Breaking down the Broncos 10 undrafted free agent signings
May 1, 2019, 2:06 PM
With the 2019 NFL Draft in the books, the Broncos turned their attention to the college free agents that didn’t hear their names called during the three-days in Nashville.
Historically, the Broncos have been very good – perhaps the best in the league – when it comes to finding quality talent in the priority free agent pool. A college free agent has made Denver’s active roster out of training camp in a whopping 14 of the last 15 seasons.
Not only do Broncos UDFAs make the team, some of them earn Pro Bowl honors, like Chris Harris Jr. (2014-2016, 2018), C.J. Anderson (2014) and Phillip Lindsay (2018).
Let’s take a look at the 10 undrafted prospects signed so far to see what kind of hidden gems the Broncos may have added.
Quinn Bailey | OL | Arizona State
Bailey has the natural strength and talent to make the 53-man roster. He was a good college tackle who projects best inside at guard in the pros. Bailey is what scouts call a “knee bender” and he does a good job locking onto his man. A smart player, Bailey is not often fooled by stunts and twists on the defensive line in front of him.
Trinity Benson | WR | East Central
It’s easy to see how Benson can use his quickness to get open on slant routes, plus he has a long stride to pull away from chasing defenders. The person I consider to be the best draft analyst out there, Dane Brugler from The Athletic, called Benson a “late-round sleeper to keep on the radar.” Benson measures 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, and impressed scouts at his pro day with a 4.4 40-yard dash and a sub-6.9 second three-cone drill. He can work as a receiver or return man, and Benson even got a chance to get some carries on sweeps for East Central.
Joe Dineen | LB | Kansas
The best way to describe Dineen’s playing style is “old school.” He’s a two-down run-stuffer who isn’t afraid of contact. During the past two years for the Jayhawks, Dineen had nearly 300 tackles as one of the most-productive players on the roster. Seen as a relentless leader on defense, Dineen was snubbed from being selected to participate in the Scouting Combine. A hamstring injury during his pro day limited his pre-draft work, perhaps to the Broncos benefit.
Austin Fort | TE | Wyoming
Fort originally went to the University of Wyoming as a quarterback. He redshirted in 2014 and played quarterback at Chabot Community College for the 2015 season. Fort switched to the tight end position and is still learning the nuances of playing in that spot. He’s got the athleticism to get open on underneath routes and even got some carries out of the backfield for the Cowboys. Fort was also a standout special teams player in college.
Ahmad Gooden | LB | Samford
While most might not have heard of Samford’s Ahmad Gooden, there are plenty of draft analysts who saw him as a late-round sleeper in the 2019 NFL Draft. A stand-up defensive end in college, Gooden is likely to play linebacker at the pro level at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds. He displays good hustle on his way to the quarterback and has a field awareness that puts him in most plays, even if they go away from his side of the field. Gooden has some speed, as evidenced by the touchdown he scored on a 50-yard fumble return against Furman.
Romell Guerrier | WR | Florida Tech
The first thing that stands out about Guerrier is his ability to track the ball downfield and make difficult catches over his shoulder. Guerrier has incredible concentration when the ball is headed his way. He’s not the biggest receiver, measuring in at 5’10” 186 pounds, but Guerrier has the speed to create space. Guerrier has good playing speed and seems to have an extra gear to pull away from defenders after the catch.
Devontae Jackson | RB | West Georgia
Jackson isn’t the biggest running back, measuring in at 5-foot-7, 176 pounds, but he has great footwork and is a big play waiting to happen as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. He averaged more than 6.0 yards per carry in four years of starting in college and scored 31 touchdowns on the ground during that time. In addition to quick feet and jukes, Jackson can break off a well-timed spin move to gain positive yards. Even though he’s not built to be a pile-pusher, Jackson does fight for every yard and can be slippery when defenders are trying to bring him down.
Jaylen Johnson | DL | Washington
Johnson has what scouts call “violent striking hands” and he certainly knows how to use them to disengage from blockers. He’s got the skill set to work as a one-gap player on the defensive line at 6-foot-3, 286 pounds. Johnson wasn’t asked to penetrate much in college, but that could be his role in the NFL. He’s got a quick first step out of his stance and Johnson understands how to string moves together. Johnson is smart and does a good job of diagnosing plays while engaged with a blocker.
John Leglue | OL | Tulane
In 2019, the Broncos want to run the ball early and often, so it makes sense they would go to one of the best run-blocking lines in the country to find Leglue. He’s an incredibly bright player who is also known as a film junkie and was beloved by his Green Wave teammates at Tulane. Leglue is versatile and can line up at right tackle, center or guard (his likely best spot in the pros).
Brian Wallace | OL | Arkansas
The Broncos got a huge offensive tackle when they signed Wallace, one of the better UDFAs from this year’s crop. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 326 pounds, Wallace’s game is built on power. When he gets his hands on a defender, he can move him out of the way with ease. Wallace needs to work on his balance and footwork in order to make it as a tackle in the NFL. He could also move into guard if need be.
NOTE: You’ll notice on this list that Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien was not listed. This list was from the players who signed their deals on or before Tuesday. A team source tells me more signings (including Rypien) are to come. When his signing becomes official, I’ll certainly be breaking down his game.
