As more teams’ rookie minicamps commence, UDFA classes are emerging. The Broncos brought in 15 post-draft free agents. Here is how Denver’s group looks:
- TE Nate Adkins (South Carolina)
- ILB Seth Benson (Iowa)
- G Henry Boyd (Princeton)
- WR Dallas Daniels (Jackson State)
- CB Darrious Gaines (Western Colorado)
- CB Art Green (Houston)
- WR Taylor Grimes (Incarnate Word)
- OLB Marcus Haynes (Old Dominion)
- OLB Thomas Incoom (Central Michigan)
- T Demontrey Jacobs (South Florida)
- TE Kris Leach (Kent State)
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin (Youngstown State)
- DT P.J. Mustipher (Penn State)
- T Alex Palczewski (Illinois)
- RB Emanuel Wilson (Fort Valley State)
Green received a nice $180K salary guarantee to sign, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. The 6-foot-2 cover man earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference acclaim last season and finished his career with a Most Valuable Defender honor in the Independence Bowl. The Broncos have seen a number of UDFAs make significant impacts for their team over the past several years, from Chris Harris to Shaq Barrett to Phillip Lindsay. Green’s guarantee suggests he is a good bet to challenge for a 53-man roster spot.
Palczewski received $80K to sign, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. He will join the Broncos with more starter experience than just about any college player has accumulated in the sport’s history, having made a Big Ten-record 65 starts for the Fighting Illini. The additional eligibility year the NCAA granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic boosted this total, but Palczewski received All-American acclaim from several publications last season. He spent six years in college and, while logging nearly 20 starts at guard — some of which as a true freshman back in 2017 — worked as Illinois’ primary right tackle over the past several years.
Grimes finished his college career with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, while Incoom totaled 11.5 sacks as a senior. McLaughlin finished his career with consecutive 1,100-plus-yard rushing seasons at Youngstown State, while Wilson totaled 1,371 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022. The Broncos signed Samaje Perine but have a fairly unclear backfield pecking order, given the uncertainty surrounding starter Javonte Williams‘ return from an October ACL tear.