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Broncos undrafted free agent spotlight on LB Kana’i Mauga

By Travis Wakeman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: Kana'i Mauga #26 of the USC Trojans defends against a pass play during the second half of a game against the Washington State Cougars at Los Angeles Coliseum on December 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: Kana'i Mauga #26 of the USC Trojans defends against a pass play during the second half of a game against the Washington State Cougars at Los Angeles Coliseum on December 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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After four years with one of the most prestigious college football programs in the country, linebacker Kana’i Mauga joins the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

Kana’i Mauga comes to the Broncos from USC and will join a roster that could use some help at the inside linebacker position. Mauga is one of two undrafted players the Broncos sign who are slated to play inside linebacker.

Name: Kana’i Mauga

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 245 pounds

School: USC

USC has long been known for producing professional linebackers and Mauga played in 38 games for the Trojans. He still has gone largely unrecognized on the national scale and did not receive an invite to the annual scouting combine.

Some analysts saw Mauga as a seventh-round draft pick and if he can show some coverage ability, he could provide some value to the Broncos.

Mauga had a solid senior season in 2021, registering 92 total tackles with one sack and one interception. For his college career, he had 205 tackles, five sacks, three interceptions and 16.5 tackles for loss.

He will sit behind the likes of Josey Jewell, Baron Browning, Alex Singleton and Jonas Griffith while also competing with Justin Strnad, Barrington Wade and Kadofi Wright for depth positions on the roster.

Chances of making final roster (1-10 scale): 4

Mauga’s athletic talent is evident and that is why he was recruited to play at USC. But the reasons for him failing to be selected in the draft are also evident.

He can be a bit too aggressive and overruns ball carriers. He is good at catching players from behind but he is too often behind them. In addition, his skills in both pass coverage and as a pass-rusher are average at best.

He will get a chance in Denver to show what he can do because inside linebacker is one of the weaker areas on the roster. Barring anything unforeseen, Browning, Jewell and Singleton will make the roster while Griffith will be the favorite for a fourth spot.

Next. 6 Broncos on the roster bubble following the draft. dark

Between the other four players listed here, the one that plays the best on special teams this summer will have the inside track on securing a spot on the practice squad, which is likely the ceiling for Mauga during his rookie season.

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