Broncos: UDFA success stories that never happen without preseason

How many Denver Broncos undrafted success stories would not happen in today’s climate?

If the COVID-19 pandemic causes the preseason to be shortened or nixed completely, the domino effect of that could be tremendous for not just the Denver Broncos, but for the entire league.

The Broncos have a rich tradition of undrafted free agent success stories, many of which happened as players were able to prove themselves not only on the practice field but when they were given chances in preseason play to show what they can do as well.

The Broncos’ tradition of at least one undrafted free agent rookie making the team is something the team prides itself on.

The team had gone 11 straight years with at least one UDFA making the team from 2004-14 before the streak ended in the 2015 offseason.

Since that offseason, the Broncos have begun a new streak of UDFAs making the final roster and although this is a shorter streak the team is currently on, there is no telling how much Broncos history would be different without undrafted success stories and players overcoming their lack of draft status, Combine invitations, or athletic limitations to be one of the best 53 football players on the team.

I recently took a look at a few players I think are really negatively impacted by the shortened preseason or certainly lack of preseason at all, but which big-time success stories might never have happened at all if this had happened in a different year?