Opinion: Jamaal Charles Not A Lock To Make Broncos
- Running back Jamaal Charles, one of the Broncos’ highest-profile pickups this offseason, only has a 50-50 shot to make their roster, opines Mike Klis of 9News. While the 30-year-old Charles averaged a whopping 5.5 yards per carry with AFC West rival Kansas City from 2008-16, knee injuries limited him to a combined eight games over the past two seasons. Combining Charles’ recent health issues with, as Klis notes, his low-money contract and the presences of fellow runners C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker and rookie De’Angelo Henderson, Charles might not play a down for Denver.
Broncos Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents
The Broncos announced that they’ve signed the following 17 undrafted college free agents:
- Erik Austell, OL (Charleston Southern)
- Josh Banderas, LB (Nebraska)
- Dante Barnett, S (Kansas State)
- Jamal Carter, S (Miami)
- Ken Ekanem, DE/LB (Virginia Tech)
- Jerrol Garcia-Williams, LB (Hawaii)
- Deon Hollins, LB (UCLA)
- Cameron Hunt, T (Oregon)
- Tyrique Jarrett, DT (Pittsburgh)
- Anthony Nash, WR (Duke)
- Dontrell Nelson, CB (Memphis)
- Marcus Rios, CB (UCLA)
- Kyle Sloter, QB (Northern Colorado)
- Shakir Soto, DL (Pittsburgh)
- Orion Stewart, DB (Baylor)
- Dymonte Thomas, S (Michigan)
- Elijah Wilkinson, OL (Massachusetts)
Broncos Eyeing RB-By-Committee
The Broncos running back depth chart is currently crowded with intriguing names (including Jamaal Charles, C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, and rookie De’Angelo Henderson), and head coach Vance Joseph expects to rely on a running back-by-committee approach.
- Free agent defensive end Bobby Richardson will be attending the Titans‘ rookie minicamp, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Richardson broke onto the scene as an undrafted rookie in 2015, playing in 15 games (11 starts) for the Saints while compiling 40 tackles and one interception. He’s bounced around since that time, spending time with the Redskins, Chiefs, and Broncos.
Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/17
The Texans announced the signing of Deshaun Watson and five other draft picks today. The former Clemson quarterback will make $13.85MM with an $8.25MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Lions also signed first-rounder Jarrad Davis, along with seven other draft choices.
Here are the rest of Friday’s draft signings.
- The Broncos and second-round defensive end Demarcus Walker arrived at an agreement, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). It’s a four-year worth upwards of $5.1MM for the Florida State defensive end, per Jhabvala, who adds he will receive a $1.8MM signing bonus. Walker is expected to compete with Jared Crick and Zach Kerr for the Broncos’ right defensive end position opposite Derek Wolfe. Walker is the second defensive end Denver’s drafted in the past two years, following Adam Gotsis, who did not play much last season.
- Both of the Jaguars‘ seventh-round selections are now signed. The Jags inked cornerback Jalen Myrick and fullback Marquez Williams. A Minnesota product, Myrick is a notable seventh-round choice because the ex-Golden Gopher defender blazed to the fastest 40-yard dash (4.28 seconds) a Big Ten player has clocked since the Combine began measuring these times. Williams spent three seasons at Division II Mars Hill (North Carolina) before transferring to Miami for his senior season. The Jags still have five unsigned picks.
- Four late-round draft picks agreed to terms with the Titans, the team announced. Sixth-round guard/center Corey Levin is signed. So are seventh-rounders Josh Carraway, a linebacker, Brad Seaton, a tackle, and running back Khalfani Muhammad.
- The 49ers signed third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon, a cornerback out of Colorado, the team announced. Witherspoon was the second Buffaloes corner to come off the board in last month’s draft, following Cowboys second-rounder Chidobe Awuzie. Witherspoon led Division I in pass deflections last season with 22, a number that tied an 18-year-old Colorado school record.
Zach Links contributed to this report.
Broncos Sign Jake Butt
The Broncos, continuing a busy Thursday, have inked fifth-round tight end Jake Butt to a contract, per a team announcement (Twitter link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post).
