The Denver Broncos added eight new players to its roster via the 2017 NFL Draft, from first-round pick, Garett Bolles (Pick No. 20, OT, Utah), to the final pick of the draft, Chad Kelly (Pick No. 253, QB, Ole Miss). Following their selection, each player made a conference call into Broncos HQ to chat with the local media; the first-, second- and third-round picks also met with the media at press conferences the day after their selection.

Generally speaking, these conversations are filled with generalities – not just in Denver, but across the NFL. Guys are excited for their opportunity, thankful to the team that drafted them, thankful to their families and former coaches and teammates, ready to prove themselves at the next level, and on and on and on.

But there is usually at least one gem hiding in the generalities. Here’s the best single quote from each of Denver’s eight new draft picks during their first conversations with the Denver media. (Quotes transcribed and provided by Broncos PR, with points of clarification/detail in parentheses from MHS staff.)

Garett Bolles, OT, Utah – No. 20 Overall Pick

On the emotional phone call he had with John Elway after being drafted…

“I’m a big teddy bear off the field, so I definitely love Mr. Elway. He took a chance on me when a lot of teams passed me up and he believed in me. All I needed was one team to fall in love with me and that’s exactly what the Denver Broncos organization did. They fell in love with me and that’s what it took. Like I said, I did say ‘I love you’ because I appreciated what he did. He could’ve chosen a lot of other people, but he chose me to come in and make a big impact with this great organization. That’s what I plan on doing. I told him that I’m not going to let him down. I’m going to work my butt off to get what he wants out of me, and that’s a promise.”

DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State – No. 51 Overall Pick

On conversations with his new teammates and retweeting OLB Von Miller’s contract details…

“That’s just motivation. I love watching players, and [OLB] Von [Miller] is somebody who I will always look up to. To be honest with you, last night I was at my hotel room and I’m getting texts. [S] T.J. Ward, [CB Aqib] Talib, everybody is texting me, and the next thing I know, I said, ‘If Von texts me, I’m going to go crazy,’ and literally, I was on my other phone and literally about to go to sleep and something told me to just check my other phone and it was him. I  went crazy. I jumped out of the bed and went crazy.”

Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech – No. 82 Overall Pick

On what makes him effective after the catch…

“I played running back my whole life. I just started playing receiver when I got to Louisiana Tech. I’ve just been playing receiver for four years, so that explains the run after the catch and everything. In this game, you’ve got to physical and you’ve got to be tough, otherwise you won’t last in this game of football. That’s why I’m physical and tough. I’m here to help the team in whatever way I can.”

Brendan Langley, CB, Lamar – No. 101 Overall Pick

On what he wants to learn from current Broncos cornerbacks…

“If I could take one thing from each of those guys, I would take Aqib Talib’s patience, Bradley Roby’s tenacity and Chris Harris’ feet.”

Jake Butt, TE, Michigan – No. 145 Overall Pick

On why he thinks he’ll be able to play by September (despite an ACL tear suffered in the 2016 Orange Bowl)…

“That is ambitious, and last time when I tore my ACL the first time around, they told me, ‘You’re probably going to get redshirted or you won’t play until Big Ten season.’ I said, ‘You know what, you guys can think that.’ I ended up playing in week two, so I’ve always been ambitious. I think that’s what helps me unlock my full potential, setting goals that many people might think are crazy and then going out there and doing it.

Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Georgia – No. 172 Overall Pick

On whether his (5-foot-7, 173-pound) size can be an advantage…

“There’s good and bad to it, me being a small receiver. I’m not the tallest receiver out there so it’s probably harder to get me the ball. Being small, I’m quicker and a little bit faster. I feel like I can play more than one position. I can do returns, I can play in the slot and I can play running back. I’m very versatile. I don’t mind being small.”

De’Angelo Henderson, RB, Coastal Carolina – No. 203 Overall Pick

On playing under Broncos Special Teams Coordinator Brock Olivo during his freshman year at Coastal Carolina…

“Brock, my connection with him has always been a good relationship. He was a phenomenal coach when he was with us. He taught us a lot and some of the things he taught us even after he left were some that I carried the rest of my career at Coastal. I’m very appreciative of him and thankful for him. It’s a blessing just to be with him at the next level, just to have somebody I’m familiar with and somebody I trust. Just to have somebody in the area like that, I think it is very beneficial to myself going forward in my career.”

Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss – No. 253 Overall Pick

On being picked last in the draft

“I had a feeling that I was going to get picked. I kept my faith in God. I knew He was going to make it work and what better pick is there than being Mr. Irrelevant? I’m excited to be a part of the Denver Broncos.”