The Denver Broncos did not have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after trading for Russell Wilson to be the team's new quarterback.
The Broncos still came out of the draft with nine overall picks and as you will see by the report card to follow, those players turned in varying results. Looking at this exercise last year, the Broncos turned in a report card with mixed grades for their 2021 rookie class.
The team will face the same sort of odds in the upcoming draft as, at least as of this writing, they will not be making a selection until the third round of the selection process in April.
Broncos fans will be antsy as they watch the draft unfold as over 60 players will be chosen before Denver goes on the clock. But it's often the later rounds where a team will find the most value.
Here is a look back at each player chosen in this past draft and how their first season in the NFL went along with a corresponding letter grade.
Grading the Broncos' 2022 rookie class: Undrafted free agents
The Broncos have long been known for doing a great job finding players through the undrafted process. This season, there were no immediate impact players in that wave, but the Broncos did find some guys who could stick around for years to come.
The team had a large group of wide receivers on the 90-man roster entering training camp and it soon became clear that at least one of the undrafted wide receivers on the roster had a good chance of making the team.
Brandon Johnson, undrafted out of Central Florida, seemed to be that guy through the preseason. But an ankle injury in the preseason finale initially cost him that spot. Instead, the Broncos went with Jalen Virgil, who came out of Appalachian State. He made the 53-man roster.
Johnson ended up healing the ankle and he appeared in seven games for the team, catching six passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Virgil only caught two passes but one went for 66 yards which tied for the team's second-longest play of the season.
I am of the belief that at least one of these guys can become a long-term option for the team. The most prolific receiver in team history, Rod Smith, was undrafted.
Finally, defensive back Ja'Quan McMillian was given the chance to suit up for the team's season finale and he made seven tackles in that game. He has a chance to become a decent producer on the back end of the roster for this team as well.
Undrafted rookie grade: C+
Broncos' late-round picks
With the No. 206 overall selection of the draft, the Broncos took Wisconsin defensive lineman Matt Henningsen in the sixth-round and the Broncos used him as such, trying to find a spot for him as a rotational defensive lineman.
Henningsen was likely looking at a practice squad position when he was drafted and he ended up making the final roster and playing in all 17 games.
He played on only 20 percent of the team's defensive snaps, collecting 21 tackles and one sack but his primary use was as a special teams guy. It will be interesting to see how Henningsen fits on the roster in year two but he may end up being a better player than a lot of people thought he would.
Grade: C
With their seventh-round pick, the Broncos stayed with the Wisconsin theme and selected defensive back Faion Hicks. As the No. 232 overall pick in the draft, not much was expected out of Hicks in his rookie year.
He failed to make the team's roster and spent the entire year on the practice squad. He did sign a futures deal after the season ended so he will get another opportunity with the team in 2023 but he didn't suit up for even one game when an undrafted defensive back like McMillian did. That may not bode well for his future.
Grade: D
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+
Broncos' fourth-round picks
This seemed like a strong fourth-round pick when it was made and though Damarri Mathis had some rookie struggles (being flagged for pass interference four times in one game), he played quite well this season.
Mathis was pressed into probably more action than the team envisioned initially in 2022 but when Ronald Darby went down with a torn ACL, Mathis had to step up.
The only defensive backs on the team who played more defensive snaps than Mathis this season were Kareem Jackson, Patrick Surtain and Justin Simmons. Mathis should be viewed as a starter going forward.
He finished the season with 65 tackles (fifth on the team) and seven pass deflections.
Grade: B
As you can see by the draft grade, this was a pick I loved when it was made. In fact, it was my favorite pick of the team's entire draft class. It didn't work out that way, at least for Eyioma Uwazurike as a rookie.
Uwazurike played in just eight games this season and made 17 tackles. For comparison sake, sixth-round choice Matt Henningsen saw the field more and so did Jonathan Harris, a player on the back end of the roster.
Uwazurike cant be behind these guys in the pecking order. He needs to make a big leap in year two and the hope will be that he doesn't become the next McTelvin Agim.
Grade: D
Third-round pick
Things got off to a slow start for Greg Dulcich as a hamstring injury bothered him all of camp and preseason and he started the year on injured reserve. The team activated him ahead of Week 6 and he made a good impact in a short amount of time.
Dulcich created a quick connection with Russell Wilson and showed himself to be a good down-field option in the passing game. He finished the season with 33 receptions for 411 yards, both good for third on the team. He also caught two touchdown passes.
Nathaniel Hackett insisted on playing tight ends like Eric Tomlinson, Eric Saubert and Andrew Beck while making Albert Okwuegbunam inactive nearly every week of the season. But Dulcich still managed to make a big splash in a short amount of time.
He should be an even bigger weapon in an offense that will be overseen by Sean Payton.
Grade: B+
Second-round pick
The Broncos did not have a first-round choice in this draft as that was given up to get Wilson but they did have a second-round pick obtained by trading Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams during the season. With that pick, the Broncos attempted to replace Miller.
Nik Bonitto could someday prove to be that replacement, but he is a long way away from that after a quiet rookie season.
Bonitto came along slowly as a rookie and even though he was active for 15 games, he played on just 31 percent of the team's defensive snaps, finishing the season with 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
He was drafted for his ability to rush the passer and that will ultimately be how he is judged in the league. So the fact that he got a sack and a half in such limited action does show he can do it at this level and just needs to develop into a more complete player who can be on the field more.
Bonitto still has time to become great and it's way too early to say he was a bad pick, but his rookie season was certainly underwhelming.
Grade: C-
Overall Grade
This was not a great draft class nor a disastrous one, at least after one season.
The Broncos found some players who can become long-term members of the team and they found some players that will need to be much more effective than they were in 2022.
The picks of Dulcich and Mathis worked out well and both players should have a significant role in 2023 and beyond. The picks of Bonitto and Uwazurike both looked good on paper but both players underperformed in year one.
For reference, Eric Edholm of NFL.com recently graded the rookie class of every team in the AFC. He landed on a C- overall grade for the Broncos, which is fair and it's about what I had.
I gave each of these players a score from 1-100 and that is how I determined their letter grade. The overall average score of the whole class came out to 75.2, giving the Broncos an average overall grade.
Overall grade: C