If the Denver Broncos have a strength heading into the 2024 NFL season, many consider it to be the offensive line.
The team has its starting core and in the offseason, added free agents to compete for rotational roles in Calvin Throckmorton and Matt Peart. With their final pick in the draft, the team selected South Carolina center Nick Gargiulo.
But after the draft, the team signed an undrafted player who may be a lot better than most think.
Name: Frank Crum
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 313
Position: Tackle
Hometown: Laramie, WY
School: Wyoming
Denver Broncos undrafted rookie spotlight
Frank Crum played at the same school that his father and grandfather played at, Wyoming. He gained a ton of experience for the Cowboys, starting 49 games for them. Most of those starts came at right tackle but he started all 13 games at left tackle last season.
He is a tall offensive tackle with tremendous length, able to use that length to fend off defenders. His tape shows a high football IQ in terms of using his size to his advantage.
I just want to be a big Frank Crum fan now. Electric. pic.twitter.com/fm0QIPWhXT
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) March 3, 2024
At the next level, he will have to prove he can hold up against the strength and speed he will face from professional pass-rushers. His footwork will need to be refined and he will need to learn some different techniques in pass-blocking situations. He shows himself to be a better run blocker at this stage in his career.
Chances to make final 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 4.5
In terms of being an undrafted free agent, Crum has a better chance to make this team than most of the players in this year's undrafted crop. Many draft analysts had a draftable grade on him, and that was for good reason.
The Broncos have Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey locked in as their starting tackles. Beyond that, they have Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, and Quinn Bailey looking for a role as a swing tackle for the team.
Crum certainly projects best as a future swing tackle as he made many starts at both right and left tackle in college. But this roster has a lot of talent on the offensive line and we know that Sean Payton values experience.
Expect to see Crum flash some signs of being a valuable player down the road for the Broncos this summer. The big question will be, will he be too good to place on waivers and try to float over to the practice squad?
