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Wearing boots beat to snot, Broncos rookie Dalton Risner is going to kick tail in NFL. By Mark Kiszla Denver Post May 2, 2019

The boots on his feet are beat to snot, but every crack in the faded leather reveals more about Dalton Risner than all the tests at the NFL combine ever could. He’s the steal of the draft, the best pick John Elway made for the Broncos in 2019.

This big farm boy from Wiggins isn’t coming to Denver to dance under the bright lights and live the fast life. Risner is here to grunt and sweat, then study video until a 6-foot-5, 312-pound rookie learns all the steps and moves move down the line stronger than the beat of a Kenny Chesney song.

I’ll guarantee you this: Risner will get down and dirty, do whatever it takes, to help the Broncos get back to the .

“These are my work boots right here,” said Risner, taking stock of the tattered boots sticking out from under his dress slacks like a cowboy at a cotillion. “These are the boots I’m going to be wearing into this complex. I’m showing up here for work. This isn’t a vacation. This is work, man.”

When Risner arrived at team headquarters last weekend after being selected 41st overall in the draft, he was dressed to kill and look the part on television. His beard was freshly trimmed. His suit was a serious business shade of gray. His tie was sharp, adorned with 100 bright and sunny C’s of the Colorado state flag that Risner couldn’t stop talking about, because a kid who grew up toiling on a dairy farm and adoring the Broncos was here to represent all 886 of his neighbors back in Wiggins.

But I wanted to ask about his scruffy boots.

“What about them?” said Risner, eyes dropping to the floor as proud smile lit up his face.

I needed to hear the history behind the hardworking footwear that had obviously been through everything from snow to manure, although from the looks of all those scars and cracks in the leather, they had probably never seen a single tin of polish.

“These are the boots I’m wearing in the corral, the boots I’m wearing to feed cattle,” said Risner, standing in the huge theater that serves as the Broncos’ primary team-meeting room. “These boots are just kind of who I am. I’m not going to show up here with these pretty …”

Penny loafers that would look all wrong on Risner. And once you find a good pair of boots, why give them up until your toes fall out the bottom?

“I’ve worn these suckers for probably three or four years now,” Risner said. “I don’t know if it’s because I want to get ’em worn out, or because size 18 boots are pretty dang hard to find. You’ve got to go kill a whole cow to get all that leather, man.”

If you trust boots to tell the truth about a man, we know Risner is tough as cowhide and as unaffected as his warm smile. What’s more, there’s something behind the rookie’s easy grin, something essential to an offensive lineman capable of making it big at the pro level: brains.

Yes, Risner is strong enough to knock a refrigerator door off its hinges. But he’s also smart enough to not regularly get caught for a 15-yard penalty when wrestling a defensive lineman in the trenches.

“I think that attracts coaches,” Risner said. “I think they like an offensive lineman that might not just be some big, mean nasty guy that blocks left and blocks right, but a guy that’s smart and understands the game of football.”

Tell you what. No offense to tight end or the defiant quarterback from Missouri with a stack on Pringles on his shoulder, but I’m willing to wager Risner will be the best player in Denver’s 2019 draft class.

Ask fellow rookie what he thinks of Risner, and the Denver’s future starting QB gushes: “Dalton is a fiery human being.” But my hunch of how good the big offensive lineman will be in the NFL is based on more than the all-conference recognition he earned at Kansas State or the 23 times Risner hoisted the bar during the bench press at the combine.

Why am I so certain?

Check out those beat-to-snot boots on his feet. Those size 18’s were built to kick some …

Broncos open fan voting to select “Top 100 Team” to celebrate NFL’s centennial season By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post May 2, 2019

The Broncos’ involvement in celebrating the NFL’s 100th season will feature a “Fantennial Weekend” in mid-October.

During the Broncos’ Oct. 13 home game against Tennessee, owner Pat Bowlen (represented by his family) and cornerback Champ Bailey will be presented Hall of Fame Rings of Excellence. Bowlen and Bailey will be inducted to the Hall on Aug. 3.

Also recognized on-field during the game will be members of the “Broncos Top 100 Team.”

Voting for the top 100 team is now open at denverbroncos.com/broncos100.

Fan voting will run through May and the top 100 team will be announced in mid-June. Broncos alumni players will also vote.

Elway on drafting Lock: 'You're always trying to find an answer to the quarterback position. You can't wait till you don't have one.' By Mike Klis 9NEWS May 2, 2019

Yeah, yeah, all you wisecrackers about how John Elway can’t evaluate quarterbacks.

You thought Elway was going to stop swinging? Elway was going to go down listening to critics, allowing them to beat him down and scare him into making the safe choice by taking a quarterback in the fourth or fifth rounds?

No way, Elway.

The Broncos’ general manager made the bold move of trading up 11 spots to the upper-half of the second round to take quarterback Drew Lock, who many mocksters thought would go in the top 10 picks of the first round. More precisely, No. 10 to the Broncos. Instead, Elway got him at No. 42.

“You’re always trying to find an answer to the quarterback position,’’ Elway said in a sit-down interview with 9News. “You can’t wait till you don’t have one. We’ve been working on it and you’re always working on it.

“We feel good about what we have in Drew and his ability over the next couple years to continue to grow and make some strides. Hopefully, he’s that guy for the future.’’

Joe Flacco is now and maybe 2020. Drew Lock is tomorrow and no later than 2021.

It was Lock and the maneuvers to get Lock – the trade back from No. 10, where Elway may well have taken linebacker Devin Bush, and instead parlay the swap into tight Noah Fant at No. 20 and Lock at No. 42 – that generated high scores across the football landscape for Elway’s draft.

