Tag: udfas

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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Broncos kicker Wil Lutz shares great message to undrafted players

“Being undrafted isn’t a demotion, it’s an opportunity,” Broncos kicker Wil Lutz told UDFAs. “Use it as motivation and go to work!”

The Denver Broncos have a great history of finding undrafted free agent gems, including Super Bowl champions Rod Smith, Chris Harris, C.J. Anderson and Shaq Barrett.

More recently, the Broncos found Phillip Lindsay in 2018 and Jaleel McLaughlin in 2023. Now Denver will aim to uncover more undrafted gems this spring.

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, who went undrafted in 2016, posted a great message to UDFAs at the end of the draft on Saturday.

“Don’t let your dreams just be dreams,” Lutz wrote on his Twitter/X page. “Being undrafted isn’t a demotion, it’s an opportunity. Use it as motivation and go to work! 9 years ago I was given an opportunity, and that’s all I needed‼️”

Denver safety P.J. Locke, who went undrafted in 2019, shared a similar message on his Twitter page:

And linebacker Alex Singleton (undrafted in 2015) chimed in …

The Broncos shared a graphic of McLaughlin and wide receiver Tim Patrick (undrafted in 2017) on their Twitter page on Saturday night:

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

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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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Sean Payton’s history is good news for Broncos’ UDFAs

Sean Payton once cut a fourth-round pick to keep an undrafted player. “How they got here at this point is of no importance to us,” he said.

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When coach Sean Payton says it doesn’t matter how a player was acquired, he means it. Whether it’s a first-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent, Payton will give playing time to whoever performs in practice.

Payton, much like the Denver Broncos, has a strong history of finding UDFA gems. He used that to his advantage when recruiting undrafted players following the NFL draft in April.

“[In] my history in New Orleans, [we had] a number of [undrafted] free agents on opening day rosters in 15 years, we were [ranked] first,” Payton said on May 13. “Number of undrafted free agents that played the most amount of snaps in their first year, we were first.

“When you’re on the phone after the draft and you’re recruiting, having 16 years of that [and having] to convince a player to come because once they get here, there’s tape on their helmet with their name and now we just go by what we see. How they got here at this point is of no importance to us.”

Payton went on to recall an example of a UDFA out-performing a fourth-round draft pick. In 2007, the Saints drafted Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman in the fourth round. New Orleans then signed Illinois running back Pierre Thomas as an undrafted free agent.

“Oftentimes in our league, mistakes are made maybe in a draft pick. … we had drafted a running back in the fourth round, Pierre Thomas came and clearly in the middle of training camp, he was performing better,” Payton said. “We cut the fourth-round pick and kept Pierre.

“Two years later, he’s in the NFC Championship Game returning the kick in overtime to the 42-yard line, then converting a fourth and one and becoming a real important part of our team. You have to just go by what you see. There are mistakes that occur every year in the draft, but the key is not to compound them and continue to try to force the player.”

Thomas went on to win a Super Bowl with the Saints and he totaled 6,353 yards from scrimmage and scored 40 touchdowns in eight years in New Orleans. Payton did not overlook Thomas because he was a UDFA, and the coach was willing to admit his mistake and cut a fourth-round draft pick.

That kind of history is good news for Denver’s 2023 UDFA class. Anyone who performs on the field will have a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster, regardless of their draft pedigree or lack thereof.

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Here are the jersey numbers for Broncos’ undrafted free agent signings

Here are the jersey numbers for the Broncos’ 11 undrafted free agent additions.

After previously announcing jersey numbers for their draft class and veteran free agent signings, the Denver Broncos have assigned numbers to the undrafted free agent signings on the team’s online roster.

Here are the UDFA jersey numbers ahead of OTAs:

13 WR Taylor Grimes*
28 CB Art Green*
38 RB Jaleel McLaughlin*
45 TE Nate Adkins
52 OLB Marcus Haynes
57 ILB Seth Benson
59 OLB Thomas Incoom
63 OL Alex Palczewski
64 DL Haggai Ndubuisi**
66 G Henry Byrd
71 OL Demontrey Jacobs
97 DL P.J. Mustipher

*Three players will share numbers with players on opposite sides of the ball this summer — Grimes (13) with DB Delonte Hood, Green (28) with RB Damarea Crockett and McLaughlin (38) with DB Devon Key.

**Ndubuisi joined the team earlier this month as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Ndubuisi will not count against the 90-man offseason roster this summer.

Fans should note that all of these numbers are subject to change. Several players will likely switch numbers after the 53-man roster is set.

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Broncos make 4 roster cuts to make room for UDFAs

The Broncos have cut four players to make room for their undrafted free agent signings.

The Denver Broncos are parting ways with four players to make room for their 15 new undrafted free agent signings on the 90-man offseason roster.

