6 Undrafted Rookies Every Broncos Fan Should Know

When it comes to undrafted rookies, it's never prudent to sleep on the Denver Broncos.

The Denver Broncos will open training camp on July 28. The team's draft class and crop of undrafted rookies will begin to compete in hopes of earning a role and a coveted spot on either the 53-man roster or the 16-man practice squad. 

The Broncos drafted just five players this year. It's the smallest draft class Denver's had since 2007. 

Thus, the Broncos' undrafted class of rookies is perhaps more important than ever in the grand scheme of things. The Broncos have the most stalwart reputation in the NFL when it comes to maximizing the undrafted rookie ranks. An undrafted rookie has made Denver's 53-man roster out of camp in 18 of the past 19 seasons. 

Some of the best players in team history, including a Ring-of-Famer, never heard their names called on draft day. The Broncos will perhaps need to rely on this year's undrafted rookies more so than ever in order to flesh out depth charts and stock the special teams with solid players. 

Most Mile High Huddle readers have a good snapshot of Denver's drafted rookies, but here are six undrafted players to know entering camp. 

Jaleel McLaughlin | RB

Gabriel Christus/DenverBroncos.com

Although the typical small-school critiques are applied to McLaughlin's collegiate body of work, even so, it's quite eye-popping. Over his last two seasons at Youngstown State, he totaled north of 3,000 yards rushing and receiving with 27 total touchdowns, and averaged 7.0 yards per rush and nearly 16 yards per reception in his final year.

Sounds like a Sean Payton prototype, eh? Darren Sproles was 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds. Like Sproles, McLaughlin is relatively diminutive — listed at 5-foot-7 and 187 pounds — but he brings 4.4 speed to the table and is a good receiver out of the backfield. 

If Phillip Lindsay's undrafted story serves as any lesson, it's that we should never judge a back by his measurements but rather the size of his heart. Trust, McLaughlin's got heart. 

McLaughlin's roster prospects are excellent if he stays healthy. Beyond Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, the door is wide open when it comes to the running back depth chart. 

McLaughlin is a name every Broncos fan should know entering camp. 

What happens next for the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Thomas Incoom | OLB

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Incoom isn't going to blow anyone away with his explosiveness. That's not his bag. His size and strength, however, combined with his football IQ and motor, set him apart as a force to be reckoned with. Draftniks were surprised he went undrafted. 

After transferring to Central Michigan from the Division II Valdosta State, Incoom notched 15.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for a loss in his final two collegiate seasons. Despite this, and impressing at the Senior Bowl, he didn't hear his name called on draft day. 

However, the Broncos, using the language of money, spoke volumes about how they feel about Incoom, signing him to a college free-agent contract that included $200K in guaranteed money, along with a $20,000 signing bonus. 

With Baron Browning's injury clouding the outlook of the Broncos' rush linebacker depth chart, there is a great opportunity for Incoom to rise up the ranks. To do so, he'll have to leap-frog 2022 undrafted rookie Christopher Allen and maybe even unseat a young vet like Jonathon Cooper. 

That might be too much to ask out of the gates, but fans should still view Incoom's floor as the practice squad, where the Broncos would still be able to utilize him on gameday with the new NFL rules allowing 'elevations.' Incoom's stoutness as a run defender gets his foot in the door, and his motor should buy him time with the Broncos coaches to work on his tool kit as a pass rusher. 

Do not sleep on this kid. 

Henry Byrd | IOL

David Zalubowski  AP

The big-brained Byrd hails from Princeton and garnered the third-biggest contract among the Broncos' undrafted rookies. Once again, if the love language of the NFL is money, Denver's affection for Byrd must be considerable, considering the $115K in guarantees he landed. 

Byrd has the athleticism that makes NFL coaches excited and a great football IQ to boot. The Broncos have a very unsettled O-line depth chart, especially on the interior, which gives this undrafted rookie some hope. 

Byrd will vy with seventh-rounder Alex Forsyth, 2022 late-rounder Luke Wattenberg, and 2023 free-agent pickup Kyle Fuller for a seat at the table. Denver's starting five is basically set, but the swing positions on the interior are completely up for grabs. 

Broncos Country would be wise to become Byrd watchers this summer. 

Art Green | CB

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Green has prototypical size at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. He didn't have a ton of ball production at Houston (three career interceptions), but he can be a physical force with a little shaping from Broncos secondary coach Christian Parker. 

The Broncos gave Green the second-biggest contract among undrafted rookies with $180K in total guarantees. His outlook is great because once you get past the Broncos' projected starting trio, the cornerback depth chart is very much in flux. 

Green will duke it out with 2023 third-rounder Riley Moss, as well as 2022 undrafted rookie Ja'Quan McMillian, 2022 late-round pick Faion Hicks, Essang Bassey, and newcomer veteran Tramon Smith. Green has a very high ceiling but he's got to hone his technical foundation in order to stick at the NFL level. 

I like Green's outlook. 

Seth Benson | ILB

Bryon Houlgrave/The Register, Des Moines Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Benson garnered $60K in guarantees, which isn't a ton relative to NFL contracts, but it's not nothing in the realm of undrafted linebackers. The rookie has seemingly stayed in the hip pocket of fellow Iowa alum Josey Jewell since arriving in Denver, and has already earned some praise from his new veteran teammates. 

Benson was a productive tackler in college and a leader, but his football IQ wasn't enough to eclipse his average athletic traits during the pre-draft process. The Broncos have a top-heavy linebacker depth chart, with Jewell, Alex Singleton, and 2023 third-rounder Drew Sanders. 

Beyond that trio, there's Jonas Griffith and former fifth-rounder Justin Strnad. While Griffith should be viewed as the favorite to round out the Broncos' inside linebacker corps on the 53-man roster, it wouldn't be surprising to see Benson stick on the practice squad, and, thus, endear himself to the coaching staff. 

As is often the case for undrafted linebackers, becoming indispensable on special teams will be Benson's surest path to sticking around in Denver. 

P.J. Mustipher | DL

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The 6-foot-4 Mustipher tips the scales at 315 pounds. He's got nose tackle upside as a run-stuffing plug. 

However, Mustipher lacks some of the athletic twitch that sets defensive tackle prospects apart in the NFL draft. The D-line is another position that is very unsettled. Beyond D.J. Jones and free-agent addition Zach Allen, the D-line depth chart is completely up for grabs. 

Mustipher will compete for the roster, but in order to make it, he'll have to eat out of the bowl of Mike Purcell and 2022 draft picks Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen. As a rookie, Mustipher's ceiling is probably the practice squad, but his name is definitely one for Broncos Country to know entering training camp. 

---

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!