“We never know because until you put the pads on, it’s always a big jump from to the NFL,’’ Elway said. “But I think if you were to ask me (the day) before the draft that you’d come out with these six players would you be happy? I’d say yeah, I’d be extremely happy.’’

The Broncos draft picks:

1. (20) Noah Fant, tight end

2. (41) Dalton Risner, guard

2. (42) Drew Lock, quarterback

3. (71) Dre’Mont Jones, defensive lineman

5. (156) , LB, Oregon

6. (187) , WR, Colorado

Other draft topics 9News discussed with Elway:

*After acquiring the No. 52 pick in the second round from Pittsburgh on Thursday, did he wrestle with taking a player who could start the season opener – say Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai or LSU cornerback Greedy Williams or one of the Ole Miss receivers A.J. Brown or D.K. Metcalf – instead of trading up to take Lock, who if all goes well won’t play a snap in 2019?

“Well, it was important for us to get an offensive lineman,’’ Elway said, referring to taking guard Dalton Risner with the No. 41 pick – one pick ahead of where the Broncos got Lock. “That’s what we had targeted in the second. And Risner was that guy. So that was just as important.

“And then we had the ammo we got from Pittsburgh on the first day at 52 to see if we could get up and see where things were falling. And with Drew falling like he did, we felt like it was opportunity because we knew how much we liked him and it was an opportunity for us to get great, great value in a quarterback. And we think in the future can be a starter from the second round.’’

*Elway started the draft with three picks through the first two days; five picks on the last day.

He ended up with four picks through the first two days, but only two on the last day.

“We felt it was a top-end draft,’’ Elway said. “It wasn’t really too deep. …

“Later in the draft, I think a lot of teams were targeting guys that they liked. It wasn’t real deep. We had Juwann Winfree targeted from CU. We really liked him so that’s why we gave up our seventh round pick to pick him up in the sixth.’’

*In the six-year period between 2013-18, Elway made just three trades involving the first three rounds – moving up six spots in the second round to take receiver Cody Latimer in 2014, and trading up five spots in the first round to take Shane Ray in 2015 and Paxton Lynch in 2016.

In the 2019 draft, Elway became Trader John, making two huge trades in the first two rounds – trading down in the first round and then trading back up in the second round.

Elway in his ninth season as general manager seemed to cut it loose.

“You never know how it’s going to fall,’’ he said. “You always get a little bit nervous -- there are ways you would like it fall. You do all your draft prep and get your board set and you have people you like and you hope it falls this way and have it happen this way – and obviously it never does so you’ve got to be ready for everything.

“But especially with the first two days we felt really good about it with Dalton Risner and what he can do as far as helping us on the offensive line and what Noah can do as far as stretching the field as a tight end.’’ Broncos have focused free agency and the draft on fixing the offense By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com May 2, 2019

The have wandered the we-didn't-make-the-playoffs wilderness for three seasons now, and it has turned one of the league's throw-deep executives into a one-day-at-a-time guy.

"I'm really at the point that we're going to take this thing one day at a time," Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway said. "Obviously, it's been disappointing the last couple years, and I'm excited about the new staff and the new players we do have, but it's one step at a time. I'm just kind of -- I don't want to get too far ahead, but I'm excited with the guys that we have. But again, as I said, this thing is one step at a time, so we'll keep it that way."

That's a long way from his "there's no Plan B" statement after he signed Peyton Manning, but that's what 5-11 and 6-10 the past two seasons will do to you.

Elway's solution to the losing? Fix the offense this offseason. While he has said that the team needed more "continuity" in its offense to be better, the Broncos also simply faced a talent deficit. For the first time in his tenure, Elway has combined the most money spent in free agency with the team's premium draft picks on offense.

They traded for quarterback Joe Flacco, made Ja'Wuan James the highest-paid right in the league and used the first three picks of their draft on offense, taking tight end Noah Fant, guard/center Dalton Risner and quarterback Drew Lock.

Fant and Risner figure to be starters by September. Elway has promised patience with Lock, but he called him the Broncos' "quarterback of the future" after the team traded up in the second round to select him.

"I think that, first of all, we improved in the offseason with the addition of Joe Flacco and bringing him in, and Ja'Wuan James at the right tackle," Elway said after the draft. "... Then going with Noah and Dalton with the first two picks, we feel like they can come in and help us also. ... Obviously, Noah can stretch the field. Joe's going to -- to me, we still believe he has tremendous upside in his career -- so we feel a lot better about that. ... We feel much better sitting here now today than we did coming out of last season with where we are and the additions that we've made."

Elway added coach Vic Fangio's staff to those changes, including offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and offensive line coach Mike Munchak. The Broncos have hitched their hopes to an updated version of the West Coast offense that Scangarello brings with him after being on Kyle Shanahan's staff in San Francisco and to Flacco having some miles left on his career odometer.

But the Broncos have approached the past few months with a focus on a talent upgrade on offense. In three consecutive playoff misses, they haven't finished higher than 22nd in points scored or higher than 17th in yards per game, and they finished 28th and 31st on third down the past two seasons. Fant, in particular, will be expected to give the Broncos a matchup they haven't had on offense in recent seasons with his 4.50 speed in the 40-yard dash.

"He was one of the first guys I watched, and obviously, he can run," Fangio said. "That was the first thing that jumps out at you."

Certainly, questions about Flacco, about the patience the Broncos will have with Lock and about two veteran starters -- wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and guard Ron Leary -- will remain unanswered until the 2019 season gets rolling. But the Broncos dove into the offseason trying to fix a quarterback problem and made it clear that they believed the talent around the list of departed quarterbacks (Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler and Case Keenum) wasn't helping them much.

In a few months, we'll find out if they succeeded.

