
On this weeks Cover 2 Broncos AJ Schulte and Joe Rowles dive deep into the George Paton’s second draft class and what it means for the roster.
Now that the NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, the Denver Broncos have officially reached what I like to call the “dead season,” that time of year where fans and media talk about rookies signing their rookie contracts, quotes are analyzed to death, and we anxiously await the schedule release despite already knowing every opponent on the Broncos’ schedule.
With the bulk of the real offseason behind us, AJ Schulte and I thought it the perfect time to dig into the Broncos’ draft to sus out what the new additions mean for George Paton’s roster on this week’s Cover 2 Broncos. We also had our grades to debate. One of us gave Denver a B+ while the other gave them a C. What follows is a brief overview of the topics we discussed along with a few of my notes. I hope you’ll listen to the podcast to hear Schulte and my discussion at length.
Some of the undrafted rookies are trying out for the Broncos, but dang does this roster look full. pic.twitter.com/KthoskeOc8
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) May 5, 2022
What did you think of the Broncos draft?
Did you include Wilson in your grade?
I did not because on March 16th the Broncos traded eight players and picks, not just a first and not just 2022 selections. They sent three 2022 draft picks as well as Drew Lock, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, and a 2023 first and second round pick for Wilson.
Any thoughts on the trade now that Seattle’s begun to use their picks?
Thanks to the trade the Broncos will enter the 2022 season with a franchise quarterback, while the Seahawks have five new players via the deal: Lock, Fant, Harris, Charles Cross, Boye Mafe.
What were your thoughts on Paton trading the 96th overall pick for a 2022 fifth round pick and a future third from the Indianapolis Colts?
I loved it. Unless the Colts win the Superbowl it will be a higher pick in the 2023 draft, and the Broncos cap situation in 2023 means there won’t be as many stopgap veterans, so that rookie could be pretty important. At present Denver is projected to have $16,193,815 in 2023 cap space, but that does not include the rookies.
A look at the Broncos draft and their average draft position (ADP) according the Athletic’s top 300 consensus board. Joe and AJ discussed the value of ADP at length on Cover 2 Broncos.
2 (64) ED Nik Bonitto – ADP: 58
I wanted: OT Bernhard Raimann, DL Travis Jones, LB Chad Muma
2022 expectation: Designated pass rusher unless/until Randy Gregory and Bradley Chubb miss time, then he might become a starter whether he’s ready or not.
Long term expectation: Starter if he can become stronger, refine his hands, and become a better edge setter.
A few clips from Nik Bonitto (No. 11) vs. Oklahoma State
Pretty clear he has the traits to be a good speed rusher pic.twitter.com/eJtRmYsfG9
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) April 30, 2022
3 (80) TE Greg Dulcich – ADP: 73
I wanted: OT Bernhard Raimann (Indy got him after Broncos traded down from 75), CB Marcus Jones, DL Perrion Winfrey, LB Leo Chenal, QB Malik Willis (on upside)
2022 expectation: Backup to Albert Okwuegbunam with some snaps as a splash threat.
Long term expectation: Starting tight end.
It isn’t hard to figure out why the Broncos drafted Greg Dulcich. He gives Russell Wilson the kind of dynamic threat at tight end he hasn’t had since Jimmy Graham. pic.twitter.com/aX1uiEvXfU
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) April 30, 2022
4 (115) CB Damarri Mathis – ADP: 145
I wanted: OT Spencer Burford, CB Zyon McCollum
2022 expectation: Backup cornerback and competition for slot snaps.
Long term expectation: Starting slot corner.
LAC GM Tom Telesco in his presser after Day 3 of the Draft;
‘The 4th round we had some guys go off (the board) that were tough ones’
Considering the fit and that Renaldo Hill coached and help recruit him at Pitt, think it’s fair to assume that the Chargers wanted Damarri Mathis
— Xan (@XanB21) May 4, 2022
4 (116) DL Eyioma Uwazurike – ADP: 171
I wanted: OT Spencer Burford, CB Zyon McCollum
2022 expectation: Rotational defensive lineman and competitor for the “starting” DE spot in Broncos 3-4.
Long term expectation: “starting” DE in Broncos 3-4. Best case scenario he’s the starting 1T as well.
Eyioma Uwazurike’s career alignment snaps per PFF. pic.twitter.com/P79ZeKOPkx
— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) April 30, 2022
5 (152) DB Delarrin Turner-Yell – ADP: 232
I wanted: CB Zyon McCollum, LB Damone Clark, LB Darrian Beavers, ED Amare Barno
2022 expectation: Special teamer
Long term expectation: Special teamer
Best available safety prospects on my board #BroncosCountry :
131. Dane Belton
133. Tycen Anderson
160. Percy Butler
164. Yusuf Corker
175. Verone McKinley III
203. Delarrin Turner-Yell
216. Juanyeh Thomas
223. Smoke Monday
227. Brad Hawkins
244. Kolby Harvell-Peel— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) April 30, 2022
5 (162) PR Montrell Washington – ADP: NA (outside top 300)
I wanted: CB Zyon McCollum, LB Damone Clark, LB Darrian Beavers, ED Amare Barno
2022 expectation: Returner
Long term expectation: Returner
17. Broncos#RAS Average = 8.05
Highest RAS Damarri Mathis
Lowest RAS Montrell Washington 4.33 pic.twitter.com/wQYnooXt7W— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 30, 2022
5 (171) OC Luke Wattenberg – ADP: 254
I wanted: By this point I stopped focusing on my own BPA because it was clear Paton had other plans.
