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Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Broncos Add Another Ex-Vikings Staffer

May 14th, 2022 at 2:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos again looked to George Paton‘s former workplace to add a high-ranking staffer. They brought in longtime Vikings executive Reed Burckhardt to be their new director of player personnel, according to Mike Klis of 9News. Burckhardt was with the Vikings 13 years, and Klis adds Minnesota’s new regime wanted to retain him. The veteran Minnesota staffer ended his Vikings run as the team’s director of pro scouting. Burckhardt will follow Broncos director of football operations Kelly Kleine in relocating from Minnesota to Denver under Paton and join assistant GM Darren Mougey as the team’s top Paton lieutenants.

  • After hiring longtime Broncos player personnel director Matt Russell this week, the Eagles continue to reshape their front office. Howie Roseman again looked to the Broncos, hiring veteran Denver staffer Jordan Dizon, Klis notes. Dizon, 36, worked with the Broncos for seven years, finishing his tenure as the team’s assistant director of pro scouting. The former linebacker who was once a Lions second-round pick is expected to become a national scout with the Eagles.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/22

May 13th, 2022 at 5:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several more mid- and late-round picks agreed to terms on their four-year rookie contracts Friday. Here are the latest agreements:

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • LB Malcolm Rodriguez (sixth round, Oklahoma State)
  • LB James Houston (sixth round, Jackson State)

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Broncos Sign 13 Undrafted Free Agents

May 12th, 2022 at 9:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Broncos have been busy signing their draft picks in recent days, but that didn’t stop the front office from adding 13 undrafted free agents to their roster:

Allen got a chunk of money to join Denver, earning $180K in guaranteed money (per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com on Twitter). The linebacker had a productive collegiate career, earning two National Championships during his time at Alabama. He also earned a second-team All-SEC nod in 2020 after finishing with 24 tackles and six sacks. He missed his entire rookie season after suffering a broken foot, leading to him going undrafted.

Meanwhile, Mike Klis of 9News in Denver tweets that McMillian got $75K, while Mauga got $60K guaranteed (Twitter link).

Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy Arrested

May 12th, 2022 at 6:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:20pm: Jeudy did not commit domestic violence, Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown said, calling the charge a “very low misdemeanor.” The incident involved only property, via CBS4’s Michael Spencer (Twitter links).

The domestic violence-related charge was issued because the woman involved is the mother of Jeudy’s one-month-old child, via Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). The woman involved accused Jeudy of withholding medical records, her wallet and the baby’s car seat, Klis tweets. Jeudy accused the woman of taking one of his three phones, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post adds (on Twitter). Jeudy went into police custody without incident and will meet with a judge Friday morning, Spencer tweets.

3:44pm: Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was arrested and booked into the Arapahoe County (Colo.) Detention Center this afternoon, authorities announced. The third-year wideout is being held on a no-bond hold, according to the Arapahoe Sheriff (Twitter link).

Authorities have charged Jeudy with second-degree criminal tampering with a domestic violence enhancer. In Colorado, that means tampering with another’s property with the intent to cause “injury, inconvenience, or annoyance to that person or to another.” Jeudy can be released from jail upon approval from a judge, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com noting such a meeting is likely to occur within the next 24 hours (Twitter link). He was arrested around noon Thursday.

This is not a felony charge, with Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com noting (via Twitter) it is a Class 2 misdemeanor that carries a punishment of a $1K fine and up to a year in prison. It still will fall under the purview of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which could result in a Jeudy suspension at some point.

Jeudy, 23, came to the Broncos as a first-round pick in 2020. He led the team in receiving as a rookie and posted 467 receiving yards in an injury-shortened 2021 season. The Alabama alum is expected to be a central part of the Broncos’ first Russell Wilson-led offense this season.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/22

May 12th, 2022 at 6:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thursday has featured several rookie deals finalized. Here are the mid- and late-round draftees to sign their four-year contracts today:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • WR Montrell Washington (fifth round, Samford)

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • RB Snoop Conner (fifth round, Ole Miss)
  • CB Gregory Junior (sixth round, Ouachita Baptist)
  • CB Montaric Brown (seventh round, Arkansas)

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Latest On Broncos WR KJ Hamler

May 11th, 2022 at 6:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

In addition to the knee surgery KJ Hamler underwent after suffering a torn ACL in Week 3, the young Broncos wide receiver needed a hip operation.

Hamler suffered the hip injury on the same play he tore the ACL, and Mike Klis of 9News notes the Broncos initially feared the former second-round pick suffered a Bo Jackson-type injury. It turned out not to be in that ballpark, one that saw Jackson’s football career end and eventual hip-replacement surgery become necessary.

The Broncos’ No. 4 wideout has long been reported ahead of schedule in his rehab. News of this hip procedure adds to the remarkability of the Penn State product being in position to catch passes from Russell Wilson shortly after the quarterback’s arrival. Hamler is not yet a full participant in Broncos offseason workouts, though Klis notes he is running and cutting at full speed, but he expects to be ready for full work in training camp. This was Hamler’s second ACL tear; he suffered the first during his senior year of high school.

