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Denver Broncos: Second-year players ready to contribute

By Sayre Bedinger

PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 16: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs into the end zone untouched for a second half touchdown as the Badgers beat the Brigham Young Cougars 40-6 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 16: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs into the end zone untouched for a second half touchdown as the Badgers beat the Brigham Young Cougars 40-6 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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A.J. Johnson
COLUMBIA, SC – NOVEMBER 01: Teammate Derek Barnett #9 and A.J. Johnson #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers wait for a play against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 1, 2014 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Alexander Johnson, LB

The Broncos signed Alexander Johnson as somewhat of a rare type of UDFA last year.

Johnson was given one of the highest signing bonuses of any Broncos UDFA in the John Elway era, but he also had a set of rare circumstances as he entered the NFL four years after his final year with Tennessee.

Rated as a day two NFL prospect, Johnson was accused of rape in 2014 and was acquitted in 2018.

After being acquitted, Johnson had a number of NFL teams lined up to sign him and he chose the Broncos.

After spending some time being stashed away on Denver’s roster and practice squad last season, he was brought back as a reserve/future signing for the team and the Broncos obviously knew it was going to take him to get back up to game speed signing him so late in the offseason after four years away from the game.

Johnson has a pretty strong advocate on the coaching staff in Denver with OLBs coach Brandon Staley, who was an ILBs and STs coach at Tennessee at the time Johnson was there.

Staley was a grad assistant at Tennessee then, but Johnson was his best player and led the SEC in tackles when they were together.

Staley is not necessarily coaching Johnson hands-on with the Broncos, but he certainly could be an advocate for him.

The Broncos need someone to step up behind Todd Davis and Josey Jewell at inside linebacker, and that player could be Johnson.

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