Since 2011, only one team in the NFL has signed three undrafted free agents that made the Pro Bowl with them: the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos found undrafted gems in cornerback Chris Harris (2014-2018), running back C.J. Anderson (2014) and running back Phillip Lindsay (2018), who have all been voted to at least one All-Star game.
And Denver hasn’t just been successful signing UDFAs over the last few seasons — the team has been finding gems for years. How do they do it?
“Our pro department does a tremendous job,” Broncos general manager John Elway said on April 27. “[Our scouts] really spend time on the back board, stacking the back board for us. That’s not easy work, but they do a heck of a job. By the time we get ready, and the board, once we get through the draft, we see what’s still left on the front board.
“Then we trust the board and we trust the back board because those guys work so hard on the back board also. Not only do we spend the time on the front board, but the pro department does a great job on the back board, getting those things stacked. So when it is time to say go and sign some CFAs, we know what we want and we go and try to get those guys that we want.”
The Broncos signed 17 undrafted free agents this year, including quarterback Brett Rypien and outside linebacker Malik Reed. There’s a good chance at least one member of this year’s UDFA class will make the team’s 53-man roster.
