Thomas Valentine Rank Broncos Rookies Worst in One Intriguing Category

Thomas Valentine Rank Broncos Rookies Worst in One Intriguing Category

Football experts widely praise the Denver Broncos’ 2025 NFL Draft haul. Their picks filled key positional gaps and bolstered already strong units.

Despite their talent, Pro Football Focus highlighted a glaring issue: Denver’s rookies logged the fewest college football snaps among all teams. On May 19, Thomas Valentine wrote, “The Broncos’ draft class logged the fewest college snaps of any team, but high-upside prospects like Jahdae Barron and Pat Bryant give it strong long-term potential.”

PFF excluded the college snaps of Denver’s undrafted free agents. The Broncos’ seven draft picks combined for only 8,003 snaps. Valentine explained, “The Broncos made seven selections in the 2025 NFL Draft but ended up with fewer combined college snaps than any other team, over 1,200 fewer than the Vikings. That drop-off was largely due to the back end of their class, with their final three picks accounting for just 427 total snaps on offense and defense.”

Defensive end Que Robinson, punter Jeremy Crenshaw, and tight end Caleb Lohner accounted for that low snap count. Crenshaw saw limited action on special teams. Robinson spent most of his college career as a backup at Alabama before an elbow injury restricted him to nine games in 2024.

Lohner transitioned from college basketball to football, playing one year at Utah. All four of his receptions ended in touchdowns, showcasing red-zone efficiency despite limited experience.

In contrast, the Seattle Seahawks led the league with 22,970 combined snaps from their draft class, followed closely by the Raiders (22,874) and Ravens (22,561).

Broncos Rookies Maximized Their Snaps

Although Denver’s rookies trailed in total snaps, they made their limited time count. First-round pick Jahdae Barron logged 2,617 snaps with the Texas Longhorns, gaining valuable experience across multiple roles.

Valentine noted, “Barron’s biggest asset is his versatility, as he logged 1,112 snaps at outside corner but also saw significant time in the slot and at safety.” His diverse skill set earned him a 90.7 PFF grade, the highest among rookie cornerbacks.

Wide receiver Pat Bryant recorded 1,911 snaps at Illinois. The Broncos can shift him across formations, although he primarily lined up as an X receiver on 80% of his passing plays. With an 84.5 PFF grade and strong run-blocking skills, he brings physicality to Denver’s offense.

Pass rusher Sai’vion Jones played 1,511 snaps for LSU. He brings fresh talent to a Broncos pass rush that led the NFL in sacks last season.

Broncos Sign Experienced Undrafted Free Agents

While their draft class lacked total snaps, Denver added experience through undrafted free agents. NFL Draft Buzz reported cornerback Kendall Bohler had 2,105 career snaps, while guard Clay Webb totaled 2,313 from 2022 to 2024.

Offensive lineman Xavier Truss brought even more experience, playing 2,319 snaps for the Georgia Bulldogs over three years. Given Sean Payton’s history of developing undrafted talent, Denver hopes these additions will yield future starters or strong rotational players.