Latest news with #DenverBroncos
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos waive defensive back to make room for UFL signing
The Denver Broncos are bringing in United Football League cornerback Mario Goodrich -- a move that is expected to become official today -- and a corresponding roster move is on deck. To make room for Goodrich on the 90-man offseason roster, the Broncos are set to waive fellow defensive back Tanner McCalister, according to a report from KUSA-TV's Mike Klis. Advertisement McCalister (5-11, 191 pounds) is a 25-year-old defensive back who originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State with the Cleveland Browns in 2023. He spent his rookie season on Cleveland's practice squad and was elevated to the game-day roster three times. Following his rookie year, McCalister signed with the Broncos. After failing to make the 53-man roster, McCalister was signed to Denver's practice squad last summer. He later appeared in three games during the 2024 season, recording one tackle on defense. McCalister also played 54 snaps on special teams. The Broncos' offseason roster is now full. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos news: DB waived to make room for UFL arrival
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos officially sign UFL cornerback to 1-year contract
The Denver Broncos have officially signed United Football League cornerback Mario Goodrich, the team announced Wednesday. Denver's pending agreement with Goodrich was first reported on Tuesday, and the UFL star has now officially signed with the club. Goodrich (6-0, 186 pounds) spent the spring playing for the Birmingham Stallions, totaling 17 tackles, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles in seven games (including a playoff game). Advertisement Before playing in the UFL, Goodrich spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and one summer with the New York Giants after winning a national championship at Clemson. He totaled five tackles in four NFL appearances, including one start. Goodrich will join a crowded cornerback room that already includes Pat Surtain, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Ja'Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis, among others. He will get an opportunity to compete for a depth role in the secondary, but Goodrich was probably signed primarily for his special teams contributions after he earned a 90.8 ST grade from Pro Football Focus this spring. Goodrich is the second Birmingham player the Broncos have signed, following in the footsteps of outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who joined the team last summer. Tillman totaled five sacks in his debut season last fall. To make room for Goodrich, Denver waived defensive back Tanner McCalister. The team's 90-man offseason roster is now full. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos news: CB Mario Goodrich officially signs 1-year deal
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Check out these highlights of new Broncos CB Mario Goodrich
The Denver Broncos improved their secondary (and special teams) depth on Wednesday when they signed United Football League cornerback Mario Goodrich to a one-year contract. Goodrich (6-0, 186 pounds) totaled 17 tackles, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles in seven games with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions this spring. Before that, he was with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2022-2023, recording five tackles in four games (one start). Goodrich also had a stint with the New York Giants in 2024. Advertisement Because his time in the NFL has been brief, there aren't many highlights of him in the league. But the cornerback won a national championship (2018) at Clemson and was later named a first-team All-ACC player (2021). In four seasons with the Tigers, Goodrich totaled 69 tackles, 21 pass breakups, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 47 games. Here are some highlights from his time at Clemson: Goodrich will face tough odds to make the 53-man roster, but he'll get a chance to compete for a spot this summer. He joins a cornerback room that also includes Pat Surtain, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Ja'Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis, among others. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Highlights of new CB Mario Goodrich
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Pat Surtain shown in Madden 26 preview -- perfect rating to follow?
Pat Surtain shown in Madden 26 preview -- perfect rating to follow? Madden 26's deep dive update features a PS2 pass breakup: — Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) June 18, 2025 Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain should get a ratings boost in this year's version of the NFL's popular video game made by EA Sports. Earlier this week, "Madden NFL 26" released its first "deep dive" preview of upcoming features in the game, including a new "Custom Zones" feature for defenses. In a video demonstrating the new coverages, EA Sports showed Surtain breaking up a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders. Surtain, 25, was Denver's highest-rated player in last year's version of the video game with an initial overall rating of 95 (it increased to 97 during the season). "See, that's a good start," Surtain said of his initial rating last year. "That's a good start, Madden. That's a good start. I'mma get that 99 soon. In due time, for sure. Trust it. Truss." After winning the Defensive Player of the Year award last season, it would not be surprising to see PS2 join the prestigious "99 Club" in "Madden NFL 26." Ratings will be announced later this summer. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
New York Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Could Nik Bonitto have a new contract on the horizon? Broncos mailbag
