Broncos training camp: Five breakout candidates to watch this summer

In June, Sean Payton delivered an emphatic message to reporters regarding a sardine-packed running back room: Don’t count.

“Don’t try to figure out the club right now,” the Broncos head coach said. “It’s way too early.”

He was right. The fates of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and many others still had months to play out. This is the same head coach who touts the 2007 story of his New Orleans Saints drafting running back Antonio Pittman in the fourth round — and then cutting him for the undrafted Pierre Thomas, who eventually became a Saint staple.

So, who’s the next Thomas in Payton’s camp? Or the next Devaughn Vele, who put himself in position for a strong rookie year after a standout summer in 2024? Or even the next Frank Crum, who surprisingly made last year’s Broncos roster as an undrafted offensive tackle?

Here are five breakout candidates to keep an eye on — from the temporary bleachers — in Broncos training camp.

Jonah Elliss, OLB

Elliss wants more and isn’t afraid to say it. Five sacks are nothing to scoff at — especially on a Broncos front with bodies galore. But after the 2024 third-round pick endured the natural maturation of “freaking out” on rookie installs, as he self-described to The Denver Post this offseason, the game should slow down for him in his second season.

The key is improving his first step off the edge. And the Broncos will likely give him every opportunity to showcase that get-off in camp, with several in their core pass-rush group at a contract crossroads. Zach Allen needs a new deal. Nik Bonitto needs a new deal. John Franklin-Myers needs a new deal. It’s a lot of wealth to allocate, and if the 22-year-old Elliss showcases noticeable growth, it could clear up some extension decision-making.

Troy Franklin, WR

Somebody in Denver’s pass-catching room is going to get left out. Too many mouths to feed. Courtland Sutton and Evan Engram (technically a TE) will get their looks, and Marvin Mims Jr. will likely start at the Z. Devaughn Vele could catch a heap of passes this year. Rookie Pat Bryant could set himself up for immediate reps if he plays like he did in minicamp and OTAs.

Franklin, with an overlapping-ish skillset to Mims and an up-and-down rookie year, could be the odd man out. He could also set himself up for a massive second-year leap. Payton doesn’t trade up willy-nilly, and Franklin came into the offseason with an intriguing blend of added muscle and quick-twitch feet. Payton said he’d had a “number of explosive plays” during OTAs.

He was Bo Nix’s go-to guy at Oregon in 2023 for a reason. Franklin’s in store for a pivotal camp.

Mario Goodrich, CB

In mid-June, the Broncos quietly signed Goodrich away from the UFL, their last technical free-agent move before camp. The 25-year-old has played a total of 110 snaps in his NFL career after going undrafted out of Clemson in 2023. Not an earth-shattering move.

But this isn’t a simple camp body. Nobody Payton and George Paton bring in truly is. Broncos scout Ish Seisay first reached out in March to Birmingham Stallions general manager Paul Roell for a list of names to keep an eye on. Months later, after the UFL’s 2025 season, the Broncos saw enough in Goodrich to bring him in for a tryout and sign him.