There will be a number of under-the-radar players that have to contribute for the Denver Broncos to have success in 2017.
Whether it is an undrafted free agent, or maybe just a player at the bottom of the depth chart, it seems every season we see an unknown player make a name for himself.
Chris Harris Jr. was undrafted in 2011, but worked hard to make the roster and get better. He was ready to perform when Champ Bailey went down with an injury, and he got his chance to shine.
C.J. Anderson, Wesley Woodyard, and Tyler Polumbus were all undrafted and went on to make the Broncos roster, despite the odds.
Free agents like Ed McCaffrey, Howard Griffith, or even Darian Stewart were signed without much fanfare but have ended up making a name for themselves with this franchise.
Could the Broncos have a diamond in the rough on this year’s roster? Here are a few little-known players that will be trying to buck the odds and play a role with this team in 2017.
Marlon Brown WR
He may not be a rookie, but he isn’t exactly a household name either, and he has a legitimate chance to make this team. Signed as an undrafted rookie by the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, Brown proved he was capable of doing more than just making the roster. He cracked the starting lineup, catching 49 passes and scoring seven touchdowns as a rookie. The Ravens signed Steve Smith the following season, so Brown was dropped to a backup role. Still, he managed to grab 24 receptions for 255 yards. He suffered a back injury in 2015 and ended up on the Ravens injured reserve list. Denver signed him to a free-agent contract last summer, but he re-injured his back in training camp. The Broncos like Brown’s size at 6-foot-5, and he has shown an ability to go up in traffic and come down with the football. If he can just stay healthy, he could create a significant size mismatch as a third wide receiver in the Broncos offense.
Ken Ekanem OLB
He played as a defensive end at Virginia Tech, but the undrafted rookie will probably need to be moved to outside linebacker in the Broncos’ 3-4 defensive scheme. He doesn’t have prototypical NFL size, but he does have a knack for getting to opposing quarterbacks, as evidenced by his 21.5 sacks in college. At the NFL Combine, the 6-foot-3, 257-pound pass-rusher posted a 4.89 40-yard dash. With that kind of speed, powerful hands and a strong leg drive, Ekenem will have a chance to impress the Broncos’ coaching staff. Can he contribute on special teams, or make an eye-catching big play in the preseason? If so, he might have a chance to make this roster.
Tyrique Jarrett DT
At 335 pounds, he is officially the heaviest player on the Broncos’ roster at present, and he can use that size to clog up the middle of the field. Jarrett wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, and he was bypassed in the draft, but he is a giant that could find a fit in Denver. The Broncos have made a conscious effort to beef up their defensive line, and Jarret fits the bill there. In his career at Pitt, he tallied 59 tackles, with 8.5 for loss, and three sacks. Don’t let his size fool you, the big man is far more athletic than you might think. He unofficially ran a 5.35 in the 40-yard dash on his pro day. That combination of size and speed could make Jarrett a very good candidate to fill out the Broncos’ depth chart at nose tackle.
Marcus Rios CB
If you want a relatively unknown player to root for on the Broncos roster, this might be the guy. Rios began suffering from headaches while still in high school. After multiple surgeries and several years, doctors eventually found that Rios had aspergillosis, a rare fungal infection. He lost vision in one eye, and his weight dropped under 130 pounds, but the surgeries and medication began to work. Rios played his collegiate football at UCLA, beginning in 2012 and eventually got healthy enough to get back on the playing field in 2014. There, he logged 84 tackles and two interceptions in just 29 games. For good reason, the Broncos like his determination and work ethic. You can never have too many talented cornerbacks, and Rios has clearly proven to have the toughness to exceed expectations.
Elijah Wilkinson OL
We all know that the Broncos need to strengthen their offensive line, and Wilkinson should have a chance to compete and even make the team. Undrafted out of the University of Massachusetts, he spent most of his time at right tackle, and he helped the Minutemen offense put up some big numbers. With Wilkinson starting up front the past two seasons, the UMass offense averaged nearly 400 yards per game. He stands 6-foot-5, and at 329 pounds he showed potential both in the run game and sliding in front of opposing pass-rushers. He won’t be ready to step in and start any time soon, but Wilkinson could provide some much-needed depth at offensive tackle. If he develops at all, he could eventually play himself into the rotation over the next few seasons.
