Broncos Rookie Grades from Preseason Finale

It was the final chance for the Denver Broncos rookies to make their case to the coaching staff about why they should make the roster. Multiple rookies made the most of their opportunities, while others let it slip through their hands.

The Broncos' veterans have already received their grades, so let's look at the rookies.

Jaleel McLaughlin | RB | Grade: 78.6

McLaughlin's speed and burst have been seen in each game, but his vision stood out against the Los Angeles Rams. There were a few runs where his initial path was blocked for little to no gain, but he saw an opening and used his burst to turn it into a positive for the Broncos.

However, McLaughlin shouldn't be kept in for pass protection, as he doesn't do it well, and it keeps a weapon from being utilized in the passing game.

Alex Forsyth | OL | Grade: 73.7

Forsyth was the Broncos' best offensive lineman in the finale. It's a shame he never moved up the depth chart, as in each game, he practically dominated the competition he went against.

Forsyth deserved to get reps against second-stringers and see if he could still hold his own, but Kyle Fuller and Luke Wattenberg were the focus.

Drew Sanders | LB | Grade: 71.4

Why did the Broncos draft Sanders? Well, his game against the Rams showed why. His athleticism and range were on display. That doesn't mean he doesn't have areas he has to clean up, as his reads of developing run plays are still a work in progress.

Marvin Mims | WR | Grade: 69.3

Mims' explosive ability was on display against the Rams, but so was his underrated ability as a blocker. It wasn't the cleanest blocking from a receiver, but Mims gets after it.

Thomas Incoom | Edge | Grade: 60.3

Incoom was mainly missing in action over the first two games, and he saw a lot of reps getting doubled or chipped. He made multiple plays in the finale and clearly had the best night of the Broncos edge rushers.

Incoom's play on special teams has been strong, and he made the most extensive case to be the final edge.

P.J. Mustipher | IDL | Grade: 60.1

Mustipher has excellent strength, but he is still putting the technique together. He needs more time, but a year on the practice squad could see him get a shot to compete for the starting nose tackle job in a year.

Nate Adkins | TE | Grade: 58.2

Adkins had a great preseason but the Rams was his worst game. There were issues working as a lead blocker early, and he struggled in multiple other blocking plays.

However, it was still a solid game overall. If Albert Okwuegbunam is traded, it wouldn't be surprising to see Adkins make this roster. He has lined up everywhere on offense and has done quite well on special teams.

Austin Ajiake | LB | Grade: 56.7

Ajiake will be interesting to see what he can develop into if he can grow from what he is. The athleticism, range, and instincts are there on tape, but he is still learning to read plays.

Ajiake should be back on the practice squad, but time will tell.

Taylor Grimes | WR | Grade: 56.1

There was hype around Grimes during training camp, but it never materialized on the field. He is a prime candidate for the practice squad, and part of his limited opportunities could have been an attempt to hide him from the rest of the NFL for when he gets exposed to waivers.

Henry Byrd | OL | Grade: 56.1

There is a chance Byrd can make a case for the practice squad, but the other interior offensive linemen have shown more this preseason than he has. This solid finale could help him catch a practice squad spot elsewhere.

Marcus Haynes | Edge | Grade: 53.6

Haynes started strong but hardly saw the field in the second game. He played a lot in the finale, and his speed and explosion were evident when watching him.

The issue is he struggled to hold up against the run most of the time and didn't make a significant enough impact on the passing game.

Haggai Ndbuisi | IDL | Grade: 53.6

Ndbuisi had many folks in the organization wanting him on the team, and he responded well. While he didn't play much during the preseason, he did show improvement over the games.

That could be enough to see the Broncos keep Ndbuisi on the practice squad.

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Art Green | CB | Grade: 51.5

Green is a physical specimen at the cornerback position, but his technique is almost non-existent. The tools and traits are there to work with, but he has to learn to be a football player.

Maybe that is work for a practice squad spot, but other corners on the roster looked more deserving than Green.

Nick Williams | WR | Grade: 48.4

Williams didn't get much of an opportunity, and he was the floater on the roster for a while. If the Broncos needed a space, Williams was cut. As roster cuts approach, he found himself waived once again.

Demontrey Jacobs | OT | Grade: 43.6

Jacobs was having a rough night, which is what we saw from him for most of his preseason action. He eventually left the game with an injury.

J.L. Skinner | S | Grade: 42.7

Skinner can lay the wood, but he is still learning to process the game and read plays as they develop. He isn't ready for a significant role on defense with some lapses in coverage, but he can work in the box as a run defender.

Alex Palczewski | OT | Grade: 41.7

This was the worst game from Palczewski, and he struggled from start to finish. He suffered a hand injury, which didn't help him when it came to holding his own.

However, Palczewski has had too much exposure to risk on waivers.

Seth Benson | LB | Grade: 41.0

What Benson was in college is what he has been over the preseason. The instincts are there, and he is a physical player, but he doesn't have the athleticism or range to make a significant living in the NFL.

If he is going to make it, it will be because of special teams, which was only decent during the preseason in Denver.

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