As rookies arrive in town for minicamp this weekend, the Broncos have agreed to contract terms with four of their draft picks.
Denver wrapped up standard four-year rookie deals with fifth-round tight end Justin Joly and seventh-round safety Miles Scott on Thursday, sources confirmed to The Post. They join seventh-round tight end Dallen Bentley and seventh-round linebacker Red Murdock in having their first professional contracts done.
Denver’s top three selections in the draft are at this point set to attend and participate in rookie minicamp on injury protection deals rather than having their actual contracts agreed to. The arrangement is a common one in the NFL, particularly with mid-round picks. Those players have a little bit more to negotiate with clubs over, including how much of a guarantee the player gets over the life of the four years in the event of injury.
The injury protection deal allows rookies to participate in minicamp on essentially the same terms as if their contract were done.
Last year, Denver didn’t agree to contract terms with first-round pick Jahdae Barron and second-round pick RJ Harvey until July, but they participated in all of Denver’s offseason program. In 2024, quarterback Bo Nix played in rookie minicamp on an injury protection deal.
The three players set to do so this weekend for Denver are third-round defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, fourth-round running back Jonah Coleman and fourth-round offensive lineman Kage Casey.
Joly, meanwhile, has now agreed to his deal and arrives as one of the Broncos’ more intriguing rookies. He’s a natural pass-catcher and pairs with Bentley, more of an in-line tight end, to make a rookie duo that could be the club’s future at the position.
Once the full team is together, Joly will slot in behind veteran Evan Engram and Bentley behind Adam Trautman.
As the No. 152 overall selection in the draft, the slotted value of Joly’s four-year contract is $4.9 million. It comes with a $514,996 signing bonus.
Scott, the seventh-round safety who started his collegiate career at Illinois as a wide receiver, is in line for a four-year, $4.51 million deal with a $125,444 signing bonus.
The Broncos’ rookie minicamp runs Friday through Sunday.
The veterans started Phase 1 of the club’s voluntary offseason program Monday, but they’ll be just lifting and running for the month of May. Denver is set to hold organized team activities June 2-4 and 9-11 and then its mandatory minicamp June 16-18.
Rookie minicamp invites assembling
As is customary, the Broncos are inviting a slew of veterans and undrafted rookies alike to rookie minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis. One particularly fun prospect to watch for: 6-foot-6 kicker/punter Paul Geelen, a Northern Illinois product who hails from the Netherlands and would qualify for an international roster exemption if the Broncos wanted to officially sign him. Former Colorado OL Zarian McGill and Colorado State DB Jahari Rodgers have also earned invites.
Here’s a complete list of 33 names The Post has confirmed will be in attendance from Friday to Sunday.
Rookies (with previous school)
OL Tim Anderson, Ferris State
OL Davion Carter, Texas Tech
S Ian Conerly-Goodly, Southeastern Louisiana
DE Sam Dankah, East Carolina
RB Julius Davis, Montana State
TE Stone Eby, SMU
DT Braxton Fely, Boise State
CB Randy Franklin, Charlotte
K Paul Geelen, Southern Illinois
DT Herbert Gums, Boise State
RB Rodney Hammond, Sacramento State
LB Max Harris, Arizona
OT Christian Hilborn, Washington State
DB Paul Manning, Henderson State
OL Marcellus Marshall, Minnesota
DE Tamatoa McDonough, Iowa State
OL Zarian McGill, Colorado
LB John Miller, Utah State
LB Nic Mitchell, Mississippi State
RB Jordan Nubin, Kent State
DE Hunter Peck, Montana
CB Jahari Rodgers, Colorado State
S Kekoura Tarnue, West Virginia
WR Tommy Thomas, Chadron State
QB E.J. Warner, Fresno State
OL Brett Weaver, Grand Valley State
DE Tyce Westland, Wyoming
OL DJ Wingfield, USC
P Jeff Yurk, Elon
Veterans (with previous NFL team)
DB Brandon Hill, Texans (2025)
QB Nathan Peterman, Falcons (2024)
DE Isaiah Thomas, Bengals (2025)
WR Mike Woods, Packers (2025)