Broncos announce plans for NFL 100 'Fantennial Weekend' and Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony for weekend of Oct. 13 vs. Tennessee By Staff DenverBroncos.com May 2, 2019

The Denver Broncos will celebrate the NFL’s 100th season with a ‘Fantennial Weekend’ culminating in a recognition of Owner Pat Bowlen and cornerback Champ Bailey’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 13 (vs. Tennessee, 2:25 p.m. MDT kickoff).

As part of the Fantennial celebration, Broncos fans will have the opportunity to help select the Broncos Top 100 Team through online voting and are encouraged to use #Broncos100.

Voting is now open by visiting denverbroncos.com/broncos100.

Fan voting will run through the month of May, and the Top 100 team will be announced in mid-June. Broncos alumni as well as Team Historian Jim Saccomano and Senior Digital Reporter Andrew Mason will also help pick the Broncos Top 100 Team.

Entering their 60th season in 2019, the Broncos have honored players and individuals throughout their history. The Broncos Ring of Fame was founded in 1984 by Mr. Bowlen and the Broncos 50th Anniversary Team was voted on by fans in 2009.

Select members of the Broncos Top 100 Team will participate in fan-facing events (Oct. 11-13) and be recognized on-field during the game against the Titans.

Pro Football Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker will be at Broncos Stadium at Mile High to present Hall of Fame Rings of Excellence by Kay Jewelers to Bailey and members of the Bowlen family on behalf of Owner Pat Bowlen. Timing of the ceremonies will be announced at a later date.

More details about the Broncos’ ‘Fantennial Weekend,’ which includes a local high school football component, will also be announced at a later date.

The Broncos and United Way announced in April that they will be hosting the Denver Day of Service throughout the metro area on Friday, June 7. The Denver Day of Service is part of the Broncos’ Huddle for 100, a league-wide initiative that encourages fans to volunteer for at least 100 minutes during the celebration of the NFL’s 100th season.

More than 20 organizations have committed to hosting projects, and volunteers can sign up by visiting: https://volunteer.unitedwaydenver.org/event/104732-Denver-Day-of-Service.

How did the Broncos stack up against the rest of the AFC West in the draft? By Andre Simone BSN Denver May 2, 2019

As the dust settles on the 2019 NFL Draft, it’s time to look back and see who, based off of our rankings, had the best draft in the AFC West.

While it’s obviously early to analyze a draft class of players who won’t have truly proven their worth until their rookie contracts are up in four years, it’s a worthwhile exercise to see who was able to get the best value out of the draft based on our pre-draft evaluation.

After all, winning the draft is going to lead to wins on the field and have long-term repercussions on how the balance of power in the division shifts in the next few years. Here’s how the Denver Broncos and their rivals did in Nashville this weekend.

Denver Broncos: A- The Broncos came in with three top-100 picks and turned that into four top-50 prospects by moving down 10 spots in round one and adding great value at each pick.

Now, by the time the Broncos were on the clock with the 20th selection, they had a few first-round graded players remaining on our board but decided instead to go after Noah Fant, a phenomenal talent who’s still a bit rough around the edges.

Fant’s appeal goes beyond a regular tight end as he’d be a high-end athlete even for the wide receiver position. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Fant’s an offensive weapon who, if utilized the right way, could change an offense and allow Rich Scangarello to play more two tight-end sets, while having the type of personnel that allows him to essentially be in three-receiver looks, which will force opposing defenses to adjust. That’s a huge asset to have added to the offense even if he wasn’t perfect value on our board.

From there, the Broncos dominated the draft by grabbing a top-30 offensive lineman in Dalton Risner, who’s a plug-and-play starter. Risner’s appeal lies in his positional versatility, as he could easily play right tackle at a competent level but could be one of the better centers or guards in the NFL if converted. His plus character is another big selling point for the local kid who should’ve easily made it into round one ahead of other tackles like Tytus Howard or Kaleb McGary.

The pick of the draft was made with the Broncos moving up to select quarterback Drew Lock, our third- ranked passer and 20th-overall prospect. While still far from a finished product, Lock’s high-end upside and the progress he’s made throughout his career make him a very intriguing developmental piece. His strong character makes him a safer gamble as well. The price of a top-50 pick made this selection a no brainer.

Denver’s best value pick of all was Dre’Mont Jones, our 42nd ranked prospect who they were able to get at the top of round three. Jones has prototypical size and an electric first step, both qualities that turned him into one of the best interior pass rushers in the draft class. The sky is the limit if he can improve his technique and add strength.

Denver got started on day three with the versatile and athletic Justin Hollins who could wind up being a nice piece in Vic Fangio’s defense. Hollins is a sound football player who can do everything at outside backer and could even be used in the middle from time to time.

John Elway closed the draft off by selecting underutilized wide receiver Juwann Winfree. Winfree is all projection, possessing size, hands, and speed, and could compete for the third receiver spot on the depth chart sooner rather than later. With that being said, with Fant in the mix, the third wideout might not see nearly as many snaps as he would’ve in the past.

Overall, the Broncos addressed all their needs outside of defensive back and found immediate contributors with four projected high-end starters. That’s a massive haul. Another big selling point for this class is that everyone has a relative high-floor but also plenty of upside, you can’t say that about many draft classes.

Maybe more important, Elway finally addressed the offense, and between free agency and the past two drafts, there’s a lot to work with for Scangarello and his staff.

If there’s one criticism of this class, it’s that there’s only one day-one starter in the group, as everyone outside of Risner might be more of a part-time contributor than an immediate starter. With the 10th pick, you’d expect a little more than that, but it’s hard to complain about the best Broncos draft, by a long shot, since we’ve been publishing our rankings.

