Tag: Frank Crum

Broncos inactives: Troy Franklin will make NFL debut vs. Steelers

Broncos inactives today: Zach Wilson*, Devaughn Vele (ribs), Blake Watson, Kris Abrams-Draine, Frank Crum, Lucas Krull and Eyioma Uwazurike.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of seven inactive players for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, wide receiver Devaughn Vele (ribs), running back Blake Watson, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, offensive tackle Frank Crum, tight end Lucas Krull and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike are inactive today.

*Technically, Wilson is still available to play as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham, but he’s on the inactive list and does not count against the game-day roster.

With the exception of Wilson, these inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Steelers. They will be reactivated on Monday.

After being inactive last week, rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin is active today and set to make his NFL debut against Pittsburgh. Left tackle Garett Bolles (calf) is also active.

Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) is inactive, but he will serve as Pittsburgh’s emergency third-string QB on Sunday.

Elsewhere on the roster front, Denver elevated wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and running back Tyler Badie from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. Badie gets the nod as RB3 over Watson today.

The Broncos’ game against the Steelers will be regionally televised on CBS. Denver is considered a betting underdog despite playing at home.

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8 players did not play in Broncos’ season opener

The Broncos held out eight players during their season opener against the Seahawks on Sunday.

Eight members of the Denver Broncos’ 53-man roster did not play in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin, tight end Lucas Krull, running back Blake Watson, offensive tackle Frank Crum, defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike and cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine were healthy scratches.

Zach Wilson was also “inactive,” but he dressed for the game as an emergency third-string quarterback. No such emergencies arose so Wilson never entered the game.

Primary backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham did not get any snaps, either, giving Denver eight total players who did not play in Seattle. The 45 other players on the Broncos’ active roster all played at least one snap.

Perhaps the most notable player among Denver’s inactives on Sunday was Franklin, who was a fourth-round pick in April’s draft. Franklin struggled to make an impact in preseason and he does not play on special teams, so it’s not too surprising that he’s beginning the season as a healthy scratch.

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Broncos’ UDFA success continues on 2024 roster

“The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” GM George Paton said.

The Denver Broncos have had unprecedented success with undrafted free agents making their 53-man roster. Two undrafted free agents made the roster this year, offensive lineman Frank Crum and running back Blake Watson. Linebacker Levelle Bailey also made the initial active roster and is now returning on the practice squad.

When it was announced that these two players made the 53-man squad, it marked the 20th time in 21 years that at least one undrafted free agent made the roster.

In a Zoom call last week, Broncos general manager George Paton credited the team’s scouting. “The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” said Paton.

Paton had this to say about Crum, who was a University of Wyoming product: “Crum, you don’t get many 6-7 guys or whatever he is that can bend like he does and has the power he does. He’s still raw. You see him in pass-pro. I know he got beat a couple of times, but for a kid who played at Wyoming and a first-year rookie in the NFL to do some of the things he did in practice and versus Green Bay. He played well in Indy obviously. I thought he played well most of the game. He had a few breakdowns, but really talented. I really love the upside of Crum.”

Watson had a memorable impression on coaches at his Top 30 visit. “Watson, we got to know him on the Top-30,” Paton said. “That’s why those Top-30s are really important. You get to know the player and he gets to see what you’re all about. He gets to see Denver and our facilities. It makes it easier when you’re trying to get him as a college free agent.”

Last year, four UDFAs made the Broncos’ 53-man roster, including running back Jaleel McLaughlin. Watson and Crum will aim to continue the success of the team’s past UDFAs this fall.

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Why did Frank Crum make the Broncos’ 53-man roster?

Frank Crum made the Broncos’ 53-man roster after allowing three sacks in preseason. Those sacks didn’t tell the whole story.

When the Denver Broncos set their 53-man roster earlier this week, many fans were surprised to see undrafted free agent Frank Crum made the cut.

Crum, an offensive tackle out of Wyoming, seemingly struggled in preseason, allowing three sacks. Denver’s staff watched film of his entire summer, though, and they knew he was unlikely to clear waivers if the team attempted to drop him down to the practice squad.

“His tape has been really good,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “We all saw two or three sacks, but it’s interesting when you sit up in that room and you just watch every snap from training camp and then the game, which we do. Not only of our own guys. Last night I think we finished at 1:30 in the morning and we were watching this player from another team, this player from another team, this player from another team and this player from our team.

