The Broncos’ rookie class has been more background noise than headline act through nine games, and that’s not entirely an accident. Denver is built around an older, highly accomplished roster, which gives the team a real shot to win now while also making it tougher for first-year players to carve out meaningful roles.
That’s the tension with this group: the Broncos have not asked much of their rookies yet, but some of that quiet is by design. A lot of these players look like future pieces rather than immediate answers, and several still haven’t gotten onto the field at all.
Tyler Onyedim finally made his debut in Week 9 and made it count by forcing a fumble. Even so, his grade lands at Incomplete because this has clearly been treated like a redshirt year. Denver’s defensive line is stacked with Zach Allen, DJ Jones, and Malcolm Roach, and even Eyioma Uwazurike has held his own this season.
Jonah Coleman has been the exception among the draft class. In four games with touches, he has 191 rushing yards and 128 receiving yards, and his production has given the offense a real jolt since he came off IR.
His 4.1 yards per carry is solid, though there’s room for that number to climb in the second half. The missed time matters, but the overall body of work still earns him a B+.
The rest of the draft haul has mostly been stuck in neutral. Kage Casey has not been active yet, though the expectation is that he at least competes for the starting left guard job with Alex Palczewski next offseason.
Ben Powers has had a season to forget and is set to hit free agency in 2027, and Casey may also have center versatility. Like Onyedim, he looks headed for a redshirt year.
Justin Joly gets the harshest label of the group: F. The fifth-round pick didn’t even survive final roster cuts and is now with the Miami Dolphins.
Miles Scott, a seventh-rounder, has spent the entire season on the practice squad, while Dallen Bentley made the roster but has been inactive all year. Bentley has the tools to grow into a complete tight end, but the clock is already ticking since he turns 26 in December.
Red Murdock, the final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has also yet to appear in a game. In a linebacker room that has been weak overall, his inability to crack the active roster says something, even if the hope is that he can become a contributor in 2027 and beyond.
The undrafted group has followed a similar script. Brent Austin remains on the practice squad and has not been active.
Dane Key, the 6-3 receiver and brother of Devon Key, is also on the practice squad and gets an Incomplete. Tyler Miller, listed at 6-9 and one of the tallest players in NFL history, is still waiting for his chance as well.
Kolbe Katsis is the one undrafted rookie who has already made a visible mark. Against the Los Angeles Rams, he posted three punt returns for 39 yards and four kick returns for 107 yards, good for 146 all-purpose yards in that game. That performance earns him a B.
Gavin Ortega rounds out the list as another rookie who has not appeared in a regular-season game yet. For now, the Broncos remain a team loaded with veteran talent, and that has left most of the rookie class on the outside looking in.
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