3 undrafted players make it into the Broncos’ first 53-man squad

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — When it comes to undrafted players, the Broncos have a rich history.

From Rod Smith to Chris Harris Jr., Denver has seen undrafted players leave an indelible mark on the organization.

And after Denver announced its initial roster of 53 players on Tuesday, three non-drafted players will get the chance to expand that roster.

Tackle Frank Crum, inside linebacker Levelle Bailey and running back Blake Watson were all named to the first roster after making an impression during training camp and the preseason. Denver has now seen at least one undrafted player on the first roster in 20 of the last 21 years, including seven players in the last two years.

Crum, Bailey and Watson all had outstanding college careers where they demonstrated their potential to contribute at the next level. General manager George Paton said the Broncos' scouting staff played a big role in bringing those players to Denver after building strong relationships with them following the 2024 NFL Draft.

“The scouts play a big role,” Paton said Tuesday. “We advocate for these players after the draft and fight for them.”

Crum proved his abilities during his standout college career at Wyoming, where he started 36 games at right tackle from 2019-2022 before starting all 13 games at left tackle in 2023. He was named an All-Mountain West honoree in his final college season and displayed unique physical skills that caught the eye of the Broncos' staff.

“You don’t get many [6-foot-7] Guys that can bend like he can and have the same strength as him,” Paton said.

Crum has already been a strong presence in Denver's offensive line, appearing in 97 offensive snaps and 9 special teams snaps in three preseason games.

“He's still inexperienced,” Paton said of Crum's performance in the preseason. “You see him in the passing game [protection]I know he got beat a few times. But for a kid who played in Wyoming, [and is a] Rookie in the first year in the NFL to do some of the things he did in training [and] against Green Bay – he played well. And Indianapolis, of course I thought he played well for most of the game. [He] had a few breakdowns, but [he’s] really talented and [we] I really love the positive aspects of Crum.”

Although Paton said the Broncos staff “didn’t know that much about” Bailey, the rookie inside linebacker stood out both in college and during the preseason.

The 2023 All-Mountain West second-team selection started all 13 games last season and recorded 82 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and five passes defensed. Bailey also made game-winning plays in three games for Fresno State last season.

“We liked him [and] We liked the athletic ability,” Paton said.[He’s] so young, sporty [and] playing with burning hair. We think he will just keep growing [and] getting better and better.”

Paton's assessment seems to be confirmed so far, as Bailey recorded a 94-yard pick-six in Denver's preseason win over the Cardinals, securing his spot on the starting roster.

While the Broncos staff has taken the time to get to know Bailey since he arrived in Denver, they were a bit more familiar with Watson after spending time with him during a top-30 visit.

“That’s why these top 30 [visits] are really important,” said Paton. “You get to know the player and he gets an insight into your personality. [They] See Denver [and] our facilities and it makes it easier when you're trying to get them as a college free agent.”

The former college star started 11 games at Memphis in 2023 and ran for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. Watson played the previous four seasons at Old Dominion, where he totaled more than 2,000 rushing yards in his final two seasons.

That success continued in NFL preseason games, as Watson scored a rushing touchdown in Denver's opening preseason game against the Colts.

With several of last year's undrafted rookies making an impact in Denver, including running back Jaleel McLaughlin, Paton is looking forward to seeing how this year's undrafted players develop throughout 2024.

“I’m really excited about these guys,” he said.