Led by first-round tight end Noah Fant and second-round picks Dalton Risner (guard) and Drew Lock (quarterback), the Broncos will hold rookie camp Friday through Sunday leading into the start of full-squad organized team activities on Monday.
Here are four storylines for the weekend:
Lock’s debut
Lock will get three days of significant work because he and Brett Rypien are the only two quarterbacks expected to participate. In addition to a crash course on offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s playbook, the Lock Process will begin with on-field technique work.
“Drew obviously has a lot of talent — he’s got a lot of arm talent — but he’s got to work on a lot of different things, too,” general manager John Elway said after selecting Lock with the 42nd pick. “When you look at what he did in college offensively, he was in the spread and wasn’t under center very often. With what we’re going to do offensively, he’s going to have a lot of work to do.”
Risner’s starting point
Risner started at center as a redshirt freshman for Kansas State (2015). … He started his final three years at right tackle. … Two weeks ago, Elway said Risner will work at guard, the assumption that Risner would play right guard since Ron Leary (Achilles) will play left guard. … But left tackle Garett Bolles hinted on Tuesday that Risner would play next to him.
Get all that?
Where Risner lines up this weekend is likely where he will line up Monday for the first OTA.
“When he got drafted, I was so excited — the Broncos finally got me a left guard,” Bolles said. “We talk almost every day. I know that’s the connection we need so when we do get on the field, we don’t miss a beat.”
If the Broncos’ Plan A is Risner at left guard, the first group is Bolles (left tackle), Risner, Connor McGovern (center), Leary (right guard) and Ja’Wuan James (right tackle).
Winfree’s first chance
The Broncos flipped two seventh-round picks (Nos. 212 and 237) to move up 25 spots to draft Colorado receiver Juwann Winfree in the sixth round.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Winfree’s potential outweighs his college production at Maryland and CU (60 catches, 807 yards, six touchdowns in 28 games). The Broncos clearly saw something, though.
The key for Winfree is staying healthy. He missed 2016 with a torn ACL and four games last year with a high ankle sprain. If he can make a favorable first impression this month, he could enter training camp as the favorite to be the fifth receiver.
“I know (receivers) Coach (Zach Azzanni) was really high on him,” second-year receiver Courtland Sutton said. “If he speaks really high of him, that says a lot.”
UDFA opportunities
Among the 17 undrafted free agents, who has the best chance at making the 53-man roster?
Alijah Holder (Stanford cornerback): The Broncos did not draft a cornerback and signed only Holder after the draft. He had 28 pass break-ups and two interceptions in 37 college games.
Malik Reed (Nevada edge rusher): If the Broncos like fifth-round pick Justin Hollins at inside linebacker, that creates a competition for the Nos. 3-4 edge rusher. Reed had 22 sacks for the Wolf Pack.
Brian Wallace (Arkansas right tackle): A three-year starter for the Razorbacks, Wallace could enter the back-up swing tackle fray if the Broncos keep Elijah Wilkinson as a reserve guard.
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