Riskiest Pick Any time you select a quarterback there’s risk involved, especially when you trade up for one, but given Lock was drafted at 42 overall, that risk is mitigated quite a bit.

That’s why Fant is the pick here, who at his best could be a dynamic receiving weapon that changes the balance of the Broncos offense. However, if he ends up just being more of a gadget player whose hands and route running remain unrefined, the 20th pick will prove to have been too high.

A lot rides on the coaching staff to bring Fant along and utilize him in a way that maximizes his unbelievable raw talents.

Best Pick Pick any of the top four, and you’d be right, but we’re going with Jones, whose ability to get after the quarterback, added to the pass rushing talent Denver already has on their roster, could prove to be a scary combination.

If Jones can iron out his game and turn himself into an every down starter, this will end up being a first- round level talent and the steal of the Broncos draft.

Kansas City Chiefs: C This was a D-level draft when you look at the value the Chiefs got on a pick-by-pick basis. Their saving grace is the Frank Clark trade, which still came at a high cost and now limits KC’s cap spending going forward.

Essentially, this is the roster they’ve chosen to go all in with for the next three years, while is under a rookie deal. They better be right or could look back and realize they wasted the most promising championship window in franchise history.

After sitting out day one with their $100 million pass rusher in hand, the Chiefs used the first of their two second-round picks on Georgia receiver , an undersized speedster who should replace .

Hardman’s 4.3 speed and return ability make him a fascinating fit in this offense but he was also our 26th ranked receiver and just barely missed the cut in our top-200. At pick 56, that’s a monumental reach. The Chiefs had other speedy receiver options with much better production and a bit more muscle to create YAC in their offense, a key to replacing Hill. Passing on guys like Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and even Andy Isabella, could come back to haunt them as Hardman’s production at Georgia was underwhelming and he didn’t have a much better average yard per reception than Noah Fant. This felt like a win-now move, much like the Clark trade, and forced the Chiefs to reach on a player who fits the profile they were searching for.

Their other second-rounder, is a workout-warrior who could be an asset covering the slot or at either safety spot, in essence giving them a new starting safety and a potential third corner. This was another reach at 63 overall, as Thornhill has obvious holes in his game. More troubling, he seems a bit redundant with as KC really needed a cornerback more than anything else here.

Pass-rushing interior defensive lineman was a nice addition in the third round at pick 84. Saunders is ultra-athletic and can get after the passer, but he can be inconsistent against the run, much like Chris Jones, meaning they might’ve ended up just getting a third-down specialist instead of a future starter.

Day three was nothing to write home about for the Chiefs, who did make one noteworthy addition in undersized speedy back Darwin Thompson. Thomspon’s speed, quickness, and contact balance stand out, making him a dangerous weapon in KC’s backfield.

With the urgency of adding immediate contributors, the Chiefs pressed a bit to get their guys instead of letting the board fall to them. With three top-100 picks, they didn’t get their money’s worth according to our rankings.

Riskiest Pick Hardman has to be the riskiest pick of the bunch having only caught 59 passes in the last two seasons for less than 1,000 yards. He wasn’t even Georgia’s best receiver, yet, he was the first taken as is gambling he can recreate what he had in Hill with another late-round pick. Only Hardman wasn’t taken that late, he’s a borderline top-50 selection and for all that he brings, he won’t be nearly as tough to stop as Hill was.

Best Pick The Chiefs have completely revamped their defensive front to fit what new defensive coordinator , the NASCAR-front savant, wants. They now have Clark, and Saunders to pair with Jones, not a bad foursome to have.

For all his limitations Sanders can rush from inside or outside despite having prototypical defensive tackle size. He might be too much of a finesse player right now and could take a while to adjust to the NFL coming from the FCS, but there is lots to like with this pick.

Los Angeles Chargers: B The Chargers keep adding to their defense and worked the draft board nicely by snatching up three players in our top 75 with three top-100 picks.

It all starts with who has as much upside as just about any defensive lineman in the loaded 2019 class. If Tillery reaches his lofty potential, offenses out west will be in deep trouble as he can rush the passer and has prototypical length.

Safety and nickel corner was a nice value pick at 60th overall in the late second, his versatility will allow the Chargers to get creative with him , who complement each other nicely.

Fourth-round pick Drue Tranquill was a steal at pick 130, as the converted safety was impossible to miss when watching Notre Dame tape last year. He plugs a hole in the Bolts interior linebacker group and has an ideal profile to become a high-end special teamer too.

Outside of those three picks, the Chargers didn’t get great value and were unable to address huge needs on offense, especially on the offensive line. LA did take tackle 91st overall, a long-term project out of Division II Sioux Falls. It’s hard enough to play early in the NFL as an offensive tackle, it’s that much harder when making a transition from DII. The value on that pick was not good.

The Bolts got another small-school prospect in , who they’ll try to groom as their quarterback of the future, an okay pick at 166, though there were better options. Stick’s stock fell off a bit after a lackluster East-West Shrine performance. He’s mobile and will make some flash throws but was also helped by all the talent surrounding him on the most dominant football program in the country, for their competition level, at North Dakota State.

Defensively, the Chargers knocked this draft out of the park, but the offensive haul was underwhelming, to say the least.

Riskiest Pick This has to be Pipkins who didn’t test off the charts at the combine and was taken ahead of more accomplished offensive tackle prospects like Yodny Cajuste and Chuma Edoga. The Chargers better have guessed right on the small-school gem, or they’ll end up watching him struggle while Philip Rivers finishes out his career.

Best Pick Tillery is a phenomenal pick in the late first who really had no business still being around at 28. His pass rushing upside is off the charts, and he’ll see plenty of one-on-one opportunities on a defensive front with Melvin Ingram and .

