The Denver Broncos success with undrafted free agents is well documented.
If you want to go through John Elway’s tenure, the names Chris Harris Jr., Phillip Lindsay, C.J. Anderson, and Shaquil Barrett come to mind. If you want to travel back a little farther, you have to mention the best unfrafted receiver in NFL history, Rod Smith.
The reason it’s brought up so often is the success rate the Broncos have with these type of players. Every year when Elway and Denver signs their college free agents, the question is always, “Who could be the next hidden gem?”
On Friday’s Broncos Country Tonight, Ryan Edwards and Benjamin Allbright talked to former Western Michigan running back LeVante Bellamy. The, as Scotty Payne described him, ultra-productive and speedy back will look to follow in the footsteps of Lindsay.
It’s not just the production and traits that could make Bellamy the undrafted free agent to crack the 2020 roster, it’s the $25,000 signing bonus and $35,000 in guaranteed money he signed for. The Broncos made quite a commitment here to Bellamy so that certainly helps his odds.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s already a Bronco.
“I’m very excited. Ain’t nothing like being a Bronco, man,” Bellamy told the guys. “It started with the culture. It started with the group of guys that make this wonderful team. The city, the spot of living in Denver and just being somewhere new — that is really exciting. And I’m just ready to work.”
Bellamy and the guys also touch on what he brings to the table, waiting through the NFL Draft process, if he thought he’d get drafted, and what he does in his spare time.
Bonus listen
MHR’s Jeff Essary joined the guys to discuss how to know when quarterbacks are or aren’t going to pan out, and which undrafted free agents he gives a good shot to make Denver’s roster.