The Denver Broncos coaches and players are officially on summer break. The team's rookies report for training camp on July 16, with veterans set to join them six days later, on Tuesday, July 22. In the meantime, let's dig into some of your questions about the team coming out of its offseason program, which ended with last week's mandatory minicamp: Editor's note: Some questions have been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement How is Pat Bryant doing? — Robert R. The third-round receiver out of Illinois made noticeable strides as the team's offseason program progressed. What stands out about Bryant is that he isn't afraid to play in traffic. Even in the padless, touch-football setting that is OTAs and minicamp, you can see glimpses of the physicality that was an attractive part of the evaluation with Bryant. One other thing I noticed during the offseason program: Bryant is constantly seeking knowledge. I'd routinely see him during breaks in action talking to Courtland Sutton about routes or clarifying things with wide receivers coach Keary Colbert. 'He's good at the line of scrimmage,' coach Sean Payton said after Denver's minicamp last month, which featured a pair of impressive grabs by Bryant during red zone work. 'I would say he has exceptionally strong hands in traffic. … The bigger receivers that can block and are physical at the line of scrimmage … he showed those traits.' What will the RB room look like for the season opener? Will there be a featured back or by committee? Last year seemed to be by committee because no one separated themselves from the others, but I suspect that's not the desired approach. — Shane K. Payton is not a bell-cow kind of coach. He has never been a play caller who hands the ball to his lead back 20 times per game for a full season. He likes variety in his backfield, typically with two running backs getting the bulk of the work with a third rotating into specific situations. Still, the Broncos need less variance in their backfield than they had in 2024, when five different players led the team in rushing across 17 games. Javonte Williams, who joined the Cowboys in free agency, led the Broncos with 8.18 carries per game. That number ranked 34th in the league. Payton cautioned multiple times during the offseason program not to 'count' the running backs. There is no established pecking order. However, Denver used a second-round pick on RJ Harvey and gave J.K. Dobbins a one-year deal that could be worth more than $5 million in 2025. That investment suggests the two new running backs on Denver's roster will be leaned on to revitalize a running game that must be better for the Broncos to reach their offensive ceiling. RBs at work ⚠️#BroncosOTAs — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 29, 2025 Is it wise to gamble on Nik Bonitto's contract and wait a year — either paying full price for a top-five pass rusher or possibly having to trade him if they don't feel like the value is worth the cost — or should they try and get it done now and maybe still get a hometown discount? What's the latest on negotiations, and what's the best strategy for the team long term? — Jonah Z. Bonitto finished third in the NFL last season with 13 1/2 sacks and his 21 1/2 takedowns since the start of the 2023 season rank 10th in that span. He doesn't turn 26 until late September. He only became a full-time starter about a month into last season. He is an ascending player who has unique traits and plays a premium position, and he is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Those are the kind of players who get paid, and Bonitto is in line for a massive contract extension. Advertisement Brian Burns last offseason signed a five-year, $141 million deal with the New York Giants after being traded from the Carolina Panthers. He was 25 years old at the time and coming off a two-season run in which he totaled 20.5 sacks. Greg Rousseau, a first-round pick in 2021, signed a four-year, $80 million extension with the Bills in March, just before hitting free agency. He signed that deal on the heels of an eight-sack season for Buffalo in 2024. So, Bonitto is sitting in a position to earn an extension worth more than $20 million annually. The Broncos got two similar contracts done just before the start of the 2024 season when they extended Quinn Meinerz (four years, $72 million) and cornerback Pat Surtain II (four years, $96 million). That could very well be the timeline the Broncos are looking at with Bonitto. The downside of waiting to sign Bonitto later in the season or even just before he is scheduled to hit free agency in March is that a quick accumulation of sacks at the start of season could further drive up his asking price — and it would be counter to how the Broncos have recently done business with their young premium position players. Though the status of the negotiations has been kept quiet by both sides, it's fair to assume talks will heat up as training camp approaches based on Denver's recent financial maneuverings. Did the Broncos pick up J.K. Dobbins because they're worried about what they have in RJ Harvey or because Dobbins' skill set rounds out the RB room? — Alex L. I'm glad we have a chance to dispel this narrative that seemed to creep up as the Broncos' interest in Dobbins became public earlier this month. His signing had nothing to do with a souring outlook on Harvey, less than two months after the Broncos drafted him in the second round. If anything, Harvey has exceeded expectations during his early days in Denver. He's in tremendous shape and has shown a natural feel as a receiver. Truer tests of his progress and his immediate readiness to contribute will come in training camp and the preseason, but the Broncos have been pleased with his progress to this point and plan to have him be a significant part of the offense. The Broncos had their eyes on Dobbins well before they drafted Harvey. Free agency can be a wait-and-see affair as markets develop, and the sides ultimately were able to find common ground that gives Denver an experienced back who was