Oakland Raiders: B+ As we explain in our first-round grades, the Raiders did what they had to with three first-round picks, getting adequate but not great value. At 40th overall, with their selection of Clemson cornerback , they did more of the same, getting a nice pick but not a steal.

It’s what they were able to do after the first two rounds that stood out, as Oakland came away with six top 80 prospects, exactly what a rebuilding franchise needs to do in a monumental draft like 2019 was for the Silver & Black.

Edge rusher is a very intriguing pick for his plus athleticism, production, and length, forming a nice young core with fourth-overall selection and second-year player Arden Key.

Adding a long cornerback like Isaiah Johnson at 129 was another quality pickup, as was blocking tight end Foster Moreau, who has upside as a receiver given his plus-athleticism.

Even slot wideout was a solid selection at 149 in round five.

The Raiders valued character above all and got some solid prospects with great measurables, making them worthwhile gambles to reach their ceilings. They did a good job of addressing most of their needs outside of linebacker as well.

New GM Mike Mayock had to nail this draft and did a really good job adding value on day three, significantly upping their grade. If not for a ho-hum first four picks, this would’ve been an A-level draft.

Riskiest Pick Given how high he was picked, Ferrell becomes the riskiest pick of the bunch, as he was our ninth- ranked prospect who the Raiders took fourth overall. Ferrell has a really high-floor and a great blend of power, motor, length, and finishing ability. He’ll be a menace for sure, but he also benefitted from playing on a line with three other high-end NFL caliber talents at Clemson. That won’t be the case in Oakland where he’ll have to be the man on the defensive front. That’s where the risk comes in as Ferrell might just be a top 10-to-15 NFL edge rusher, lacking elite bend or athleticism for the position.

Time will tell if the Raiders were right to pass on players like Josh Allen or Brian Burns who profile to be more electric speed rushers off the edge.

Best Pick Crosby is really enticing and was a fine pickup with the 106th pick, as we ranked him 77th overall with a third round grade. He has everything you look for in an edge rusher and tested much better than Ferrell at the combine. The only question is the competition level he faced, but his high-end measurables say his production in the MAC should translate.

Offensive tackles out west have been put on notice, after a year off from blocking , the Raiders intend to get after the quarterback again, and Crosby shouldn’t be taken lightly.

How did the Broncos stack up against the rest of the AFC West in the draft? By Cecil Lammey 1043TheFan.com May 2, 2019

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the books, the Broncos turned their attention to the college free agents that didn’t hear their names called during the three-days in Nashville.

Historically, the Broncos have been very good – perhaps the best in the league – when it comes to finding quality talent in the priority free agent pool. A college free agent has made Denver’s active roster out of training camp in a whopping 14 of the last 15 seasons.

Not only do Broncos UDFAs make the team, some of them earn Pro Bowl honors, like Chris Harris Jr. (2014-2016, 2018), C.J. Anderson (2014) and Phillip Lindsay (2018).

Let’s take a look at the 10 undrafted prospects signed so far to see what kind of hidden gems the Broncos may have added.

Quinn Bailey | OL | Arizona State Bailey has the natural strength and talent to make the 53-man roster. He was a good college tackle who projects best inside at guard in the pros. Bailey is what scouts call a “knee bender” and he does a good job locking onto his man. A smart player, Bailey is not often fooled by stunts and twists on the defensive line in front of him.

Trinity Benson | WR | East Central It’s easy to see how Benson can use his quickness to get open on slant routes, plus he has a long stride to pull away from chasing defenders. The person I consider to be the best draft analyst out there, Dane Brugler from The Athletic, called Benson a “late-round sleeper to keep on the radar.” Benson measures 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, and impressed scouts at his pro day with a 4.4 40-yard dash and a sub-6.9 second three-cone drill. He can work as a receiver or return man, and Benson even got a chance to get some carries on sweeps for East Central.

Joe Dineen | LB | Kansas The best way to describe Dineen’s playing style is “old school.” He’s a two-down run-stuffer who isn’t afraid of contact. During the past two years for the Jayhawks, Dineen had nearly 300 tackles as one of the most-productive players on the roster. Seen as a relentless leader on defense, Dineen was snubbed from being selected to participate in the Scouting Combine. A hamstring injury during his pro day limited his pre-draft work, perhaps to the Broncos benefit.

Austin Fort | TE | Wyoming Fort originally went to the University of Wyoming as a quarterback. He redshirted in 2014 and played quarterback at Chabot Community College for the 2015 season. Fort switched to the tight end position and is still learning the nuances of playing in that spot. He’s got the athleticism to get open on underneath routes and even got some carries out of the backfield for the Cowboys. Fort was also a standout special teams player in college.

Ahmad Gooden | LB | Samford While most might not have heard of Samford’s Ahmad Gooden, there are plenty of draft analysts who saw him as a late-round sleeper in the 2019 NFL Draft. A stand-up defensive end in college, Gooden is likely to play linebacker at the pro level at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds. He displays good hustle on his way to the quarterback and has a field awareness that puts him in most plays, even if they go away from his side of the field. Gooden has some speed, as evidenced by the he scored on a 50-yard return against Furman.

Romell Guerrier | WR | Florida Tech The first thing that stands out about Guerrier is his ability to track the ball downfield and make difficult catches over his shoulder. Guerrier has incredible concentration when the ball is headed his way. He’s not the biggest receiver, measuring in at 5’10” 186 pounds, but Guerrier has the speed to create space. Guerrier has good playing speed and seems to have an extra gear to pull away from defenders after the catch.

