The Denver Broncos may have found some gems among their 2022 undrafted free agent class, which includes 13 new players added to the roster.
The Denver Broncos finished their nine-player 2022 NFL Draft class with the selection of Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Faion Hicks, and before the final selections of the 2022 Draft were even announced, Broncos undrafted free agent news started trickling in.
That’s not to say the Broncos signed undrafted players before the Draft was over, but they caught wind of which players were being picked and let the recruiting frenzy begin.
In total, the Broncos wound up signing 13 college free agents, bringing the total number of rookies on this 90-man roster all the way up to a whopping 22.
Denver Broncos bring in some possible steals as UDFAs in 2022
Which players could wind up making the Denver Broncos roster? This team has a longstanding tradition of UDFA success, which was extended last year originally by pass rusher Andre Mintze and then throughout the year by others stepping in as injuries kept popping up.
Who could be this year’s Chris Harris Jr., Shaquil Barrett, or Rod Smith? Who could be the next Phillip Lindsay? The Broncos’ rich tradition of UDFA success will likely continue with one of these 13 players…
1. Jalen Virgil, WR/KR, Appalachian State
This is the type of move that will get your juices flowing after the NFL Draft.
Jalen Virgil was one of Bruce Feldman’s Freaks in 2021 and he proved himself yet again as a dynamic return specialist.
https://twitter.com/appstatesports/status/1149670084605911040
Over the course of his college career at Appalachian State, Virgil averaged 30.1 yards per kickoff return and had three touchdowns over the last two seasons, including two touchdowns during the 2021 season.
With 4.36 speed in the 40-yard dash and a very good feel for finding return lanes, Jalen Virgil is one of the top UDFAs for the Broncos to watch out for this year.
Denver Broncos UDFA no. 2: Christopher Allen, EDGE, Alabama
If you’re looking for a player to potentially bet on out of this undrafted free agent class, the money would tell you it’s former Alabama pass rusher Christopher Allen.
Allen received a total of $180,000 guaranteed from the Denver Broncos, which is $5,000 more than offensive tackle Drew Himmelman received last year.
That would make Christopher Allen the highest-paid undrafted free agent so far in George Paton’s two offseasons as the general manager.
So why did the Broncos give Allen a massive bonus to come to Denver?
Well, as George Paton has stated, you can never have too many pass rushers, and Allen can do that at a high level.
He was the SEC leader in tackles for loss (13.0) during the 2020 season and had a sack and a forced fumble in his one game in 2021 before going down with a season-ending injury.
The foot injury he suffered in 2021 combined with a knee injury he suffered earlier in his college career likely pushed an early day three prospect completely off of draft boards, but in the even he can stay healthy, he’s probably worth a dart throw for the Denver Broncos here.
Denver Broncos UDFA no. 3: Ja’Quan McMillian, CB, East Carolina
One of the other top undrafted free agents in the Denver Broncos’ 2022 class is East Carolina product Ja’Quan McMillian.
Again, sometimes you have to follow the money to find out which players the Broncos coveted the most, and McMillian got the second-highest guarantee behind Christopher Allen at $75,000.
That alone shows you again how much the team valued Allen as an undrafted player.
McMillian was one of the most productive defensive backs in college football last year. He was named a second-team All-American after breaking up 21 passes and picking off five passes.
That impressive ball production caught the Broncos’ eyes and the team brought McMillian in for a top-30 pre-draft visit.
That undoubtedly helped them land him in the frenzy after the NFL Draft, especially after drafting a pair of cornerbacks already.
McMillian is only 21, and though he will be 22 this season, he seems to be one of the rare rookies that is not 23 going on 24 this year.
He played three very productive years at East Carolina and picked off a total of 12 passes in that timeframe.
He’s undersized and he doesn’t have great vertical speed, but his short-area quickness and agility are awesome and he’s explosive, aggressive, and instinctive.
I might like his chances the best of anyone in this crop.
Denver Broncos UDFA no. 4: Kana’i Mauga, LB, USC
The Denver Broncos, to the surprise of many, didn’t use a single selection in the 2022 NFL Draft on the off-ball linebacker position.
Many thought that they would use their top pick at linebacker, but here we are.
Kana’i Mauga was another one of the most coveted undrafted players among this group when you look at the financials. He received $70,000 in total guarantees from the Broncos after racking up 91 total tackles for the Trojans last season.
At 6-foot-1, 246 pounds, Mauga ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash, a solid number for a player that size.
Just based strictly on the position he plays, Mauga might have a good shot to crack the Broncos roster if he can show some things on special teams.