Here’s a quick recap of the players who have been cut, with a hat tip to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

  • OLB Jake Martin totaled six tackles one sack in five games last season. Denver saved about $3.8 million in salary cap space with his release.
  • OT Casey Tucker spent time on the Broncos’ practice squad in 2021. He then suffered a toe injury last summer and missed the 2022 season. Tucker will now hit the waiver wire.
  • OL Parker Ferguson signed with Denver’s practice squad in December. He is considered a first-year player.
  • RB Tyreik McAllister was part of the Broncos’ UDFA signing class last year. Also considered a first-year player, McAllister will join Ferguson and Tucker on the waiver wire.

After making those cuts, the Broncos’ are now at the 90-man roster limit. More moves could be on the way in the coming days after players try out at rookie minicamp this weekend.

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Broncos announce undrafted free agent signings: Meet the 15 players

Learn more about the 15 undrafted free agents the Broncos signed following the 2023 NFL draft.

After selecting five players in the 2023 NFL draft (and adding a sixth player through a draft-day trade), the Denver Broncos have filled their 90-man offseason roster by signing undrafted free agents.

The Broncos signed 15 UDFAs after the draft, including two running backs and two defensive linemen. Those are two notable positions given that Denver did not select a running back or a defensive lineman during the draft.

The Broncos also brought in tight ends, wide receivers, offensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. Undrafted players often face long odds to make the 53-man roster, but Denver has a strong history of uncovering UDFA gems.

Here’s a look at the 15 UDFA signings the Broncos made in 2023.

Broncos set to begin rookie minicamp this weekend

The Broncos are set to hold a rookie minicamp this weekend with several tryout players in attendance.

Welcome back, Denver Broncos football (practice)!

The Broncos are scheduled to hold a rookie minicamp at their facility beginning on Friday, May 12 and running through Sunday, May 14. Media members will be allowed to attend the team’s practice on Saturday, but the session will be closed to the public.

Denver will also make coach Sean Payton available to the media on Saturday and select players will be available for interviews after practice.

In addition to the five members of their 2023 draft class, the Broncos are also bringing their undrafted free agent signees to minicamp plus rookie and veteran tryout players.

After wrapping up rookie minicamp this weekend, up next on Denver’s offseason calendar is organized team activities. The Broncos are set to hold OTAs from May 23-25, May 30-June 1 and June 5-8.

After that, Denver will hold a mandatory minicamp from June 13-15. Players will then get a summer break until training camp begins in late July.

Welcome to the team, rookies! Here’s to hoping for a productive, healthy first weekend with the Broncos.

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Broncos expected to have more than 50 players at rookie minicamp

The Broncos are expected to host more than 50 players at rookie minicamp, including two quarterbacks and several veteran tryout players.

The Denver Broncos are expected to have 50-60 players at their rookie minicamp this weekend, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

In addition to their draft class and undrafted free agent signings, the Broncos will also have 2022 practice squad players, rookie tryout invites and veteran tryout players at minicamp this weekend.

Defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, who does not officially count against the 90-man offseason roster as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway, will also attend rookie minicamp this weekend.

Denver has invited at least five veterans, including XFL quarterback Ben DiNucci. The Broncos’ full list of known invited tryout players can be seen below. Keep in mind that not all of these players will attend the camp. (QB Judd Erickson, for example, decided to sign with a CFL team instead.)

Broncos Rookie Minicamp Tryout Invites

1. QB Ben DiNucci, XFL [via]
2. QB Judd Erickson, San Diego [via]
3. QB Hunter Raquet, CSU-Pueblo [via]
4. RB Jacques Patrick, XFL [via]
5. WR Nick Williams, UNLV [via]
6. WR Josh Johnston, Mines [via]
7. TE Tommy Hudson, ex-Titan [via]
8. TE Dangan Rienks, Mesa State [via]
9. OL Warren Ericson, Georgia [via]
10. OL Gray Davis, Colorado State [via]
11. OL Isaac Cochran, Air Force [via]
12. DL Christian Mejia, Washington State [via]
13. DL Demetrius Taylor, ex-Lion [via]
14. DL Momar Fall, CSU-Pueblo [via]
15. DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, IPP [via]
16. OLB Chris Whittaker, Incarnate Word [via]
17. OLB Trent Harris, XFL [via]
18. LB Bo Calvert, UCLA [via]
19. DB Stephan Blaylock, UCLA [via]
20. DB Marquel Broughton, Army [via]
21. DB Nick Ciccio, Northern Colorado [via]
22. LS Jack Landherr, UCLA [via]
23. K Jared Sackett, UTSA [via]

Denver’s rookie minicamp will run from Friday through Sunday. Players report to the team’s facility on Thursday.

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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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