Denver Broncos' 2022 rookie report card

Broncos' fifth-round picks

Montrell Washington was given the role of the team's primary kick and punt returner, which was predicted following his selection in the draft. I have long been against a team carrying a guy on a roster who only returns kicks which is why Diontae Spencer was never my favorite player.

Washington seemed to have much more upside. But the Broncos never really allowed that to materialize during his rookie season.

He averaged 18.9 yards on kickoff returns and 8.5 on punt returns but he was hardly used at all on offense, catching just four passes on the season. For the final two games, in which interim head coach Jerry Rosburg was in charge, he was a healthy scratch.

That certainly takes his grade down. His rookie season was far from a disaster but it had the chance to be so much better.

Grade: C-

Luke Wattenberg was taken to provide depth on the offensive line as he could play multiple positions, including center.

Wattenberg ended up making one start on the season and might project best for the future as a guard. The Broncos used nine different starting offensive line combinations in 2022, a number the team must bring down.

Wattenberg was used sparingly as a rookie so it's hard to grade him too harshly for this past season.

Grade: C

The selection of Delarrin Turner-Yell was a bit curious as safety was not a huge position of need for the Broncos but he ended up replacing Jamar Johnson, who the team took in the fifth round the year before.

Turner-Yell did not play a single snap on defense but he became one of the team's primary special teams guys as a rookie, making eight tackles. He also had two fumble recoveries, including one in the team's season-finale win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Turner-Yell progressed about as well as could be expected as a rookie asked to be a special teams guy but the team will need to see him do more in 2023.

Grade: C+