Devontae Jackson | RB | West Georgia Jackson isn’t the biggest running back, measuring in at 5-foot-7, 176 pounds, but he has great footwork and is a big play waiting to happen as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. He averaged more than 6.0 yards per carry in four years of starting in college and scored 31 on the ground during that time. In addition to quick feet and jukes, Jackson can break off a well-timed spin move to gain positive yards. Even though he’s not built to be a pile-pusher, Jackson does fight for every yard and can be slippery when defenders are trying to bring him down.

Jaylen Johnson | DL | Washington Johnson has what scouts call “violent striking hands” and he certainly knows how to use them to disengage from blockers. He’s got the skill set to work as a one-gap player on the defensive line at 6- foot-3, 286 pounds. Johnson wasn’t asked to penetrate much in college, but that could be his role in the NFL. He’s got a quick first step out of his stance and Johnson understands how to string moves together. Johnson is smart and does a good job of diagnosing plays while engaged with a blocker.

John Leglue | OL | Tulane In 2019, the Broncos want to run the ball early and often, so it makes sense they would go to one of the best run-blocking lines in the country to find Leglue. He’s an incredibly bright player who is also known as a film junkie and was beloved by his Green Wave teammates at Tulane. Leglue is versatile and can line up at right tackle, center or guard (his likely best spot in the pros).

Brian Wallace | OL | Arkansas The Broncos got a huge offensive tackle when they signed Wallace, one of the better UDFAs from this year’s crop. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 326 pounds, Wallace’s game is built on power. When he gets his hands on a defender, he can move him out of the way with ease. Wallace needs to work on his balance and footwork in order to make it as a tackle in the NFL. He could also move into guard if need be.

NOTE: You’ll notice on this list that Boise State quarterback was not listed. This list was from the players who signed their deals on or before Tuesday. A team source tells me more signings (including Rypien) are to come. When his signing becomes official, I’ll certainly be breaking down his game.

13 NFL veterans who have been put on notice after NFL draft By Nate Davis USA Today May 2, 2019

The 2019 NFL draft now complete, the roster-building process for the league's 32 teams is basically complete heading into next season.

Sure, clubs will tinker — prominent free agents like Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry, Michael Crabtree and Ziggy Ansah remain unsigned. But even with the writing on the wall for veterans like the Giants' Eli Manning, Broncos' Joe Flacco and Bengals' Andy Dalton — each of their teams just selected a quarterback — their starting jobs appear safe for Week 1, at minimum, and probably all year.

However, other established players could find themselves on the move in the draft's wake. For example, with first-round ILB Devin Bush in the fold, Pittsburgh cut Jon Bostic, who started 14 games last season, after the draft ended Saturday evening.

Here are a few others whose jobs suddenly look tenuous given the rookies headed in their direction:

Eagles WR Nelson Agholor: For a guy who's never topped 800 receiving yards in a season, the $9.4 million on his fifth-year option might be more cheddar than Philly wants to swallow — especially with second-round WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside entering the mix alongside veterans Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson.

Patriots P Ryan Allen: One of the unsung heroes of Super Bowl LIII, Allen may have that as his final appearance for New England. Bill Belichick didn't spend a fifth-rounder on Stanford's Jacob Bailey with the intent of keeping two punters — especially since only $100,000 of Allen's $1.5 million salary for 2019 is guaranteed.

Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Hope you had plenty of cake during your honeymoon as Miami's starter given the new coaching staff has every incentive to take a long look at newly acquired Josh Rosen in order to determine how he fits into this franchise's future. Fitzpatrick could be an instant trade asset if another team's quarterback goes down in the months ahead.

Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill: There's no performance issue here, Hill garnering Pro Bowl honors in all three of his NFL seasons and named an all-pro receiver for the first time in 2018. But after the Johnson County (Kansas) District Attorney's office reopened an investigation into whether he abused his 3-year-old son — four years after Hill pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery of his current fiancée — it appears increasingly likely he won't be a member of this team. How else to explain Kansas City's decision to spend its first pick (56th overall) on WR Mecole Hardman, whose game is similar to Hill's even if the talent level isn't the same, despite the club's defensive issues and fact WR signed a three-year, $48 million contract just last year?

Eagles RB Jordan Howard: Acquired from the Bears in a March trade, he's only under contract for 2019 and may find himself fighting for snaps behind second-rounder Miles Sanders, who might be the most explosive and versatile back on a jumbled depth chart. Howard could be another guy who gets moved if another team's starting back goes down this summer.

Patriots QB Brian Hoyer: Tom Brady's 33-year-old backup is under contract for one more year. And though it might make sense to carry three passers, given Auburn's Jarrett Stidham arrived in the fourth round, New England was comfortable keeping only Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014, the latter's rookie season.

Giants CB Janoris Jenkins: He hasn't lived up to the five-year, $62.5 million contract he signed in 2016, and his name was floating around at the trade deadline last October. More telling, the Giants just added corners and Julian Love after taking Sam Beal in the 2018 supplemental draft. Could this be an odd-man-out situation given Jenkins' money and performance?

Raiders S : Over the past six weeks, Oakland signed Lamarcus Joyner to a four-year, $42 million deal, then chose hard-hitting in the first round. Where does that leave Joseph, whose fifth-year option has not yet been picked up? "I think that's a conversation we'll have with Karl," GM Mike Mayock said when asked about the former first-rounder's future.

Bills RB LeSean McCoy: He did wonders in a limited offense for several years before suffering a sharp decline in production in 2018 (514 rushing yards in 14 games). With fellow vet Frank Gore now aboard, along with third-rounder Devin Singletary and his fresh legs, it's worth wondering if McCoy might wind up as trade bait or a cap casualty.

