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Grading the Denver Broncos’ entire 2021 rookie class

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 28: Lnside linebacker Baron Browning #56 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a play during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High on November 28, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 28: Lnside linebacker Baron Browning #56 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a play during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High on November 28, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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Caden Sterns, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos rookie safety Caden Sterns. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Fifth-round picks

Caden Sterns, safety, Texas

In round five of the draft, the Broncos chose to take a pair of safeties but their rookie seasons could not have been more different.

First, the good. Caden Sterns was an absolute stud.

He played in 15 games for the team despite the Broncos having a fantastic tandem in Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson. He tallied 28 tackles and had two interceptions while even showing he can get after the quarterback, posting two sacks.

Sterns looks like a future star and that could convince the Broncos to move on from Jackson, who is an unrestricted free agent.

Grade: B+

Jamar Johnson, safety, Indiana

Jamar Johnson never really got off the starting blocks as a rookie and was listed as a gameday inactive for just about the entire season. The Broncos finally did activate him in three games toward the end of the year and he played exclusively on special teams.

That wasn’t the end of the world for Johnson due to the fact that the team has Simmons and Jackson and they got a huge rookie contribution out of Sterns. But in year two, Johnson will need to be a much bigger part of the team.

Because he wasn’t given as much of an opportunity on game days, we can’t be too harsh with this grade. At the same time, he needs to create a role for himself so that making him a scratch on game days is not an option.

Grade: C-

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