productive last season and gives Dobbins the chance to show the significant injuries that erased the better part of three seasons earlier in his career are an issue of the past. It was always like the Broncos were going to add more than one running back this offseason, and Dobbins and Harvey profile as the type of 1-2 pairing Payton has consistently used in his offenses. I've seen Ben Powers as being a cut candidate after this season. What does the depth chart look like at guard? Who could emerge as a starter? — Matt B. It's too early to say whether Powers would be a candidate for release after this season. His play in 2025 will be the determining factor. Powers wasn't always perfect last season. He gave up three sacks, according to Pro Football Focus, after being charged with four in 2023. But Powers has been reliable and durable, starting all 35 games, including the postseason, since joining the Broncos. Releasing or trading Powers after this season would result in a dead-money hit of nearly $10 million, just as the Broncos are coming out from under the Russell Wilson dead-money hits of the past two years that totaled $85 million. The Broncos did not select an offensive lineman in this year's draft, which could be viewed as a sign of faith that they have plenty more to squeeze out of this iteration of the starting line. The Broncos have some experience on the interior of the line with recent late-round picks Alex Forsyth and Nick Gargiulo, and Alex Palczewski, who is arguably the team's top reserve lineman, has shown an ability to play at multiple spots. There is promise among that group. Still, the Broncos view continuity as an asset, and as long as the group up front continues to play well, they won't be in any hurry to break it up. Advertisement What or who do you anticipate being the biggest surprises on both sides of the ball this year? And I know it's early, but who is your undrafted rookie to watch as a dark horse to make the 53-man roster? — Dalton H. Fun questions. Let's start with defense. I think Dondrea Tillman is a guy to watch. Here is a player who played in four straight professional spring leagues (2021 to 2024) before the Broncos finally gave him an NFL shot last season. Not only did Tillman make the team, but he also contributed five sacks and gave the Broncos stout looks against the run as a reserve outside linebacker with unique size. His finish rate last season was impressive, and I think you'll see his numbers go up as his opportunities increase. I'll go with Troy Franklin on offense. Evan Engram is going to open up a lot of possibilities for Denver's offense, squeezing coverage toward the middle of the field. I think this will give Bo Nix more windows to get Franklin the ball in space, and there may not be anyone on Denver's roster who can go from 0 to 60 quicker than the second-year receiver out of Oregon. Payton's offense can be difficult on first-year players. It was clear Franklin was thinking too much at times last season. If he's more comfortable this year, and his spring provided promising glimpses that he is, his speed will be more impactful for the Broncos than it was able to be last year. Back at it 😤#BroncosOTAs — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 29, 2025 An under-the-radar undrafted free agent to watch is Kyrese White, who joined the team in May after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp. The wide receiver room is jam-packed, and wrestling a spot away won't be easy, but White is a slot weapon who can be used in a lot of different ways and was an impactful special teams player in college. The former Utah State wide receiver is one to keep a close eye on in training camp. Why isn't John Ralston in the Ring of Fame? Floyd Little, Randy Gradishar, Riley Odoms, Steve Foley, Louis Wright, Haven Moses, Jim Turner, Paul Smith, Charley Johnson, Tom Jackson and Rick Upchurch all played under Ralston. All are in the Ring of Fame. The first Broncos winning season? That came under Ralston. Why isn't he there? — Alan V. Ralston did deliver the Broncos' first winning season, a 7-5-2 campaign in 1973. And the team's 9-5 record in 1976, the last of Ralston's five seasons running the team, was the best mark in the franchise's history at the time. He also drafted or signed many of the players mentioned above, a group that helped Denver reach its first Super Bowl in 1977, the year after Ralston was fired. But the bottom line is Ralston had a record of 34-33-3 with no division titles and no playoff appearances during his tenure running the Broncos. There are three other former Broncos coaches in the Ring of Fame: Red Miller, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan. Miller coached the Broncos for only four seasons, but he delivered the franchise's first playoff appearance and first Super Bowl berth, his 1977 squad putting the franchise on the NFL map. He had a 40-22 record, two division titles and no losing records during his four-year tenure. Reeves coached the Broncos for 12 seasons and won five division titles and three AFC championships. Shanahan piloted the Broncos for 14 seasons and was at the helm for the team's first two Super Bowl victories. The next Broncos coach to get into the Ring of Fame could be Gary Kubiak. Though Kubiak was only Denver's head coach for two seasons, he delivered the franchise's third Super Bowl in 2015. He was also the offensive coordinator for the Broncos teams that won the previous two championships, spent his entire nine-year career as a backup quarterback in Denver and was a trusted sounding board for John Elway. Another coach with a strong case: John Fox, whose Broncos teams won 72 percent of their games during his four years in charge (2011-14) and captured four division titles and an AFC championship in that period. Ralston helped set a competitive foundation for the Broncos after years of early struggles in the NFL. But his resume, in my view, simply doesn't measure up to some of the franchise's other impactful coaches.