“It gives you a better grasp as to where this guy is at. Certainly, he was a guy that we had to really battle in free agency on, but man his size and upside — he wasn’t one that we were considering [waiving]. We felt like he made this team. Then all week, we go through the process of who do we think can make it through waivers and it’s not a science.”

As Payton noted, Crum (6-8, 315 pounds) was one of the top college free agents available after the draft, and Denver had to beat out other clubs to sign him. The Broncos closed the deal by giving the offensive tackle $250,000 in guaranteed salary and a $25,000 signing bonus.

Crum had some growing pains in preseason, but Denver likes his long-term upside. Fans don’t have access to practice film and even if they did, one still has to know what to look for. Payton and Co. believe they’ve found a gem in Crum and while he still needs time to develop, he was not a cut candidate.

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5 surprises from Broncos’ initial 53-man roster

The Broncos set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday. We were surprised by these cuts.

After making 30 roster moves, the Denver Broncos announced their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season on Tuesday afternoon. Here’s a quick list of five surprises from the first draft of the active roster (a few players could be added and dropped in the coming days).

1. FB Michael Burton cut: There was no indication this summer that Burton was in danger of not making the team, so it was a surprise when he was among the final cuts on Tuesday. Making the move less surprising is the fact that Denver plans to re-sign him to the practice squad, and he could be elevated to the active roster ahead of Week 1.

2. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey cut: After the Broncos waived Brandon Johnson, we assumed that meant Humphrey was safe as the sixth WR. Instead, Denver opted to carry five WRs. The Broncos hope to re-sign Humphrey to the practice squad, though, and he could be another player elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1.

3. OT Frank Crum made the team: Crum struggled in preseason, so we expected Denver to drop him down to the practice squad during roster cuts. The Broncos did not want to risk losing him, though, which is understandable. So Crum makes the squad with plenty of room to grow.

4. LB Jonas Griffith cut: We didn’t see this coming, but maybe we should have after coach name-dropped undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey as a player competing for a starting spot way back in June. After grabbing a 94-yard pick-six in Denver’s preseason finale, Bailey made the team and the Broncos parted ways with Griffith to make room.

5. WR Tim Patrick cut: Patrick missed each of the last two seasons with injury, but he took a massive pay cut this spring and looked good during preseason. Patrick was a team leader and a key part of the locker room, so we assumed his spot was safe. Denver had a crowded WR room, though, and Payton seemingly wanted to go younger at the position. The team did try to trade Patrick but wasn’t able to get a deal done, leading to his release.

Up next for the Broncos are waiver claims on Wednesday morning, followed by practice squad signings. We will track every move on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos roster series: No. 73, OT Frank Crum

Broncos undrafted rookie Frank Crum has a shot to win a spot on the 53-man roster this summer as a backup swing tackle.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie offensive tackle Frank Crum, No. 73.

Before the Broncos: Crum (6-7, 315 pounds) spent six years at Wyoming (he had a redshirt freshman season and an extra year of eligibility granted from COVID-19). He started 11 games from 2019-2020 before emerging as a 13-game starter in 2021. He started at right tackle for 12 games in 2022 before moving to left tackle in 2023. He earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference recognition following his final season last fall.

Broncos tenure: NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected Crum to be a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but the tackle surprisingly went undrafted. He was one of the top UDFAs available and Denver signed him in May. Crum will compete for a backup OT spot this summer.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Decent. Crum has a real shot to make the active roster as a backup swing tackle. The Broncos carried four backup offensive linemen last season, including tackle Cam Fleming and swing guard/tackle Quinn Bailey. Fleming remains an unsigned free agent and Crum might be a candidate to fill his backup OT role in 2024.

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UFL draft sees teams load up on undrafted prospects as NFL training camps start

The UFL Draft featured many undrafted rookies who are heading to NFL training camps

The UFL season just recently ended, with the Birmingham Stallions blanking the San Antonio Brahmas in the championship game on June 16th. On July 17th, the UFL held its draft for players.

The players in the UFL draft pool are those who were eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft but were not selected back in April. Player must be at least three years removed from playing high school football. Effectively, it’s undrafted free agent rookies. The UFL teams will hold exclusive rights to the drafted players, though all players will have an “NFL Out” clause that allows them to sign with the NFL, but only during the NFL regular season.

Seven of the eight players selected in the first round are offensive prospects, led by former Kansas QB Jason Bean. The Memphis Showboats made Bean the No. 1 overall pick.

