The Broncos are heading to OTAs with 13 UDFAs as part of their rookie class. Here is that contingent:
- JB Brown, LB (Kansas)
- Marques Cox, T (Kentucky)
- Joaquin Davis, WR (North Carolina Central)
- Courtney Jackson, WR (Arkansas State)
- Joe Michalski, G (Oklahoma State)
- Jerjuan Newton, WR (Toledo)
- Joshua Pickett, CB (Duke)
- Karene Reid, LB (Utah)
- Jaden Robinson, CB (Oregon State)
- Xavier Truss, G (Georgia)
- Johnny Walker Jr., EDGE (Missouri)
- Clay Webb, G (Jacksonville State)
- Kristian Williams, DT (Missouri)
Denver gave Truss a $150K guarantee, per 9News’ Mike Klis. Generally, multiyear starters during this Georgia period have required draft investments to add. The Broncos, however, brought in Truss — a 2023 second-team All-SEC guard who started three seasons for the Bulldogs, before earning a Combine invite — as a UDFA.
Both the guards in this group checked in as the highest-rated prospects (per ESPN’s Scouts Inc.), with Truss 224th and Webb 220th. Webb earned first-team All-Conference USA acclaim in 2024 and a second-team all-league honor in ’23. The Broncos have locked-in starters at guard (Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz) but feature some questions behind them. Truss will compete with Webb, Calvin Throckmorton, 2024 draftee Nick Gargiulo and others for backup jobs.
Brown received $160K guaranteed to sign on, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The honorable mention All-Big 12 performer will join a Broncos team that has some questions at linebacker. Denver has backstopped two starters coming off significant injuries — Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton — with only Justin Strnad and Drew Sanders, the latter having toggled between OLB and ILB roles. Sanders has settled at ILB heading into Denver’s on-field offseason work. Brown and Reid will attempt to make the roster or at least the 16-man practice squad.
One of two Mizzou products coming to Denver (where ex-Tigers Tyler Badie and Kris Abrams-Draine reside) in this rookie crop, Walker received a guarantee in the $160K range as well, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes. Walker was quite productive for the SEC team last season, finishing as a second-team all-conference performer after racking up 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. The Broncos drafted Alabama’s Que Robinson to join Jonah Elliss and starters Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. But 2024 UDFA Dondrea Tillman (five sacks) became the most recent Broncos UDFA to make a rookie-year impact. Walker will compete with Tillman and Co. for a backup job.
Newton is Toledo’s all-time leader in TD receptions, with 32. Having played in parts of six seasons with the Rockets certainly helps there, but Newton is coming off a 1,048-yard, 11-TD season. Newton cleared 800 receiving yards in each of his final three college slates, earning All-MAC acclaim for each.