Sean Payton on Broncos’ rookie minicamp: ‘It’s a tough challenge’

“It’s a really tough challenge. Our numbers relative to guys making rosters as free agents, as tryouts is really, really strong. The first thing that came up in our team meeting, it’s one of the first messages, was, ‘The moment you’re here, how you got here was the step, the science of procuring the best room possible. But once you’re here, how you got here is really not important,” stated Payton.

The three-day sample size of rookie minicamp isn’t much for all the players trying to earn a shot to compete through the rest of the summer. Nevertheless, it’s an important tool for Payton and the rest of the Broncos’ coaching staff. Everything, especially the small things, matters when it comes to finding out who are the best players to compete for a spot in the 53-man roster.

“There are four things, five things we said, ‘This is how you’re being evaluated.’ ‘A’, does a player know what to do? ‘B’, is the player trying to do what’s being coached? ‘C’, how well are they doing it? Then effort and talent. Obviously, you have to be talented, but that’s I think a big challenge for this whole group because they’re behind always every year the group that’s already here,” Payton remarked with respect to certain particulars of their evaluation process.

And this year’s group of players are more than happy to be back on the field after a long drought from the end of the collegiate season through the pre-draft process. Each day gives them the ability to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, and what they can bring to this year’s squad if they are fortunate enough to make it.

“It’s been pretty great. It’s a really fast process and things happen quickly. The next thing you know, you’re out here and you have the playbook and you’re studying as much as you can. I love it all,” stated tight end Dallen Bentley, a seventh-round draft selection out of Utah. “It’s been super fun. I love being out here and love to start playing some football again. I’m just taking every opportunity.”