Many players selected are already on NFL training camp rosters as undrafted rookies, including players like Isaiah Williams, Gabe Hall, Kedon Slovis and Sam Hartman.

Check out this film of new Broncos OT Frank Crum

Frank Crum was one of the top UDFAs available this spring. Here’s film from his time at Wyoming.

The Denver Broncos added another front-range son to their 90-man roster after the 2024 NFL draft when they signed University of Wyoming left tackle Frank Crum as a college free agent.

Crum (6-7, 315 pounds) was a big presence protecting passers for college football’s Cowboys from 2018-2023. A Laramie, Wyoming native, Crum decided to play for his hometown college after a solid high school career.

In six seasons, Crum played a total of 43 games, making him one of the most experienced college football veterans on the Broncos’ current roster.

During his time at Wyoming, Crum was instrumental in helping two Cowboy running backs break 1,000 rushing yards in a season: Xazavian Valladay (2019, 2021) and Titus Swen (2022)). Wyoming also was ranked No. 17 in the nation in rushing offense in 2020.

Check out his film below:

Crum was one of the top UDFAs available this spring, but he is still going to be a long shot to make the 53-man roster in 2024. The Broncos have gone out in recent offseasons to pay for veteran offensive linemen like Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers. He’ll face an uphill battle, but if Crum performs well, he could carve out a backup role on the Denver offensive line.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton likes OT Frank Crum’s toughness and intelligence

“He had traits we liked: toughness, intelligence,” Broncos coach said of OT Frank Crum. “We thought he had good feet and some versatility.”

After the 2024 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos landed three of the top undrafted free agent prospects, including Wyoming offensive tackle Frank Crum.

Crum (6-7, 315 pounds) played college football at Wyoming, earning first-team All-Mountain West recognition in 2023. Denver has limited depth at tackle, so Crum should have a decent chance to make the team this summer.

“He had traits,” Payton said when asked about Crum during rookie minicamp last month. “He was I think the last recruited free agent we signed. It took us probably two hours. We were all ready to go home, and we kept turning to the scouts and we were like, ‘Where are we at with Crum?’ But he had traits we liked: toughness, intelligence. We thought he had good feet and some versatility. Those are the things that stood out.”

Crum was recruited in part by offensive line coach Zach Strief, who played under Payton for 12 years in New Orleans before transitioning to coaching. Being close to his home state is just a bonus.

“Proximity is awesome for the state of Wyoming and my family, but that wasn’t the driving factor,” Crum said when asked why he signed with the Broncos. “[Denver] was the fit and Coach Strief believing and wanting me, that was the main driving force. That proximity wasn’t the biggest [factor], but it’s nice.” 

Strief, 40, won a Super Bowl with the Saints and while he only has three years of coaching under his belt, players respect Strief’s on-field accomplishments.

“He’s one of the best in the league and he lived it as well, which is a testament,” Crum said of his offensive line coach. “That’s awesome to have a guy like that in the room. I’ve really enjoyed these first couple of days and getting to know him and learn from him.”

Crum feels right at home in Colorado and appreciates the mentality the team’s coaching staff has established with the Broncos.

“Coming from Wyoming, it’s gritty and blue collar,” the rookie said. “I can really feel that the vibe is the same here right now. I’ve really enjoyed these first two days and [I’m] just learning and doing what I can do right now.”

Crum certainly isn’t a lock to make the 53-man roster, but he’s probably one of the favorites among the team’s UDFA class.

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Broncos’ UDFA contracts give hints about odds to make 53-man roster

Based on their contracts, Omar Brown, Blake Watson and Frank Crum appear to be Broncos’ early favorites to make the 53-man roster as UDFAs.

Following the 2024 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos have started filling out their 90-man offseason roster by signing undrafted free agents.

The guaranteed salaries for these UDFAs can give insights into which players were most coveted by the Broncos (and other teams).

We don’t yet know the contract details for wide receiver BJ West or tight end Dylan Leonard, but the 11 deals have been reported. Three players — defensive back Omar Brown, running back Blake Watson and offensive tackle Frank Crum — received $250,000 in guarantees, seemingly making them the early favorites to make the 53-man roster as UDFAs.

Four other players received guarantees north of $100,000. Four others were under $48,000. Here are the totals that have been reported so far:

We are tracking all of Denver’s UDFA signings on Broncos Wire.

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