In April, stretching every inch of his 6-foot-3 frame to strut his stuff in front of NFL scouts, Will Sheppard earned Sean Payton’s seal of approval at CU’s pro day.
Now, he’s cashed it in.
Two months after Payton pulled the CU product aside for a lengthy chat, Sheppard was on the turf in Dove Valley at the Broncos’ minicamp Tuesday, where he’ll participate in a tryout through Thursday. He made his mark at that showcase in April, recording a 40.5-inch vertical that sent slight shockwaves through a crowd of scouts and teammates, and carries a legitimate NFL frame that fits Payton’s preferred pattern in outside receivers.
Sheppard originally signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers post-draft as an undrafted free agent, but was jettisoned after failing a physical. He passed his physical in Denver on Monday, though, a source told The Denver Post.
After racking up 621 yards and six touchdowns with Colorado in 2024, though, Sheppard will face a long road to simply crack a training camp invite. Denver’s already long on young receivers, and carries four UDFA roster hopefuls in Joaquin Davis, Jerjuan Newton, Kyrese White and Courtney Jackson, all of whom have shown solid flashes in reps across OTAs and Tuesday’s minicamp.
Still, Sheppard will have a shot in Denver, given Payton’s affinity for both big receivers and fringe roster hopefuls.
“Once you arrive here, how you arrived here isn’t important to us,” Payton said at May’s rookie minicamp.
The was more local talent amid a handful of tryout hopefuls on Tuesday. That included former CU defensive lineman Shane Cokes, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound tackle who spent two years in Boulder. Fellow Broncos rookie minicamp invite Wyatt Ekeler is also in town. The Eaton native and former Wyoming safety is the brother of longtime NFL running back Austin Ekeler.
