates showed to Wyoming in the age of the transfer portal helped keep the roster stable.”

Gibbs’ background as a high school safety is evident when he drops in coverage. He looks comfortable dropping back in space and has the change of direction skills to turn and run with tight ends or running backs downfield. He has a high football IQ and good field awareness. 

“Gibbs’ experience playing safety does help him in coverage,” Thorburn said. “Wilson had a similar high school background and no NFL linebacker has more interceptions since he became a focal point on the Bengals’ defense. Gibbs helped Wyoming keep Arizona Cardinals standout tight end Trey McBride out of the end zone and limited projected NFL draft pick Dallin Holker to three catches in recent rivalry games with Colorado State.”

Gibbs has a motor that runs hot and he’s an energetic force on the gridiron. While not a downhill enforcer, Gibbs does a good job of sifting through the trash to make plays in the box against the run. The Wyoming linebacker runs well in the open field and showcases good chase speed. 

During his time at Wyoming, Gibbs logged over 300 snaps on special teams. With his quickness and tenacity, Gibbs could carve out on a role on special teams immediately as a rookie. 

Fit with the Packers

The Packers may or may not move on from veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell this offseason to save some money. Assuming the Packers move on from Campbell, that would leave Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie. It’s a safe bet that Gutekunst will look to add a body or two to that room this offseason.

Gibbs has the movement skills to match up with running backs and tight ends in coverage, along with the range to make plays sideline-to-sideline against the run. On top of what he could bring to the defense, he could be a hired gun on special teams. 

“Gibbs is a highly productive player, but he is also a leader and has a love for the game,” Thorburn said. “As a general manager, you wouldn’t have to worry about his professionalism or work ethic, and he has the skillset to make a difference.”

The Packers are currently projected to have 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, with six of them coming on Day 3, including two picks in the sixth and seventh rounds. With his coverage skills and ability to make an impact immediately on special teams, Gibbs would be a quality pick that late in the draft. 

Broncos met with LB Easton Gibbs at East-West Shrine Bowl

The Broncos met with Wyoming LB Easton Gibbs at the East-West Bowl last month. He totaled 361 tackles in 45 games with the Cowboys.

The Denver Broncos had “extended meetings” with Wyoming linebacker Easton Gibbs at the East-West Bowl last month, according to a report from The Draft Network’s Justin Melo.

Gibbs (6-2, 227 pounds) totaled 361 tackles (22.5 behind the line), 11 pass breakups, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception in four seasons (45 games) with college football’s Cowboys.

Broncos starting linebacker Josey Jewell is scheduled to become a free agent in March. Denver used a third-round pick to select Drew Sanders last year, but he ended up spending more time at outside linebacker than he did at inside linebacker as a rookie. It remains to be seen what Sanders’ long-term position will be.

Gibbs is a late-round prospect who might end up going undrafted this spring. The Broncos currently hold six picks, including two selections in the fifth round and one sixth-round pick. The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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Defensive standouts for Chargers from East-West Shrine Bowl: Day 2

Here’s who stood out on the defensive side of the ball on the second day.

Practices for the East-West Shrine Bowl continued on Saturday in Frisco, TX.

Here’s who stood out on the defensive side of the ball on the second day of practice.

20 Shrine Bowl players to know before practices kick off

20 Shrine Bowl prospects to know for the 2024 NFL draft before practices kick off

The 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl week is coming up quickly. Over 100 draft prospects will go through practices and interviews with scouting personnel from all 32 NFL teams in hopes of improving their stock for the 2024 NFL draft.

This year’s Shrine Bowl moves to The Star in Frisco, Texas. Practices kick off on Saturday and run through Tuesday, with the game scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on Thursday, February 1st.

Here are some of the top players to know from the East and West rosters, which will be coached by current NFL assistants across several teams.

Wyoming Cowboys vs. UNLV Rebels: How the Cowboys will win

A face-off between two bowl-eligible teams in a premiere Mountain West matchup between Wyoming and UNLV. How do the Cowboys win?

Wyoming Cowboys vs. UNLV Rebels: How the Cowboys will win


A face-off between two bowl-eligible teams in a premiere Mountain West matchup between the Wyoming Cowboys and the UNLV Rebels.


Contact/Follow @KayceeClark and @MWCwire

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WEEK 11: Wyoming Cowboys (6-3, 3-2 MW) vs. UNLV Rebels (7-2, 4-1 MW)

WHEN: Friday, November 10 — 6:45 PM PT

WHERE: Allegiant Stadium (65,000)

TV: FS1

STREAMINGGet a free trial with FuboTV

RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network

SERIES RECORD: Wyoming 14-11

LAST MATCHUP: Wyoming won 45-14 on Nov. 27, 2020 in Las Vegas

WEBSITES: GoWyo.com, the official Wyoming athletics website; UNLVRebels.com, the official UNLV athletics website.

GAME NOTES: Wyoming | UNLV

ODDS: UNLV -5.5

OVER/UNDER: 50.5 points

Of the 25 games between the Wyoming Cowboys (6-3, 3-2 MW) and the UNLV Rebels (7-2, 4-1 MW), 14 were decided by one possession, and nine of those came in the Sin City. The Rebels have a slight advantage in those nine games, winning five of them over the Pokes, most recently in the triple overtime bout in 2016.

Both squads have overcome expectations for the season, as Wyoming was projected to finish sixth in the conference, and UNLV was projected ninth. However, the Rebels are now in their first bowl-eligible season in the past decade.