Cardinals DL Robert Nkemdiche: He's been a massive disappointment since being taken in Round 1 three years ago. Arizona has yet to pick up his fifth-year option and, after securing Boston College's Zach Allen in Round 3, could decide they don't need Nkemdiche much longer.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph: He's owed $7.6 million heading into the final year of his contract and didn't play up to that kind of salary last season. Multi-dimensional second-rounder Irv Smith Jr. will take Rudolph's targets (and job) at some point; it's just a matter of when.

Redskins QB Alex Smith: His ongoing recovery from last year's horrible leg injury casts his NFL future in serious doubt. But with Washington taking Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins in the first round — and journeymen Case Keenum and Colt McCoy under contract for 2019 — it's worth wondering if Smith has played his final snap in the nation's capital, or if he and the team are comfortable with the thought of him potentially returning to a backup role in 2020.

49ers DL : Even after picking DE Nick Bosa second overall, GM John Lynch said Thursday that Thomas, the heretofore underperforming No. 3 overall pick in 2017, was "absolutely" part of the team's plans going forward despite a glut of high-priced players on San Francisco's D-line. Lynch is a pretty straight shooter, but it wouldn't be shocking if things changed — especially if he gets an offer in, say, training camp and decides the team and Thomas could both benefit from a change of scenery.

AFC West draft grades: Broncos shine; Raiders surprise By Dan Parr NFL.com May 2, 2019

Why provide instant grades on the selections of prospects who have yet to take an NFL snap? Well, you're reading this, aren't you? Considering the makeup of every roster and the factors surrounding each pick, Gennaro Filice and Dan Parr attempt a division-by-division assessment of the 2019 NFL Draft. Below is Dan's review of the AFC West.

NOTABLE SELECTIONS BEST PICK: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri Denver Broncos, Round 2, No. 42 overall

This is not a prediction that Lock will melt the snow off the top of the Rocky Mountains with his sizzling play and instantly lead a renaissance of a franchise that's lived in QB hell for the past few seasons. I just like the value and the willingness of John Elway to keep swinging even after some epic fails at the position. We're used to seeing QB prospects get pushed up the board, putting passers who either weren't particularly good or weren't particularly ready for prime time (or both) in situations where they were expected to deliver the goods from the moment they entered the league. This is the opposite of that. Lock was the No. 24 prospect in former scout/NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah's prospect rankings, but he was still available at Pick No. 42 when Denver traded up to get him (Elway gave up a fourth- and sixth-rounder to get his guy). He was the Broncos' third pick. Lock is in the perfect situation. The pressure is off. Expectations are not sky high. He can get acclimated behind Joe Flacco for at least a little while and maybe even a year or more, which should allow him to focus on getting better in the areas where he has to improve -- putting better touch on the ball, footwork, taking the easy completion instead of forcing throws -- before it's his time. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein's comp for the big- armed passer from Mizzou is Matthew Stafford -- you rarely find that type of talent outside of the top 10 these days.

MOST SURPRISING PICK: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson Oakland Raiders, Round 1, No. 4 overall

Unless you were one of the few souls Mike Mayock allowed in his draft lair, you had no idea this pick was coming. None of the final mock drafts posted to NFL.com had Ferrell going higher than 13th overall. Now, I have no doubt the Raiders landed a very good player who will help them for a long time in Ferrell. By all accounts, he will bring impeccable character along with prototypical traits as a 4-3 defensive end. The question is whether they passed on great for good, playing it too safe by taking a guy with a high floor rather than taking a shot on a prospect who offered a higher ceiling (Houston DT Ed Oliver, for example). I appreciate the conviction, but this was the draft's first stunning development and one of the biggest jaw-droppers of the weekend.

BIGGEST SLEEPER: Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson Oakland Raiders, Round 5, No. 149 overall

Yes, the guy who looks more like a banker than a football player (according to his high school coach) was a top-150 pick. We've seen this story before. The walk-on who isn't the biggest, fastest or strongest defies the odds and blah, blah, blah. Well, guess what? It's going to happen again. That's exactly who Renfrow is. The 5-foot-10, 184-pound slot receiver, who made big plays in big games as a member of two national title-winning teams at Clemson, is somehow going to stick in the league for 10-plus years and he'll have some pretty damn respectable seasons along the way while tormenting nickel corners. The grindiest of Gruden Grinders is in a perfect spot and will quickly become a favorite of QB , despite his small hands and short arms.

TEAM GRADES NOTE: Draft classes are ranked from best to worst within the division.

BRONCOS: A » Round 1: (No. 20 overall) Noah Fant, TE, Iowa. » Round 2: (41) Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State; (42) Drew Lock, QB, Missouri. » Round 3: (71) Dre'Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State. » Round 5: (156) Justin Hollins, OLB, Oregon. » Round 6: (187) Juwann Winfree, WR, Colorado.

Just when you all were ready to cast John Elway into the ether as a guy the game had passed by, he showed the football world he knows exactly what he's doing. Sure, Devin Bush would have been nice at No. 10, but trading down to Pick 20, collecting a couple selections from the Steelers and then landing Fant is some mighty fine maneuvering that deserves our respect and admiration. The Broncos have a bunch of tight ends already, but none of them have the athletic ability of Fant, who will be Joe Flacco's best friend (before he becomes Lock's best bud later). Elway was just getting started, though. Coming back in Round 2 for Risner and Lock back-to-back? That's good value! Those two might be handling the center-QB exchange for a decade, although it sounds like Risner will start off at right guard. He has experience at every spot on the offense line. The big-armed Lock slipped into Round 2, defying the conventional wisdom that highly touted QBs go higher than their talent warrants in the draft. The opposite took place here, and the Broncos are the beneficiaries. His upside is tantalizing, but he certainly has issues to work out, from footwork to putting better touch on his throws, before he can be considered for the QB1 job. Flacco will keep the seat warm for him. The Broncos flipped over to the defense in Round 3, where the highly athletic Jones was a nice find. Hollins provides depth at a position of strength and will get a chance to learn from and .