Denver included Noah Fant in the Wilson trade but kept its top four wide receivers. With Jerry Jeudy a former top-15 pick and Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick now attached to eight-figure-per-year deals, Hamler is positioned to be an off-the-bench contributor. Jeudy and Sutton’s injury trouble in recent years, and the Broncos’ interest in seeing what they have in Hamler, should lead to the speed merchant receiving extensive work in his third season. The 5-foot-9 wideout caught 30 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2020.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/11/22

May 11th, 2022 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s late-round signings here:

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: TE Nick Muse (sixth round, South Carolina)

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DT Sam Roberts (sixth round, Northwest Missouri State)

Broncos Sign Second-Round LB Nik Bonitto

May 11th, 2022 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The final pick of this year’s second round is under contract. Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto agreed to terms on his four-year Broncos deal Wednesday, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.

This move comes in advance of the Broncos’ rookie minicamp, which begins Thursday. Bonitto was Denver’s highest draft pick this year, after the team traded its first- and second-round choices as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal. The No. 64 overall selection will attempt to contribute to Denver’s pass rush early.

Denver did not necessarily need an edge rusher early in this draft, having added Randy Gregory to a stable that includes Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb and frequent fill-in starter Malik Reed. But the latter two are entering contract years. Gregory is also rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery. The Broncos, despite being thinner at inside linebacker, are also trying 2021 third-rounder Baron Browning as an edge player this offseason.

One of the quicker edges to enter the draft in recent years, Bonitto combined for 16 sacks between the 2020 and ’21 seasons. The 248-pound linebacker, who clocked a 4.54-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine, also finished with 26.5 tackles for loss between his sophomore and junior years. Coming to the Broncos via the second-round pick obtained in the Von Miller trade, Bonitto represents a lower-cost successor of sorts to the future Hall of Famer.

The Broncos also signed sixth-round defensive lineman Matt Henningsen and seventh-round cornerback Faion Hicks, per the Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran and Klis (Twitter links). Both Day 3 picks are Wisconsin alums.

Magic Johnson Joins Ownership Group Bidding To Buy Broncos

May 5th, 2022 at 5:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos have narrowed their prospective owner list to five, according to Mike Klis of 9News, who adds the first of those groups — the one fronted by New Jersey Devils owner and Philadelphia 76ers managing partner Josh Harris — met with Broncos executives and bank and transaction lawyers Thursday.

Harris’ group is believed to now have a big name attached. Magic Johnson has joined the group, according to Sportico (on Twitter). This is interesting considering Johnson partners with another of the Broncos’ ownership candidates — Todd Boehly — in a consortium that owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The NBA icon and former Lakers president of basketball operations has a 2.3% stake in the Dodgers, making a $50MM investment. The Broncos are expected to be sold for more than $4.5 billion, which will shatter an American sports record. The NFL has sought minority representation in the next Broncos ownership group, though Harris’ contingent is not believed to be the favorites. Walmart chairman Rob Walton is believed to be the frontrunner, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes his group and Boehly’s will visit soon (Twitter link). This process remains on track to be resolved before the season, RapSheet adds.

John Elway and Peyton Manning have been mentioned as interested parties, but Klis adds neither are expected to join a group until the bidding is settled. Elway remains interested in an advisory role with the eventual owner. The former Broncos GM currently serves as a consultant to successor George Paton.

A second round of bids has not yet taken place, per Klis. The highest bid must be accepted, with the winner then needing to be approved by three quarters of NFL owners. The last NFL sale ended with David Tepper‘s Panthers acquisition being approved by a 32-0 margin. Harris, 57, is well known in NFL circles, having bought the 5% stake in the Steelers that Tepper sold upon buying the Panthers.

Broncos Re-Sign TE Eric Saubert

May 4th, 2022 at 3:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

A 17-game contributor for the 2021 Broncos, Eric Saubert will have a chance to make it back-to-back seasons in Denver. The sides agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday.

The veteran tight end signed with the Broncos on May 3, 2021; 366 days later, he will join their new-look offense. The team has remade its tight end room this offseason, but Nathaniel Hackett‘s staff will take a look at Saubert to see a potential fit.

Formerly a Falcons fifth-round pick, Saubert has played with four teams over the past four years. After his two-year Atlanta stint ended, the Drake alum played with the Bears in 2019 and Jaguars in 2020. The Broncos reunited Saubert with ex-Falcons tight ends coach Wade Harman, but Harman is no longer in that role.

Saubert, 28, caught eight passes for 47 yards and one touchdown — his first as a pro — last season but mostly aided the Broncos in the run-blocking department. Denver added veteran blocking tight end Eric Tomlinson this offseason and still has fullback/tight end Andrew Beck on its roster. The team swapped out Noah Fant for third-rounder Greg Dulcich on the receiving front, and Albert Okwuegbunam is set to reprise his role.

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