Denver Broncos: Undrafted rookie spotlight on WR DeVontres Dukes
The Denver Broncos attacked the wide receiver position early in last year’s draft and added to the position group late this year.
In addition to drafting Seth Williams in the sixth round, the Broncos signed Branden Mack, Warren Jackson and Devontres Dukes as undrafted free agents. The Broncos currently have 13 wide receivers on the roster.
The last name on that list, Dukes, will be the focus of this spotlight.
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 203
School: South Florida
Dukes has great size at 6-foot-4, the kind of NFL body that teams love. If he can use that size effectively, he could become an ideal wide receiver at the next level. There’s a long road for him to go, however.
In interviews following the draft, Dukes seems a bit frustrated that he wasn’t selected among the 259 picks, and seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder. But in fairness, there wasn’t much for NFL scouts to work with when evaluating him at the college level.
Dukes appeared in just 20 games for the Bulls and had just 32 career catches there. Of those, 24 came during his senior season, in which he found the end zone four times.
He was second on the team in receptions and led the team in touchdown catches in what was a season shortened by the pandemic.
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Chances of making final roster (1-10 scale): 2
The chances of Dukes (or any of the undrafted receivers) making this roster will be slim to none, barring an incredible summer. There are just too many guys in front of them on the depth chart.
Barring including a wide receiver in a trade (such as one for Aaron Rodgers), the Broncos will have Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, K.J. Hamler and Tim Patrick as players almost guaranteed to make the team,
So how many receivers do they keep beyond that?
Does Diontae Spencer have a spot for sure? What about the rookie Williams or Tyrie Cleveland, who the team gave some opportunities to last year?
Dukes would have to not only outshine the other two undrafted receivers on the team but also at least a couple that have been with the organization a little longer.
He appears to have some impressive physical tools, but he is likely playing for a spot on this year’s practice squad.