ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Just because a tryout guy isn’t signed today doesn’t mean he won’t be signed in the future.
John Matocha and Ty Summers were two distinctly different tryout players this weekend at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp.
Matocha is a Division II quarterback from the Colorado School of Mines down the road in Golden. He was here trying out as a rookie for one of the 90-man roster spots.
Summers already has five complete NFL seasons as an inside linebacker/special teams player who was given a pro tryout during the Broncos’ rookie minicamp.
“I didn’t even know vets could do rookie minicamps,’’ Summers said. “But I was like, ‘Hey, if it’s an actual opportunity I’m all in.’’
A source told 9NEWS the Broncos were not expected to sign any of their 27 tryout players -- 25 college rookies and 2 pros) following the team's rookie minicamp Sunday.
Summers figured to have the best chance among the tryout guys. He may just have to wait as the Broncos’ 90-man roster is already full. He played a lot of inside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers in his second season of 2020 and some more in 2021 but since then has mostly played a special teams role.
Special teams units are comprised of body types, though, and aside from Justin Strnad, the Broncos aren’t deep with linebackers who can run.
“I did see that there was a need,’’ said Summers, who played for his previous 1 ½ seasons for the New Orleans Saints, where Broncos’ director of player personnel Cody Rager was an assistant scouting executive. “I saw they didn’t draft a guy. I did see that they signed a couple guys (undrafted free agents Levelle Bailey and Alec Mock). I had other teams say, ‘Hey we want to see how rookie minicamp goes before we bring you in.’
“This was the first team that said, ‘Hey, we want to bring you in for at least workout.’ So I said, ‘You know what, I would love being in Denver.’ I see an opportunity so I was like, I’m doing it. Come on. I don’t care if it’s rookie minicamp. Put my pride aside.’’
It may be difficult for Matocha to stick because it sounds like head coach Sean Payton may only want to keep three quarterbacks this offseason, instead of the usual four, because he wants to make sure rookie Bo Nix gets an extra share of practice snaps.
The Broncos’ other two quarterbacks are veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Another veteran QB who was with the Broncos all of last season, Ben DiNucci, was cut last week.
“In fairness to Ben -- he and I spoke for a long time -- with young guys, the reps are important,’’ Payton said.
Matocha has an opportunity to join the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. Still, he left a strong impression with Payton.
“I was giving him a hard time,’’ Payton said. “I went into the quarterback meeting, and I was just having fun with Bo. I said, ‘I want to talk to the quarterback that has (162) touchdown passes and he rushed for (28), (191, counting one receiving) total.’ So we Wikipedia’d him, and all his numbers came up. He did it in four years.
“He’s been fun to work with. He’s sharp, he’s smart and has a lot of energy. We had him here for the local Pro Day that we were allowed to have, and it’s good to have him back.”
Matocha, who also has a full-time job as a computer software developer at Tyler Technologies in Lakewood, did get to hang out with Nix for four days.
“Great dude,’’ Matocha said. “Everybody around here has been super nice, super welcoming and great coaches, great staff. So I loved my time here.”
Big Frank Crum
Frank Crum, the big kid from Wyoming, is just that – massive at 6-foot-7, 310 pounds and a Laramie native. Plus, he has long, curly, blond hair.
Crum was projected as a Day 3 draft pick two weeks ago after starting 48 of 55 games for the Cowboys. But when the offensive tackle went undrafted, he received a robust $275,000 in total guaranteed contract with the Broncos – tied with running back Blake Watson for highest guarantee among the team’s 14 undrafted rookies.
“It was a situation where I think it worked out the best for me,’’ Crum said Saturday at his newly-assigned Broncos’ locker. “I’m really happy for being here.
“Coming into it I think we expected it, to get drafted, but the situation with Denver and coach Payton I think it’s a great deal that we’ve got going on here.
“Coming from Wyoming, it’s gritty, blue collar, and I can really feel the vibe, it’s the same here right now. I’ve really enjoyed these first two days and just learning and doing what I can do right now.”
Bronco Bits
Team owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner were on the sidelines watching the rookies' two-and-a-half hour practice Saturday. …
Never mind fifth-round draft pick Kris Abrams-Draine wearing the No. 31 former Broncos’ safety Justin Simmons wore the previous eight seasons (“I feel like it’s a number at the end of the day, but what he did for this organization will never be forgotten,’’ Abrams-Draine said. “I’ll just do my best with that number.”)
What about former inside linebacker Josey Jewell? His No. 47 was given away twice this weekend – to undrafted rookie safety Cam Allen and tryout long snapper Nick D’Ambra.
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