RANK T-2

CHARGERS: B » Round 1: (No. 28 overall) Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame. » Round 2: (60) Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware. » Round 3: (91) Trey Pipkins, OT, Sioux Falls. » Round 4: (130) Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame. » Round 5: (166) Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota State. » Round 6: (200) , OLB, Houston. » Round 7: (242) , DT, Cincinnati.

This is a solid haul for GM Tom Telesco. The Chargers addressed one of their biggest needs with decent value in the tall and long Tillery, who should be a high-impact inside disruptor from Day 1 as long as he doesn't encounter any issues in his return from the shoulder surgery he underwent before the draft. Adderley might be one of the weekend's bigger bargains. He was a borderline first-round value on Jeremiah's board (ranked No. 34), yet the Bolts snagged him late in Round 2. With good range and ball skills, the former Blue Hen should be a fine complement at safety to last year's first-rounder, Derwin James. The Chargers could use a right tackle who's ready to play right now -- better protection for Philip Rivers is vital to this team's success -- but Pipkins is more of a developmental prospect as he transitions from Division II. Telesco continued to pull the trigger on high-upside types who might prove worth the investment in time on Day 3. Tranquill will have to make it as a core special-teamer at first, but he has a " beach-body build," per Zierlein, so the ex-ND LB landed in the right place. It will be fun to see how L.A. utilizes Stick, with Telesco not ruling out a Taysom Hill-like role for the former Carson Wentz backup.

RANK T-2

RAIDERS: B » Round 1: (No. 4 overall) Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson; (24) , RB, Alabama; (27) Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State. » Round 2: (40) Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson. » Round 4: (106) Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan; (129) Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston; (137) Foster Moreau, TE, LSU. » Round 5: (149) Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson. » Round 7: (230) , DE, Prairie View A&M.

It's still a couple years too early to tell if Jon Gruden is a genius or a silly man for dealing away Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, but we all know the fate of his 2019 draft picks, the three first-rounders in particular, will play a huge role in history's judgment of those decisions. It seems Gruden and Mayock did a nice job of setting a new foundation, although taking Ferrell at No. 4 was stunning, considering Kentucky's Josh Allen and Houston's Ed Oliver were still on the board (and might have been a better solution to the squad's pass-rushing woes). I have no doubt that Ferrell will be a good player, but they might have passed on better players to play it safe. That's odd whiplash from the way Gruden seems to have embraced rolling the dice in personnel decisions (maybe it's the Mayock effect?). Anyhow, it's hard not to like the Jacobs and Abram picks. That's the top RB and safety in the draft. The Jacobs selection is looking especially handy with the news Wednesday that Isaiah Crowell will miss the season with a torn Achilles. Mullen fills a need, too, and should compete for a starting job. Oakland took a shot on a couple developmental pass rushers on Day 3 (meaning there's still a need off the edge in the short term), but I like the Johnson and Renfrow picks a lot. I'm intrigued by the upside of Johnson, who played receiver for his first two seasons before switching to defense, and the likelihood that Renfrow will continue to be Mr. Clutch even while he looks more like Mr. Rogers.

RANK 4

CHIEFS: B- » Round 2: (No. 56 overall) Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia; (63) Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia. » Round 3: (84) Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois. » Round 6: (201) , CB, South Carolina; (214) Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State. » Round 7: (216) , OG, Illinois.

The Chiefs were without a first-round pick after sending it to Seattle in the Frank Clark trade. I'm still befuddled by the decision to invest major draft capital and a massive long-term deal in Clark rather than sticking with Dee Ford, who had received the franchise tag. Clark will have to prove to be a major upgrade over Ford for that price to seem reasonable, and it's just not a move I would have made. I did like the team's first three picks, though. Hardman fills a glaring need given the uncertainty surrounding Tyreek Hill's future in the NFL. Hardman is raw, but he has the field-stretching speed Kansas City is going to need. Zierlein wrote in his scouting report that Hardman "could develop into a lesser version of Tyreek Hill with his playmaking potential after the catch, on deep balls and as a returner." Thornhill can play corner or safety, and the Chiefs will be able to move him all over the field, giving them a pair feisty ballhawks with the Honey Badger in tow. Saunders is one of our favorite players in the draft -- the 324- pound man does a mean backflip -- and should fit nicely into Steve Spagnuolo's rotation up front.

John Elway on trading up for Drew Lock: Can’t wait until you don’t have a QB By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk May 2, 2019

After the draft, Broncos General Manager John Elway told Peter King that he believes quarterback Joe Flacco is “coming into his prime” heading into the 2019 season.

That’s generally not the way most people feel about 34-year-old quarterbacks without a recent history of great success, but it was enough for Elway to pass on a quarterback in the first round of the draft. Elway’s made some bad bets at quarterback in the past, though, and he didn’t pass up the chance to trade up for Drew Lock in the second round.

Elway told Mike Klis of KUSA that he couldn’t pass up “great value” at that point in the draft and suggested that he’s learned from past experiences that you want to be ahead of the curve on having a young quarterback ready to replace a veteran starter.

“You’re always trying to find an answer to the quarterback position,” Elway said. “You can’t wait till you don’t have one. We’ve been working on it and you’re always working on it. We feel good about what we have in Drew and his ability over the next couple years to continue to grow and make some strides. Hopefully, he’s that guy for the future.”

The last time the Broncos replaced a veteran quarterback was in 2016 when Peyton Manning retired and the team drafted Paxton Lynch in the first round. Lynch flopped and the team’s gone three years without a playoff berth while running through several quarterbacks. Elway hopes this year’s dual approach stops that carousel from spinning for years to come.