2022 expectation: Competing for a roster spot as an iOL.
Long term expectation: Backup C if he can improve his play strength and anchor while he polishes the rest of his game.
Luke Wattenberg has over 2500 snaps at LT, LG, and center, very comfortable in space, smooth mover, smart communicator handling blitzes, quick, good feet, good hands in pass protection.
Really nice piece on the interior
— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) April 30, 2022
6 (206) DL Matt Henningsen – ADP: 263
2022 expectation: Competing for a roster spot as part of DL rotation.
Long term expectation: Rotational DL, best case scenario is starting interior rusher if he can polish his rush repertoire and adjusts to the speed of the NFL.
The Broncos DL rotation
Dre’Mont Jones
D.J. Jones
Mike Purcell
McTelvin Agim
DeShawn Williams
Marquiss Spencer
Jonathan Harris
Enyioma Uwazurike
Matt HenningsenQuite the numbers game pic.twitter.com/gxViR8gIPD
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) April 30, 2022
7 (232) CB Faion Hicks – ADP: NA (outside top 300)
2022: Competing for a roster spot as a special teamer and backup DB.
Long term expectation: Competing for a roster spot as a special teamer and backup DB. Best case scenario he develops into a starting slot CB, but he’ll need to refine his feel for zone spacing, eyes, ball skills, and run support.
Faion Hicks-Pretty good athlete at corner, great recovery speed, sticky in man coverage, good ball skills, good footwork. Developmental reserve as a slot corner.
— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) April 30, 2022
The UDFA signings – Did they impact your draft grade?
No, they didn’t because they weren’t drafted.
Any that stand out as having a particularly good chance at making the roster?
AJ and Joe discussed five at length.
1. WR Jalen Virgil, App State (Source)
- Broncos need a kick returner and Paton doesn’t seem to mind devoting a roster spot to a specialist. He received a $12,500 signing bonus and $30 thousand guaranteed. At 6’ 210 lbs. he’s an intriguing speed/size prospect who is an dynamic kick returner.
Jalen Virgil is a size/speed receiver prospect who averaged 30.1 yards a kickoff return during his career. pic.twitter.com/K6VFRgHxrS
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) April 30, 2022
2. CB Ja’Quan McMillian, East Carolina (Source)
- Broncos secondary depth is pretty shaky and McMillian was given a $15 thousand signing bonus and $60 thousand salary guarantee. I suspect he’s earmarked for a spot on the practice squad at the very least.
Ja’Quan McMillian is a CB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 3.6 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1281 out of 2001 CB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/VmhMIWP2hN #RAS https://t.co/Lo3Rmug5ns pic.twitter.com/5vwy8frvVQ
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 2, 2022
3. EDGE Chris Allen, Alabama (Source)
The injury questions about Chubb and Gregory combined with Chubb and Reed’s contracts expiring in 2023, Allen makes sense as a developmental player and the Broncos gave him a $30 thousand signing bonus and $150 thousand salary guarantee. Paton paid him to make the practice squad if nothing else. He missed all of 2018 with a knee injury and all but one game of 2021 because of a foot injury. If he’s completely healthy, he could put some outshine some of the backup edge rushers in camp and the preseason.
Christopher Allen is a LB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.05 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 230 out of 2419 LB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/ALkfaaXnDU #RAS https://t.co/BgLrBL9hu2 pic.twitter.com/5rDrRBGlV5
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 2, 2022
4. LB Kadofi Wright, Buffalo (Source)
5. LB Kana’i Mauga, USC (Source)
- If the new coaching staff is determined to play Browning at edge the linebacker depth is pretty shaky. Wright or Mauga beating Strnad could be a “surprise” in camp. Paton outbid the Atlanta Falcons to sign Mauga, giving him a $10 thousand signing bonus and $60 thousand salary guarantee.
Kadofi Wright is a LB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 6.03 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 961 out of 2419 LB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/12Ig6kKaH4 #RAS #UDFA https://t.co/Ze1fq30e1U pic.twitter.com/RE7PZwq0gp
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 1, 2022
Kana’i Mauga is a LB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 6.12 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 940 out of 2419 LB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/tFXk1NhXsT #RAS #UDFA https://t.co/EpZKmjEhDt pic.twitter.com/nbH0NcFmaO
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 1, 2022
With the offseason behind us and Denver’s roster mostly set.
What stands out to as strong position groups?
Which ones are concerning?
What looks like the biggest 2023 need?
Do any of the rookies actually impact the position battles?
- I think when it’s all said and done Damarri Mathis and Nik Bonitto will have the most playing time of the rookie class this year. Both are in position groups with significant durability concerns ahead of them on the depth chart.
- If he’s as good a run stuffer as hoped, Enyioma Uwazurike could earn some starts as a base 5T in the Broncos 3-4. Even if he doesn’t, I believe he’ll find a role in the Broncos DL rotation when they’re in heavier sets because he doesn’t have many teammates with the length and girth he has at 6’6 316.
- Montrell Washington has a good chance to get the first crack at the primary punt return job. It could (EMPHASIS ON COULD) put K.J. Hamler on the roster bubble if he doesn’t do enough at WR.
- If Albert Okwuegbunam misses time to injury I suspect Greg Dulcich is the replacement. Beyond that I believe he’ll back a backup.