ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos have a rich history when it comes to undrafted players.
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 53-player roster on Tuesday, three undrafted players will have an opportunity to add to that legacy.
Tackle Frank Crum, inside linebacker Levelle Bailey and running back Blake Watson were all named to the initial roster after making an impact throughout training camp and preseason. Denver has now seen at least one undrafted player make the initial roster in 20 of the last 21 years, including seven players in the last two years.
Crum, Bailey and Watson all had standout college careers during which they showcased their potential to contribute at the next level. General Manager George Paton said the Broncos' scouting staff played a large role in bringing these players to Denver after developing strong relationships with them following the 2024 NFL Draft.
"The scouts play a huge role," Paton said Tuesday. "We're advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players."
Crum made his case during a standout college career at Wyoming, during which he started 36 games at right tackle from 2019-22 before starting all 13 games at left tackle in 2023. He was named an All-Mountain West honoree during his final college season and displayed unique physical abilities that stood out to the Broncos' staff.
"You don't get many [6-foot-7] guys that can bend like he does and have the power that he does," Paton said.
Crum has already had a significant presence on Denver's offensive line, as he played 97 offensive snaps and 9 special teams snaps throughout three preseason games.
"He's still raw," Paton said of Crum's preseason performance. "You see him in pass [protection], I know he got beat a couple of times. But, for a kid who played at Wyoming [and is a] first-year rookie in the NFL, to do some of the things he did in practice [and] vs. Green Bay — he played well. Indianapolis, obviously I thought he played well most of the game. [He] had a few breakdowns, but [he's] really talented and [we] really love the upside of Crum."
Although Paton said the Broncos' staff "didn't know as much about" Bailey, the rookie inside linebacker stuck out both in college and during the preseason.
The 2023 second-team All-Mountain West selection started all 13 games last season and tallied 82 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and five passes defensed. Bailey also recorded game-winning plays for Fresno State in three games last season.
"We liked him [and] we liked the athletic ability," Paton said. "[He's] so young, athletic [and] plays with his hair on fire. We think he's just going to keep growing [and] keep getting better."
Paton's evaluation has seemed to hold up so far, as Bailey recorded a 94-yard pick-six in Denver's preseason win over the Cardinals to solidify his spot on the initial roster.
While the Broncos' staff has taken the time to get to know Bailey since his arrival in Denver, they were a bit more familiar with Watson after spending time with him during a Top-30 visit.
"That's why those Top-30 [visits] are really important," Paton said. "You get to know the player and he gets to see what you're all about. [They] get to 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 standout 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 during his final two seasons.
This success carried over into NFL preseason play, as Watson recorded a rushing touchdown in Denver's preseason opener against the Colts.
As Denver saw several of last year's undrafted rookies make an impact, including running back Jaleel McLaughlin, Paton looks forward to seeing how this year's undrafted players continue to develop throughout 2024.
"I'm really fired up about these guys," he said.
