Broncos' Record-Breaking Rookie RB Sounds Off on Going Undrafted

Denver Broncos fans learned long ago never to sleep on an undrafted rookie running back.

Last week, Denver Broncos Hall-of-Fame running back Terrell Davis suggested that the team might look to add a smaller, speedy tailback to the roster. An abundance of powerful runners currently occupies most of the seats in Denver's running back room, so a change-of-pace option would indeed be a particularly useful addition. 

In an ideal world, perhaps Broncos GM George Paton would be all-over Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, but the cost would be high. Meanwhile, the Broncos' attention will turn toward polishing the diamonds in the rough from the undrafted ranks. 

One of those undrafted backs the Broncos signed this year was Youngstown State's Jaleel McLaughlin. Despite rushing for an NCAA record 8,161 yards during a five-year collegiate that also included Notre Dame before Youngstown State, McLaughlin was disappointed to slip through the draft process.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old is delighted to land an opportunity with the Broncos and has a huge chance to prove that he can translate his record-breaking college performances to the professional ranks.

“There’s a plan for everybody,” McLaughlin said via Mike Klis of 9NEWS. “Maybe that wasn’t my plan. Would I have liked to have been drafted and share that experience with my family? That would have been awesome. But you see, I feel like I’m in the right place. And that’s how life works. You don’t know what’s going on right then but then you look back and like you said, with the record, I’ll look back and say that’s why that happened. I’m OK with it (not being drafted). I’m just working hard day by day and just excited.”

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McLaughlin also racked up 78 touchdowns in college, and despite playing at a lower level of competition, it still raised eyebrows. For some young players, the thought of going undrafted might prove a powerful hindrance, but for the undersized back, he isn't going to let it weigh him down. His focus is firmly on what's to come.

“I definitely think 20, 30 years from now,” McLaughlin told Klis. “But right now, my time playing, I’m just looking forward to what I can do in the NFL now. Every day is a challenge. Every day I’ve been working as hard as I can to get better today, so that’s what I’ve been focussed on. But that’s definitely something I’ll look back and say, ‘Wow, that was unbelievable’.”

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The Broncos front office thought highly enough of McLaughlin to offer a compensation package that fended off rival NFL suiters for his undrafted signature. Should McLaughlin follow in the footsteps of a parade of notable undrafted free agents in Denver, and make the Broncos' final 53-man roster, it would be worth a life-changing sum to the rookie: $750,000.

Obviously, the question on McLaughlin is, standing at only 5-foot-7 and tipping the scales at just 187 pounds, can he really take the heavy-duty punishment NFL defenses always dish out? Don't rule it out because the similarly-sized Phillip Lindsay produced back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons after going undrafted. 

During rookie mini-camp, McLaughlin showcased his raw speed, which always makes coaches take a closer look. McLaughlin, perhaps most importantly (for a Sean Payton offense), caught the ball out of the backfield quite well. 

While the rookie is happy to be given the chance to prove his worth moving forward, he knows it's all going to boil down to how hard he can bear down, work hard, and impress the coaching staff.

“I’m working as hard as I can coming in to play my role on the team,” McLaughlin told Klis. “I’m doing nothing else but what the coaches ask me and that’s what I’ve been working to do.”

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