“Our opponent is playing, I think, maybe the best in the Mountain West right now,” Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl said in his weekly press conference.

Led by a heavy rushing attack, totaling 28 touchdowns, and an explosive wide receiver on the Biletnikoff watchlist, the Rebels are having one of their best seasons in recent memory. It is the first time UNLV has won seven of their first nine games since 1984, when the team’s quarterback was Randall Cunningham.

The Rebels’ Ricky White is closing in on 1,000 yards for the season, currently sitting at 884 with six touchdowns. Additionally, the trio of Vincent Davis Jr., Jai’Den Thomas and Donavyn Lester combined for 1,293 rushing yards.

UNLV also dominated in their game last weekend against New Mexico, 56-14. With three rushing touchdowns in the second quarter and a 28-point lead by halftime, the Rebels secured their seventh victory.

On the other sideline, it has been a tale of two stories for the Cowboys, as the team is 6-0 at home but 0-3 when traveling. While facing one of the top teams of the Mountain West, the Pokes are 2-2 in games this season against teams with a winning record.

A bright side of Wyoming’s play has been transfer running back Harrison Waylee, who has rushed for 686 yards this season in only six games. Quarterback Andrew Peasley has also found himself in the best season of his collegiate career. He has thrown for 1,195 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only four interceptions.

The Pokes’ defense has been another key to their success. From the numbers, it would look like Wyoming is a losing team. They allow more points than they score and give up 375 yards of offense a game, but one reason they have totaled six wins is a top turnover-forcing team in the country. Wyoming has snagged seven interceptions and forced nine fumbles, leading to a +8-turnover margin, tied for 10th best in the country.

 

Last week, Wyoming overcame Colorado State’s effort to win the Bronze Boot, 24-15.

As underdogs, Wyoming will have to overcome the odds, play its hand and ensure it doesn’t fall to the house.

Wyoming will win if…

As with any game, winning the turnover battle is extremely helpful for a victory. However, as Wyoming is tied for 10th in the country for its turnover margin, UNLV is tied for sixth with +9. The Rebels have contributed 19 turnovers this season and haven’t had a game without forcing one.

The Cowboys won the turnover battle in six games, including losses at Air Force and Boise State. Against the Rams last Friday, Wyoming forced three turnovers, including a 61-yard scoop and dash for defensive end Tyce Westland and the linebacker duo of Easton Gibbs and Shae Suiaunoa snatching the ball out of the air.

The only conference loss UNLV has suffered this season came to Fresno State, where the Rebels gave the ball away four times. But UNLV knows how to get the ball back as well as Jaxen Turner is tied for first in the Mountain West with four interceptions.

Between two teams that don’t dominate the margin of turnovers, Wyoming must force more than the Rebels, Peasley must maintain his efficiency and keep the ball away from the UNLV defenders, and the Cowboys must continue their trend of not fumbling the football. The last time a Wyoming fumble occurred was Sept. 30 against New Mexico.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball for Wyoming, the Go-Go offense that UNLV runs allows a re-introduction to the option play for the Cowboy defense. Wyoming got killed against the option offense of Air Force last month as the Falcons ran for 356 yards and three touchdowns.

Wyoming will get another crack at shutting down an offense that will operate out of the option. This season, the Pokes have been able to shut down the run in particular games, with only allowing 93 yards to Texas Tech, 90 to Portland State, 38 to Fresno State, and 51 to Colorado State. However, in addition to the Air Force game, Wyoming has given up 217 yards to Appalachian State, 225 to New Mexico, and 227 to Boise State.

Flipping to the Wyoming offense, the team must score early and often. In several games this season, the Cowboys have gotten solid leads in the first half but fallen short later in the game. While needing to finish out the game, scoring early and often puts pressure on the UNLV offense to match the Pokes. If UNLV is falling behind several scores, the team may abandon the rushing attack altogether, a plus for Wyoming.

 

To get a sizeable lead, the Cowboys must utilize Waylee. Wyoming’s leading rusher is one of the school’s impact players when healthy. He averages 93.4 yards per game on the ground, and when he rushes for 100 yards, which he has done four times this season, the Pokes are 3-1. Cut that down to at least 83 yards, and it becomes 4-1. When Waylee wins, Wyoming will win.

UNLV’s defense has held teams to only 125 yards rushing per game, which raises a problem for Wyoming. Although, UNLV has only played two teams who currently have a winning record, and both games were losses for the Rebels.

The combined record of UNLV’s opponents is 37-47. In contrast, Wyoming’s opponent’s records are 47-32. Specifically looking at this, Wyoming has had a tougher schedule thus far and only lost one game more than the Rebels. According to Sports Reference, Wyoming’s schedule is ranked 70th in the country compared to UNLV’s at 121st.

In what will be another close game in the series, Wyoming will prove to be the superior team and leave Sin City victorious.

Wyoming 34 – UNLV 30

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8 under-the-radar 2024 NFL draft prospects to watch in CFB Week 3

8 under-the-radar 2024 NFL draft prospects to watch in CFB Week 3, including some FCS standouts facing off against BCS foes

The third weekend of college football is one of the last to feature primarily non-conference games. It’s a good chance to check out some 2024 NFL draft prospects who might not have the national exposure, or players from smaller schools who get an opportunity to show what they can do against major programs.

Here are eight 2024 NFL draft prospects who are under the radar to watch this weekend.