ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Denver Broncos try to quickly instill the first-to-arrive, last-to-leave work ethic in their players.
Although the offseason program concluded for veterans on June 13, Broncos’ rookies hung around for extra classroom work last week. The rookies’ summer vacation will be shortened on the back side, also, as they will report for the start of training camp Wednesday, well ahead of when the veterans arrive Tuesday.
Here's a preview of the Broncos’ rookies and their training camp prospects, in the order in which they were drafted:
Bo Nix, QB
He will be the Broncos’ most watched player in training camp and the preseason. It’s never fair to put an entire team’s hopes upon the shoulders of one man but such is life for first-round rookie quarterbacks.
Fortunately for the Broncos, Nix has been dealing with the pressure of high expectations almost since the crib. His dad, Patrick Nix, quarterbacked Auburn to a 9-0 start and No. 3 national ranking in 1994 before the Tigers finished that season with an upset tie to Georgia and loss to Alabama.
Twenty-five years later, Bo Nix became Auburn’s starting quarterback as a true freshman. Had a good year, too, as he was the SEC’s Freshman of the Year after lifting Auburn to comeback wins against Oregon in his college debut and Alabama, 48-45, in the Iron Bowl.
So Nix doesn’t feel the pressure that others would.
“No, I don’t,’’ Nix told 9NEWS on June 12, as the Broncos' offseason program wrapped up. “I’ve always had expectations. Sometimes you’ve got to limit those distractions and treat it for what it is -- it’s just playing football.”
Nix will compete with veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the Broncos' season-opening QB job at Seattle on Sept. 8. Stidham seemed to perform the best during the offseason, but Nix came a long way in a short time. Many expect Nix to win the job by the opener but training camp practices and preseason games will determine the competition.
Jonah Elliss, OLB
When Drew Sanders went down with an Achilles injury early in the offseason program, edge-rusher depth jumped on the Broncos’ priority draft list. In the third round they found the youngest of Luther Elliss' four NFL playing sons. A hard-working, high-motor type pass rusher, Jonah Elliss had 12.0 sacks in just 10 games at Utah last season, with about half coming on “hustle” sacks.
Elliss was limited during the offseason as he continued to recover from shoulder surgery but he should be fully cleared for contact come the start of training camp.
Elliss figures to be the Broncos’ No. 4 edge rusher behind Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning and Nik Bonitto.
Troy Franklin, WR
Tall, long and fast, Franklin had an impressive offseason as he made several deep-ball plays.
He caught 23 touchdown passes from Nix the previous two seasons at Oregon while combining for 142 receptions and 2,274 yards.
Franklin, who has a good chance of beginning the season as the No. 4 receiver, and second-year player Marvin Mims Jr., should give the Broncos much-needed home run threats at the receiver position.
Kris Abrams-Draine, CB
He’s long if on the skinny side at 5-foot-11 3/8, 179 pounds, but he’s also feisty and tough. He’ll need to hit the weights, as all rookies do, but he should become a strong special teams contributor as a rookie. For now, Abrams-Draine is the No. 6 cornerback behind Pat Surtain II, Ja’Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis and Levi Wallace.
Audric Estime, RB
Perhaps, the second-most watched Broncos player in training camp, Estime is a powerfully-built, punishing rusher who suffered a knee injury early in OTAs and underwent a minor arthroscopic procedure. Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton said Estime should be full go by the start of training camp.
A high-character, mature product from Notre Dame, Estime won’t turn 21 until two days before the season opener. He will compete with Javonte Williams for the Broncos’ lead running back role.
Devaughn Vele, WR
The universal scouting reports state Vele has off-the-charts character. This helps explain how he got here from a journey that began as a walk-on player in the spring of 2019 at Utah.
He then played in four games as a redshirt freshman, starting against the Colorado Buffaloes, and later became a 2 ½-year starter for the Utes.
Vele's biggest receiving games last season were against No. 5 Washington (5 catches, 145 yards), No. 17 Arizona (9 catches, 111 yards, TD) and No. 8 Oregon (7 catches, 80 yards). This after he had five catches for 100 yards against No. 9 Penn State in the 2022-season Rose Bowl.
But what may have caused the Broncos to draft him in the 7th round instead of waiting to sign him as a premium undrafted free agent was the punt-return skills he showed as a junior (26 for a 9.5-yard average).
He is a candidate to join Mims back in the return well during the NFL’s new kickoff play.
Nick Gargiulo, C-G
Massive at 6-5, 318. Must work on technique and holding his blocks, like all rookies. The Broncos have so much depth at center and guard, he may need some time on the practice squad.
Others
Blake Watson, RB
It’s difficult to project the 5-9, 195-pound undrafted rookie from Memphis winding up among the top three running backs on the 53-man roster. But Jaleel McLaughlin was in same position at this time last year before he made it thanks to an excellent preseason.
Jordan Miller, DT
The Broncos are going to a one-gap front and that’s the type of penetrating system in which Miller excels. He was a backup/rotational defensive lineman for five seasons at Miami, then started last season at SMU. Figures to begin on practice squad.
Frank Crum, OT
The large (6-7, 315) Laramie, Wyoming native spent six years at his hometown college, earning his real-estate agent license besides his business degree. Crum and Watson topped the Broncos’ undrafted rookies with a $25,000 signing bonus and $275,000 in guarantee which would more than covers his season-long practice squad salary of $225,000.
Omar Brown, Safety
The Broncos have two big question marks on defense – starting inside linebacker alongside Alex Singleton, and dime backer or No. 3 safety behind Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke.
Brown is coming off an impressive season at Nebraska and was No. 3 among undrafted rookies with a $20,000 signing bonus and $245,000 in guarantees (which covers a first-year practice squad salary).
Jaylon Allen, OLB
Watson’s college teammate at Memphis last year, Allen flashed early in OTAs. The Broncos have decent outside linebacker depth but there’s always room for a preseason surprise.
Levelle Bailey, ILB
A three-year starter at Memphis State, Bailey also looked good early in OTAs. And the two-down Mike linebacker spot next to Singleton will be a player playoff in training camp.
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