Butt, the 145th overall pick, isn’t your average fifth-rounder, as he only dropped that far as a result of the torn ACL he suffered in Michigan’s Orange Bowl loss to Florida State on Dec. 30. To that point, Butt had a chance to parlay back-to-back strong seasons into becoming a first- or second-round pick. Butt combined for 97 receptions and seven touchdowns during his final two years with the Wolverines and earned first-team All-America honors in each season.
Prior to last year, Butt purchased a loss-of-value policy which enabled him to collect compensation for his draft fall. All told, he ended up with a guaranteed $380K and could earn another $2.7MM-plus, including a $300K signing bonus, if he sees his rookie contract through. He’s the seventh member of the Broncos’ eight-player class to sign, leaving second-round defensive end DeMarcus Walker as the lone straggler.
Broncos Sign Two Third-Round Picks
Denver Broncos
Broncos Sign First-Round Pick Garett Bolles
The Broncos have agreed to terms with first-round tackle Garett Bolles, Mike Klis of 9NEWS tweets. Per the terms of his slot, it’s a four-year deal worth more than $11MM. Bolles’ signing bonus is worth more than $6MM. 
Bolles was viewed by many as the best tackle in this year’s draft and he was the first offensive lineman to come off the board when the Broncos selected him at No. 20 overall. In a draft full of surprises, Bolles to the Broncos was one of only a handful of picks that the prognosticators got right. Denver was in desperate need of a left tackle and they got a player who they feel can hold down the position for years to come.
“If Garett turns out to be what we think he is, he solves a big problem for us for a long time — and that’s that left tackle [position],” Elway said. “We really feel like we were fortunate that he was there.”
The Broncos signed a pair of late draft picks on Wednesday, including this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly.
Broncos Sign Rookie QB Chad Kelly
The Broncos have reached agreement on a rookie deal with quarterback Chad Kelly, as Mike Klis of 9NEWS tweets. As dictated by his draft slot, the deal will be a four-year deal with a signing bonus worth nearly $65K. 
Kelly, the nephew of Bills legend Jim Kelly, was once considered to be a top QB in the 2017 class. However, a injury concerns and off-the-field issues dropped him down to a Day 3 prospect and nearly pushed him out of the draft altogether. The Broncos selected him with the final pick in the draft – No. 253 overall – making him one of the most intriguing Mr. Irrelevant selections in draft history.
The Broncos have Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian atop the depth chart, but they feel that Kelly could be worth a look as a developmental quarterback. The reality is that they won’t know what they have in the Ole Miss product until he is healthy. A torn ACL kept him from auditioning for teams in the early part of 2017 and a wrist injury shut down his Pro Day just as it was getting started. Someone like Kelly might be better suited for the practice squad, but the Broncos will have to expose him to waivers before stashing him away.
In addition to the Kelly deal, the Broncos have also agreed to terms with sixth-round running back De’Angelo Henderson, a Coastal Carolina product (Twitter link via Klis). To clear a roster spot, Broncos have waived center James Ferentz, as Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post tweets.
Draft Pick Signings: Broncos, Steelers
The latest draft picks to put pen to paper on their first NFL deals:
- The Broncos have signed fifth-round wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. The Broncos traded up to the No. 172 pick to select the Georgia product and he could wind up as the team’s main punt returner. In 2016, McKenzie recorded 44 catches for 633 yards and seven touchdowns.
- The Steelers announced that they have signed fifth-round defensive back Brian Allen. The former Utah standout is the first of Pittsburgh’s eight draft picks to sign.
Broncos Restructure Front Office
- The Broncos on Friday announced a restructuring of their front office under executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway. Director of pro personnel Tom Heckert has been promoted to senior personnel advisor, while A.J. Durso has been promoted to take Heckert’s previous post. Brian Stark, meanwhile, has been promoted from national scout to director of college scouting. Denver’s staff changes will help account for the loss of former scouting director Adam Peters, who left for a personnel role with the 49ers in January.