Every once in a while, an undrafted free agent will make an impact on an NFL team in their rookie season. This tradition, however, seems to be a common occurrence with the Denver Broncos, as the Broncos are the standard for developing undrafted free agents into NFL talent. How is Denver able to be successful? Perhaps it is the patience the front office is willing to show to younger players. Whatever the reason, Denver has become the destination for undrafted free agents to try and make a name for themselves in the NFL. It will be interesting to see, which 2022 undrafted free agent will be the next Broncos star.
READ MORE: Best Remaining Free Agent Fits
Denver Broncos Might Already Have Their Next Star Undrafted Free Agent Star
Bronco fans have made it a yearly tradition to do their research on all of the undrafted free agents. Odds are one of those players will be the next big Broncos star. The most famous recent example of this was local-man-done-good, Phillip Lindsay. Lindsay, the first undrafted rookie voted into the Pro Bowl is also the first undrafted rookie to have their first two seasons with 1,000 yards rushing.
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History of Undrafted Greatness
Lindsay comes from a long line of undrafted greatness, as the Broncos have four undrafted rookies who are in the Broncos Ring of Fame: halfback/kicker Gene Mingo who was on the inaugural 1960 Broncos team, tight end Lionel Taylor, defensive end Rich Jackson and most recently all-time great Broncos receiver Rod Smith, who is the only undrafted player to eclipse the 10,000 receiving yards in NFL history.
Lindsay isn’t the only recent player to have major success with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent. Chris Harris Jr., who is perhaps the next undrafted rookie to be added to the Ring of Fame, Shaquil Barrett, C.J. Anderson, and current roster members Tim Patrick, Malik Reed, and Mike Purcell have all fared well in Denver as undrafted free agents. And even if Purcell was not drafted by the Broncos, he has shined during his time in Denver, and all of these players left an imprint on the franchise.
So with all that history, who will be the undrafted player from this year’s class who will have an immediate impact on the Broncos roster?
Which 2022 undrafted free agent will be the next Broncos star?
This year’s draft was a unique one for many reasons. Most fascinating, perhaps, is that this year’s draft overflowed with talent, due to the Pandemic-shortened season of 2020. Due to so many players staying in school for an extra year, the 2022 NFL Draft was incredibly deep, making it tough for every single talented player to be drafted.
“[The] free agent class will be a lot deeper. Last year’s free-agent class, I mean, we were done in about five minutes. … It just wasn’t as deep, so I expect there to be a deeper class in the later rounds and college free agency,” said general manager George Paton last week during the pre-draft press conference.
That fact, and the signing of Melvin Gordon, gave the Broncos the room to look for players post-draft who could instantly contribute to a team that is in win-now mode. Those 13 players who will try to make an impact this upcoming season as undrafted free agents are:
- East Carolina, CB Ja’Quan McMillian
- Alabama, LB Chris Allen
- Michael Niese, G/OT, Temple
- Buffalo, LB Kadofi Wright
- Minot State, OL Sebastian Gutierrez
- App State, WR Jalen Virgil
- NC State, TE Dylan Parham
- UT Martin, TE Rodney Williams
- USC, LB Kana’i Mauga
- Hawaii, CB Cortez Davis
- Central Florida, WR Brandon Johnson
- Northwest Missouri St., WR Kaden Davis
- Tyreik McAllister, RB, Charleston
Three names to keep an eye on to break out this year are Chris Allen, Kanai’ Mauga, and Ja’Quan McMillian. Will one of these guys be the next star Broncos undrafted free agent?
Alabama, LB Chris Allen
Allen, who has dealt with injuries, first a season-ending knee injury in 2018 and a fractured foot in 2021 fractured foot, could be a potential steal. Allen finished his collegiate career at Alabama with 6.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles-for-loss, and three forced fumbles. When not injured, he led the SEC in tackles for loss with 13 and made second-team All-SEC. He was projected to be a fourth-round pick by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
If Allen were to make the roster on Week 1, that would make seven pash rushers on the team. Along with Allen, the others include Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Malik Reed, Jonathon Cooper, and the Broncos 64th overall pick Nik Bonitto.
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Fortunately for Allen, if head coach Nathaniel Hackett’s post-draft press conference statement is an indication of anything, Allen will have more than enough chances to try to make the team. “You can never have enough people to rush a passer. We talk a lot. It’s how the quarterback plays, it’s how you affect the quarterback from the defense’s perspective. So we want to find as many rushers as we can. We want great competition in that room. I feel like we’re going to be able to get after some of these quarterbacks in this division.” (h/t Mile High Huddle).
East Carolina, CB Ja’Quan McMillian
McMillan was an absolute stud at East Carolina, totaling 12 interceptions, 127 tackles, and a defensive touchdown in 33 games. He was named to the Second-Team All-American for his efforts in his senior season. The Broncos have had their eye on the former Pirate as he visited Denver in their pre-draft meetings. Luckily for the Broncos, he fell to them as an undrafted free agent. And McMillan is incredibly young at only 21 years old.
USC, LB Kana’i Mauga
In a position that lacks depth for the Broncos, Kana’i Mauga has the opportunity to find himself a spot on the roster. He was durable, as Mauga started all 12 games for the Trojans last season. He finished with 91 tackles in his last season at USC and he can add depth to the linebacking corps which will be looking for some stability. Mauga also finished his Trojan career with 206 career tackles and three interceptions. If he does not make an immediate impact on defense, Mauga can be a key player on special teams for a unit that finished 27th in 2021 and dead-last in kickoff coverage.
These three names are a good starting point, but no matter who it is, odds are that the Broncos already have the next star undrafted free agent.
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