Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently released their comprehensive rankings and grades of every 2024 NFL rookie. The Denver Broncos had a number of first-year players contribute to their season, with varying degrees of success.

(* indicates the player didn’t play enough snaps to earn a ranking)

Offensive Rookies

  • QB Bo Nix: 79.2
  • WR Devaughn Vele: 69.3
  • HB Audric Estimé: 62.3
  • WR Troy Franklin: 54.9
  • HB Blake Watson: 70.0*
  • T Frank Crum: 59.3*

Nix enjoyed a promising rookie season, earning the second-highest PFF grade (79.2) among all first-year quarterbacks. His stat line boasted 29 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions, a performance that earned him a third-place finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Nix’s trajectory went consistently upward: he opened his NFL career with a 44.6 PFF grade in his debut, but dramatically improved to an 85.2 grade in his final game, a playoff loss against the Buffalo Bills. This significant growth suggests he may be in for a giant leap forward in Year 2.

The Broncos’ rookie wide receiver duo experienced contrasting results in their first season. Vele (69.3), a seventh-round pick, significantly outperformed expectations. Appearing in 13 games, he tallied 475 receiving yards and three touchdowns, earning the 8th-highest PFF grade among rookie receivers. Franklin (54.9), while considered a disappointment overall, showed flashes, particularly in the playoffs. Despite these glimpses, his regular season production was limited to 263 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him 16th among rookie receivers by PFF. The anticipated connection between Franklin and his former college quarterback never fully materialized, as Franklin caught only 28 of his 53 targets. Nevertheless, Franklin’s separation from defenders was in line with the league’s best, meaning that he, too, might be ready to take a leap forward this fall.

Despite limited opportunities due to Denver’s running back committee, Estimé (62.3) showed promise in his 76 carries. The fifth-round pick averaged a respectable 4.1 yards per carry. He finished the regular season with 310 rushing yards and two touchdowns and earned the 7th-highest PFF grade for backs, but was curiously benched for the playoff finale in Buffalo. With Javonte Williams unlikely to return, Estimé could be in line for a significantly more significant role next season – if he secures a roster spot.

Defensive Rookies

  • LB Dondrea Tillman: 69.1
  • LB Jonah Elliss: 54.5
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 75.1*
  • LB Levelle Bailey: 24.2*

Undrafted edge defender Tillman (69.1) made a significant impact for the Broncos in 2024, ranking 4th out of 14 at his position. His Week 3 performance, highlighted by two sacks, served as a prelude to a productive season. Totaling 22 pressures and five sacks, Tillman consistently won his matchups and generated multiple pressures in eight of his 12 games. He maximized his opportunities, establishing himself as a valuable contributor. He likely secured an important depth role for the 2025 season.

While Elliss (54.5) may have finished the year with a not-so-impressive grade and a ninth-place spot at his position, he gave the team plenty to be excited about. His final stat line included five sacks, 38 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, and two passes defensed across 17 games. This production earned him a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team as a defensive lineman, making him the first Broncos pass rusher to receive this recognition since Bradley Chubb in 2018. While Elliss struggled in coverage at times, he appears poised for improvement in his second year.

In a “rebuilding” year, the Broncos rookies played a vital role in the franchise making their return to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. The 2025 season offers an opportunity to further capitalize on this momentum and build upon their success.