Could any undrafted free agent make Denver Broncos roster?
The Denver Broncos signed a plethora of undrafted free agents. Do any have a realistic shot of making the active roster for 2022?
The Denver Broncos have a very unique habit of always seeming to sneak an undrafted free agent onto their roster.
Some notable names the Broncos have found include Malik Reed, Chris Harris, Jr, Phillip Lindsay, and C.J. Anderson.
The Broncos are good at this for some reason, and with a massive undrafted free agent class to choose from, it’s bound to happen again this year.
Undrafted free agents aren’t the sexiest thing to talk about. They’re usually no-name players who obviously did not get drafted, and many who don’t get a phone call will begin to seep into a “normal” person lifestyle like you and I.
However, those players that do get a phone call and sign with a team have a chance to crack the active roster or the practice squad at the very least.
Hopefully, the Denver Broncos can find a player or two who cracks the active roster as an undrafted free agent.
The question is, though, which players could do this?
Well, we first need to talk about which undrafted free agents the team has signed.
- East Carolina CB Ja’Quan McMillian
- Alabama OLB Chris Allen
- Buffalo LB Kadofi Wright
- Minot State OL Sebastian Gutierrez
- App State WR Jalen Virgil
- NC State TE Dylan Parham
- UT Martin TE Rodney Williams
- USC LB Kana’i Mauga
- Hawaii CB Cortez Davis
- Central Florida WR Brandon Johnson
- Northwest Missouri St. WR Kaden Davis
- Charleston RB Tyriek McAllister
- Temple OL Michael Niese
- Rookie minicamp tryout: Boise State OL Jake Stetz
- Rookie minicamp tryout: Eastern Washington QB Eric Barriere
This group has so far made up all of the undrafted free agents the Denver Broncos have signed.
One name has stuck out so far, and that’s Alabama edge rusher Chris Allen.
He’s a 6’4″, 240lb edge rusher who missed all of 2018 and most of 2021 with injuries. In 2020, he racked up six sacks and 13 tackles for loss playing in 11 games.
His draft profile indicates he was given a fourth-round draft grade, which is very solid, given how talented this edge rusher class was.
Allen was also given the most money of any Broncos undrafted player, which indicates how he’s viewed among the group.
I would give him a solid chance to make the roster, given that both Malik Reed and Jonathon Cooper aren’t the most exciting players and were undrafted and a seventh-round draft selection.
There is space for Allen on the roster, and I think playing top competition at Alabama is a massive help here. He is not a small school guy, but rather someone who showed promise at the best football school in the country, but seemingly went undrafted because of injuries.
Look for Allen to make some noise and the team.
Another player who I think has a shot to make the roster is Kadofi Wright, a linebacker out of Buffalo.
The Denver Broncos starting inside linebackers for 2022 are unknown outside of Josey Jewell. Baron Browning is moving to edge, and while he probably isn’t playing there full time, the team should still prepare like he will.
The team needs another starter, or at least another viable body.
Wright is 6’3″, 230lbs. He’s got excellent size and has a 4.52 40-yard dash to his name as well. On top of his great size and speed, his instincts are solid as well, being able to quickly diagnose plays while quickly getting to the ball.
Wright seems like a massive athletic specimen who needs to polish up a few parts of his game. He apparently plays upright and could add a toughness streak to his arsenal. I’d give him a decent shot to crack the roster just for his insane athleticism. Teams, especially the Denver Broncos love getting absurd athletes in the building.
Kadofi Wright is no different and has a very solid chance at making the roster.