Not that the linebacker position is overly thin, but there could be an opportunity there with just five guys at the position going into the Draft, six if you count Baron Browning who could be moving to the edge.
Mauga is extremely tough and physical at the position.
Denver Broncos UDFAs: More defensive players
Kadofi Wright, LB, Buffalo
At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Kadofi Wright has good size for the linebacker position and he was a playmaker at Buffalo.
In his five seasons there, he had three defensive touchdowns.
This past season, Wright had a career-best 8.5 tackles for loss and 48 total tackles. Over the last two seasons, he also racked up 12 passes defended.
Cortez Davis, CB, Hawaii
Hawaii cornerback Cortez Davis had one of the worst RAS scores of anyone the Broncos picked up on Draft weekend (at least among the ones eligible for a RAS score) which means they must have absolutely loved his tape.
He only had two interceptions in 34 games at Hawaii, but he added 31 passes broken up in that time as well as eight tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
His size seems to indicate he will be a developmental nickel in the NFL but Davis also has the ability to sit in zone coverage and react quickly to the ball in the air.
It’s not like players with low RAS scores never make it in the NFL, but you like to bet on traits. Even if Davis doesn’t have a good RAS score, it doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.
His 31 passes broken up didn’t happen by accident.
Denver Broncos remaining UDFAs on offense
Tyreik McAllister, RB, Charleston
The speedy running back out of Charleston (4.39 in the 40-yard dash) got one of the highest bonuses for any Broncos UDFA on the offensive side of the ball.
Although he’s only 5-foot-9, 181 pounds, McAllister is a big-time playmaker who absolutely blows by everybody in the blink of an eye.
https://twitter.com/TheMountainEast/status/1449421245922041866
I feel like this is a guy to watch as we approach offseason activities.
Sebastian Gutierrez, OT, Minot State
Gutierrez apparently started off his college career as a wide receiver before ultimately making the transition to the offensive tackle position.
He’s certainly got some tools worthy of development.
Sebastian Gutierrez is a OG prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.83 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 23 out of 1301 OG from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/XNg7a1yEiO #RAS https://t.co/tOxEFiz79G pic.twitter.com/SfdKjLMTCm
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 2, 2022
Michael Niese, OL, Temple
Michael Niese is a versatile lineman prospect out of Temple who started his college career off with Dayton.
After transferring to Temple, Niese started immediately at the right tackle position and has the ability to play on the inside as well.
Similar to Gutierrez, the Broncos obviously liked the traits here.
Michael Niese is a OC prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.21 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 43 out of 534 OC from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/9nTY8J9bmN #RAS https://t.co/XZ1D6R4DnT pic.twitter.com/f1f12Lwfmz
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 2, 2022
Rodney Williams, TE, UT-Martin
The Denver Broncos love big-time athletes and Rodney Williams is one of the freakiest of them all in this group.
His size doesn’t grade out overly well at the tight end position, but he ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash and had a 40.5-inch vertical jump.
Rodney Williams II is a TE prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 8.87 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 116 out of 1014 TE from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/UM1CBhASRI #RAS https://t.co/4zteNImhem pic.twitter.com/0d0Tf7yQVG
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 2, 2022
The train keeps rolling for the Skyhawks as the team has scored 24 straight points, courtesy of this 51-yard touchdown connection from Keon Howard to Rodney Williams II. #MartinMade pic.twitter.com/3IwGV4pemW
— UT Martin Athletics (@UTMSports) October 23, 2021
Dylan Parham, TE, North Carolina State
A former quarterback for North Carolina State, Parham made the position switch to tight end back in 2017 as a redshirt sophomore.
He is a developmental prospect who is facing an uphill battle with a lack of college production to really speak of.
Brandon Johnson, WR, Central Florida
Johnson spent six years at the collegiate level, five of them with the Tennessee Volunteers before transferring to Central Florida.
In his lone season at UCF, Johnson got himself on the NFL map with 11 receiving touchdowns on just 38 receptions.
That’s some efficiency.
Kaden Davis, WR, Northwest Missouri State
Speaking of efficiency, Kaden Davis of Northwest Missouri State had 11 touchdown catches on his 44 total receptions last season.
https://twitter.com/KadenDavis23/status/1488644446346526721
https://twitter.com/MRittCGS/status/1509946708209319943
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This guy is legit. He competed at the Missouri pro day and obviously, he turned the Denver Broncos’ heads. Not only does he have the speed and quickness to be absolutely deadly from the slot, but he’s also got some return experience and production there as well.