After each school year, students are given letter grades to assess their accomplishments during the previous year. During every NFL offseason, grades are also commonplace.
Looking back at the Denver Broncos’ 2019 draft class, there is plenty of good that stands out, which means there is plenty to build on heading into the future.
Some of these players will be part of the foundation with which the Broncos look to rebuild on, looking to end a postseason drought that dates back to Super Bowl 50.
Here, we will review the 2019 season of each member of the team’s rookie class. This review will include statistics and the impact they made on the team. In addition to the team’s draft choices, Malik Reed, an undrafted rookie who made the 53-man roster, will also be graded.
There were other players that made the practice squad and then were called up to the active roster for various reasons, such as Josh Watson and Alijah Holder. Because their sample size is so small, they will not receive a grade for the season.
With all of that in mind, here we go.
1. Noah Fant, tight end
2019 stats
Receptions: 40
Receiving yards: 562
Touchdowns: 3
The Broncos originally held the No. 10 overall pick in the first round and many fans and analysts alike expected them to use the pick on Michigan linebacker Devin Bush. Instead, the team traded back to the No. 20 slot and chose Fant.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who made the trade with Denver to come up to No. 10, did select Bush. Bush would have looked great in Denver and arguably better than Fant ever will, but Fant showed signs of being a future star.
His season got off to a slow start and concerns arose even in preseason among fans that the Broncos may have drafted a dud. He turned it on later in the season and finished second on the team in receptions and receiving yards, behind only Courtland Sutton.
In all, he did what was asked of him as a rookie and big things should be expected next season.
Grade: B-
2. Dalton Risner, guard
2019 stats
Games started: 16
The Broncos kind of had Risner fall into their laps in the draft as many analysts had a first-round grade on him. The team got a good one in the former Kansas State Wildcat with Colorado roots.
Risner came in and started all 16 games at guard and handled his own each game. He will be one of the team’s key building blocks for many years to come.
From top to bottom, this was the Broncos’ best rookie in 2019.
Grade: A
3. Drew Lock, quarterback
2019 stats
Completion percentage: 64.1
Passing yards: 1,020
Touchdowns: 7
Interceptions: 3
Rushing yards: 72
Lock spent much of his rookie season on injured reserve with a thumb injury while the team toiled around with Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen. There were rumors that the team might just leave Lock on injured reserve all season.
What a bad idea that would have been.
Lock ended up starting the final five contests for the team and was as good as could possibly be expected in those games. He also shut down the idea of needing to look for a quarterback any time in the near future.
Lock gave the fans and the organization plenty of hope to build on.
Grade: A-
4. Dre’Mont Jones, defensive lineman
2019 stats
Tackles: 14
Sacks: 3.5
Interceptions: 1
The Broncos brought Jones along slowly as a rookie. He played in 14 games but only saw action on 26.8 percent of the team’s snaps, according to Pro Football Reference.
Despite only seeing one-fourth of the team’s defensive plays, he still registered 3.5 sacks which were tied for fifth-most on the team. He also had an interception, something rare for a defensive lineman.
Jones may need to be a bigger part of the team’s plan in 2020 as both Shelby Harris and Adam Gotsis are set to become unrestricted free agents.
Grade: B
5. Justin Hollins
2019 stats
Tackles: 21
Sacks: 1
It was a quiet rookie season for Hollins, the team’s fifth-round pick out of Oregon. Drafted to be an extra edge rusher, Hollins had just one sack on the year.
He also played on just 25.2 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, seeing action only in certain sub-packages. He’ll need to respond with a bigger 2020 season as he was outplayed by Reed and in the preseason, even Watson looked better.
Both of those guys were undrafted, so Hollins will need to make a strong impression next summer.
Grade: C-
6. Juwann Winfree
The Broncos received a bit of criticism for drafting Winfree in the sixth round when most felt he would go undrafted. But the Broncos’ last pick in the draft was their sixth-rounder and they really seemed to covet Winfree.
They then proceeded to hardly use him in the regular season.
Winfree had a solid preseason, catching seven passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown proved to be the game-winner against the Atlanta Falcons in the Hall of Fame Game.
In the regular season, you might have forgotten that he was even on the team. He suited up for just three regular-season contests and did not record an official statistic.
The Broncos need someone (of multiple guys) to step up at the wide receiver position in 2020. Perhaps Winfree can have a big second season?
Grade: D
7. Malik Reed
2019 stats
Tackles: 27
Sacks: 2
Tackles for losses: 5.5
Fumble recoveries: 1
Undrafted out of Nevada, Reed was fantastic in training camp and preseason games, earning a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. He was then pressed into further action when Bradley Chubb went down with a season-ending injury.
Reed ended up seeing action on 44.1 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, a high number for an undrafted player. He also appeared in 15 of the team’s 16 games.
Yes, he was needed more due to an injury to one of the team’s defensive stars, but he clearly earned the trust of the coaching staff early on.
It will be exciting to see what this young player does for an encore.
Grade: B+
