The Denver Broncos are always looking for ways to improve the roster. They signed tryout TE/WR Bug Howard and re-signed DL DeShawn Williams.
The Denver Broncos evaluated the tape from their rookie minicamp this past weekend, and a couple of players were rewarded with contracts.
Here are a few moves the Broncos made after the weekend heading into minicamp, according to Mike Klis.
There are two notable names on the list of four players signed, including former Broncos defensive lineman DeShawn Williams, who is once again a present Denver Bronco.
Williams competed in training camp last year after signing a reserve/future contract and nearly made the team, but got caught up in the numbers game with the Broncos’ defensive line being so deep.
He was with the Indianapolis Colts until late April, and now gets another shot with this new regime in Denver to make the team. I love it.
Another notable name on this list is Johnathan Howard. He’s better known as Bug Howard for those who know him from his North Carolina days, catching passes from Marquise Williams and Mitch Trubisky before going undrafted in 2017.
Howard has competed in a number of NFL cities, including Indianapolis, Carolina, Cleveland, and had a tryout at one point in time with the Bears.
He’s listed as a tight end but the Broncos are going to give him a shot at receiver, according to Klis.
As Klis also pointed out on his Twitter account, it’s also a good sign for the Broncos that this tryout for 20 guys this past weekend was not just a way to fill spots on the field and completely disregard these guys afterward. They signed three players who came in on a tryout basis and cut three players who had been with the team, some since last year.
The Broncos cut DL Caushaud Lyons — who had been on the practice squad — as well as TE Temarrick Hemingway who had some regular season play in 2018. They also let go of two of their initial 17 UDFA signings in Arkansas OL Brian Wallace and Washington DL Jaylen Johnson.
Here’s a quick look at each player the Broncos signed to replace these four guys who were let go.
Johnathan “Bug” Howard, TE/WR
Howard played his college ball at North Carolina and is a true ‘tweener’ as a receiver/tight end. He was listed at 6-foot-5, 229 pounds by the AAF where he played for the Atlanta Legends and actually made some big plays. He had three plays of 20-plus yards and five plays of 15-plus yards among his 17 catches.
https://twitter.com/AafLegends/status/1104856152767193090
He played really well in his final year at UNC with Mitch Trubisky throwing passes, catching a career-high eight touchdowns. He ran a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash coming out of college and had a 37.5-inch vertical.
DeShawn Williams, DL
The Broncos brought in DeShawn Williams in 2018 on a reserve/future deal and he ended up making the practice squad at the start of last year.
It didn’t last long, however, as Williams was released from the practice squad 10 days after being signed to it. He spent time with the Dolphins and Colts in 2018 before he signed a reserve/future deal with Indianapolis this past winter.
At 6-foot-1, 284 pounds, Williams has great quickness on the interior defensive line but may be limited to pass rush situations.
Deyon Sizer, DL
The Colorado State-Pueblo product was a man among boys in college. At 6-foot-3, 282 pounds with excellent strength and solid quickness off the ball, Sizer is an intriguing second-wave UDFA who has a shot to stick on the practice squad this year.
Nathan Jacobson, OL
Jacobson is a rookie who played his college ball at UNLV, where he was a longtime starter at the right tackle position. Listed at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, Jacobson is going to have to add some bulk but the Broncos clearly saw something they liked on tape because they had a scouting presence at the UNLV pro day this year.