We’re less than a month removed from the NFL Draft and college free agent signing period, but the Denver Broncos are already hard at work turning their newest crop of players from college standouts to great professionals. Their on-field wins are impressive (In October 2016, Denver had the second-highest winning percentage in all U.S. major professional sports since 1984), but the Broncos are also champions in the community and in their front office. During the three days of rookie orientation, May 11-13, the newest Denver Broncos are coming to know just what it means to be members of one of the top organizations in sports.
“We brought those guys in, not to do a full-fledged practice, but to do more of an orientation,” head coach Vance Joseph said on Friday. Joseph spoke with the media ahead of his keynote address at the John Lynch Foundation “Salute the Stars” event held at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
“In my opinion, the practices aren’t worth it when you have guys on the field who haven’t trained in a football place or hadn’t met with our coaches at all,” Joseph said. “In my opinion, having an orientation and having media training, having note taking and security training, NFL policy training—that’s really important for those guys. Before being a great player, those things have to be in place. It’s a good weekend. It’s split in half. It’s a day and a half of instruction as far as being an NFL player and a day and a half of practice.”
The Broncos conclude the three-day orientation with on-field work on Saturday. Joseph is excited about the new additions to his roster – specifically on the offensive side of the ball.
“The draft part, we drafted speed between [WR] Carlos Henderson, [RB] De’Angelo Henderson and [WR] Isaiah McKenzie. We want to add more speed to our offense, and that was accomplished, along with a left tackle knowing [OT Garett] Bolles would add more size to our football team. I feel good about where we are,” Joseph said.
He was also inspired by the maturity his rookies have shown already.
“It’s a class of maturity,” he said. “Meeting those guys last night and then this morning, they’re really in-tuned. They’re really engaged and they want to be great pros. That’s where it starts. That’s half the battle with rookies; knowing how to be a great pro and working towards that. It’s a great group. It’s an engaged group.”
Joseph specifically pointed out seventh-round draft pick Chad Kelly, a player whose maturity may have been a question mark entering the draft, as one who has entered the organization with a positive attitude.
“Even [QB Chad] Kelly, he’s got a glow about him, and that’s impressive. It’s a good group,” Joseph said.
Following Saturday’s final day of rookie orientation, the Broncos will have a 10-day gap before they reconvene on May 23 for the first wave of OTA offseason workouts. Denver will have three sets of OTA workouts – May 23-25, May 30-June 1 and June 5-8. Mandatory minicamp will take place June 13-15.
During those workouts and minicamp, the rookies will have the chance to learn not only from the coaches and front office, but also the legion of veteran Broncos who continue to shine for their organization on-field and off.
