Following the 2024 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos signed a handful of undrafted free agents to help complete their 90-man roster. These players will now have a chance to show what they can do and compete for spots on the 53-man roster.
This will be the beginning of a series that takes a look at each of these players on an individual basis. Within these spotlights, you will be able to learn a bit more about each undrafted rookie as well as their chances of making the team.
It is foolish to write off players just because of their undrafted status. Every season, some undrafted players make 53-man rosters and the Broncos have one of the richest histories in the entire league when you consider players such as Rod Smith and Chris Harris Jr. were both undrafted and more recently, Phillip Lindsay and Jaleel McLaughlin have been on that list.
Jaylon Allen will kick this series off.
Denver Broncos undrafted rookie spotlight
Player: Jaylon Allen
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 240
Hometown: Humble, Texas
School: Memphis
The Broncos didn't add much in the way of edge rushers this offseason, drafting Jonah Elliss in the third round but aside from that, not much else. The team will rely on the same three players they did last season in Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper.
All of those guys can be effective but they have yet to show much consistency. With that in mind, there is certainly an opportunity in front of a guy like Allen.
#Broncos UDFA Jaylon Allen told me that he had offers from the Panthers, Bucs and Raiders before signing with DEN. While playing at Memphis, Allen worked with Vance Joseph's younger brother, Sammy, who was an asst. strength and conditioning coach for the Tigers.
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) April 28, 2024
Allen was involved with the Memphis program since 2018 when he redshirted as a freshman. He suited up for the Tigers in 62 games and finished his college career with 13 sacks. The one interception that he had in his career was returned 39 yards for a touchdown.
From a physical standpoint, he is going to lack the ideal size for an edge rusher at the professional level. He needs to polish up his tackling in the run game but at the outset, you see a player who uses good technique and exhibits competent traits to play the position.
The Broncos will use the rotation of Elliss, Bonitto, Browning and Cooper for the majority of their pass rush this season. But if one of those players struggles or suffers an injury, Allen is a player that the team could turn to.
Last year, the team brought in Thomas Incoom as an undrafted player. We didn't see much from Incoom during the regular season but he was a sack artist in college. A spot on the 53-man roster could easily come down to Incoom vs. Allen.
I can confirm NFL Media report that Memphis DL Jaylon Allen getting $10,000 signing bonus and $110,000 of his contract guaranteed from #Broncos as undrafted free agent. He was at Memphis for six seasons and had 41 tackles with two sacks in 2023.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) April 28, 2024
Chances of making 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 5
That is a coin flip, which as an undrafted player, you can't ask for much more than that. You'll notice as this series moves forward that a 5 out of 10 on this scale is going to be on the higher side, which speaks well for Allen's chances.
This is a player with a lot to offer and he could be a great fit for the Broncos. The Broncos found effective edge rushers such as Shaq Barrett and Malik Reed as undrafted players and Allen fits that mold.
At the very least, he will be placed on the team's practice squad and could have a bright future in Denver regardless of what transpires in 2024.
