Broncos' 2022 Draft Class Given Lackluster Grade by NFL.com
After trading for quarterback Russell Wilson in the offseason, the Denver Broncos still had ammunition in the 2022 NFL draft, where they selected nine players.
Most of these players contributed throughout the season due to the enormous number of injuries Denver suffered. Some players were surprising and showed promise for the future, while others were disappointing or didn’t see the field.
NFL.com handed out grades for the AFC West rookie classes, and Denver came in third place with a C-. Denver came in behind the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, who were given a B+ and C+, respectively.
Even without a first-round pick following the Russell Wilson trade, the Broncos hauled in a nine-man class, issued a decent amount of playing time to rookies, and had their top three choices contribute in some meaningful way. But it would be a stretch to suggest that this group suddenly appears to be more than a middling overall lot with a few contributors.
Nik Bonitto’s performance was as underwhelming as hearing his name on draft day. While his speed was as advertised, he was continuously washed out in the run game due to his smaller frame, which was a concern coming out of Oklahoma.
In 15 games, Bonitto only tallied 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. He rarely even saw the field despite all the injuries to the linebackers.
For a second-round pick, Bonitto didn’t see the field much at all. Going into his second year, he will have to bulk up and continue to work in the run game while adding some pass-rush moves to his arsenal.
Greg Dulcich was a spark plug for an anemic Denver offense. Typically, tight ends take at least two years to adjust to the NFL, but he made an immediate impact by using his speed to catch a 39-yard touchdown pass in his first NFL game in primetime.
The rookie garnered praise from Wilson in the offseason, which translated to the gridiron as he became a security blanket for his quarterback. 411 yards and two touchdowns is a solid start for a rookie tight end, and with an entire offseason to marinate, the sky is the limit for Dulcich. Expect to see defenders often chasing his flowing mane toward the endzone next year.
When Ronald Darby went down, Damarri Mathis stepped up significantly. While Mathis was picked on early and often drew flags, he eventually settled in at the No. 2 cornerback spot.
Totaling 65 tackles and seven passes defended is solid for a rookie stepping into a starting role. One of Mathis' more impressive plays came against Justin Herbert on a 4th-&-2 that killed a drive to start the fourth quarter. Ideally, Mathis will play in the slot as we advance, but he showed his versatility to play outside, which bodes well for the future.
Montrell Washington was selected as the difference-making kick/punt returner Denver’s special teams unit has lacked since Trindon Holliday. While Washington had his moments, he was inconsistent overall.
Discerning whether to take a punt out of the end zone proved difficult, and Washington lost a fumble against the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime, snuffing out any chance the Broncos had of winning. Hopefully, Mathis can learn from his mistakes in the future.
The rest of the class didn’t make much of an impact. It’s only year one for this 2022 rookie class, so their grades will fluctuate over the next few seasons, and Broncos Country will have a more accurate assessment of just how talented these players are.
There is plenty of room for growth, especially for Denver’s top three selections. With an entire offseason devoid of distractions from the combine and draft, these players have no excuses going into year two.
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