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Broncos: UDFA success stories that never happen without preseason

By Sayre Bedinger

A former force on the Broncos defense, Shaq Barrett makes his return to Denver in Week 3. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
A former force on the Broncos defense, Shaq Barrett makes his return to Denver in Week 3. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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CJ Anderson, Denver Broncos
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 8: Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles C.J. Anderson #39 of the Denver Broncos during the game at Candlestick Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 10-6. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

CJ Anderson, RB

One of the most common positions the Broncos have managed to find undrafted free agent gems?

The running back position.

CJ Anderson may not be the most illustrious running back in Denver Broncos history, but he’s certainly one of the most important.

Buried on the depth chart behind former first-round pick Knowshon Moreno, former second-round pick Montee Ball, and former third-round pick Ronnie Hillman, Anderson didn’t seem to stand a chance of making the Broncos’ squad in 2013 coming out of Cal where he wasn’t even a 1,000-yard back.

Anderson played so well in training camp and preseason play in 2013 that the Broncos viewed him as valuable enough to make their legendary 2013 roster, the offense that set the NFL record for points scored in a season.

He only played in five games as a rookie and was mostly a spectator as the team was drubbed in the 2013 postseason, but he vowed to be part of getting the Broncos a championship and that’s exactly what he did.

Anderson was again buried on the Broncos’ depth chart in 2014 behind higher draft picks, but injuries forced him into the lineup midway through the season and despite starting just seven games that year, Anderson racked up over 1,100 yards of total offense with 10 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl.

The following season, Anderson was part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 team and had two touchdowns in the team’s 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.

If there was no preseason in 2013, the Broncos might have never gotten to see how effective Anderson is in live action and who knows what would have been the ripple effect of him not making that team?

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