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Broncos notes: Watching the Big Four QBs, Russell, coach get invite, adding a kicker, long snapper

The Broncos sent Western regional scout Darren Mougey to Darnold's Pro Day workout Wednesday.
Credit: Ron Jenkins
Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans runs from Tyquan Lewis #59 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half of the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

KUSA – If the Broncos don’t wind up drafting one of the Big Four quarterbacks, it won’t be for lack of scouting.

The Broncos’ big-wig contingent of John Elway, Vance Joseph, Matt Russell, Gary Kubiak, Brian Stark, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will be among those running USC quarterback Sam Darnold through a private workout in early April.

The Broncos sent Western regional scout Darren Mougey to Darnold’s Pro Day workout Wednesday.

The Broncos will also send a contingent to watch Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen perform at his Pro Day workout Friday in Laramie. The Broncos are bringing in Allen and UCLA’s Josh Rosen for official visits at team headquarters, an agent source told 9NEWS. Each team is permitted up to 30 official visits of draft prospects.

The Broncos’ brass watched the Pro Day workouts of Rosen and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield last week.

Russell, Woods, Modkins invited to NFL symposiums

Russell, the Broncos’ director of player personnel, has been invited by the NFL to attend a “future GM” symposium in Orlando starting Thursday. Current NFL general managers who attended this symposium include Cleveland’s John Dorsey, Indianapolis’ Chris Ballard and Seattle’s John Schneider.

Russell has been with the Broncos since he was hired as a scout in 2009. He is about to begin his seventh season as the right-hand man to Elway.

Also in Orlando this week will be Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods and running backs coach Curtis Modkins. Woods will attend an “aspiring head coach”-type symposium while Modkins will attend a head coach/coordinator event.

Among the current head coaches who attended these events are Philadelphia’s Doug Peterson, Minnesota’s Mike Zimmer and Carolina’s Ron Rivera.

Broncos added special teamers

In 2012, the Texas A & M football team had two freshmen score 100 points for the first time in Aggies’ history.

One was Johnny Manziel. The other was kicker Taylor Bertolet. Bertolet is still kicking after he signed with the Broncos following his tryout with the team Wednesday, an agent source told 9NEWS.

The Broncos also worked out, and signed, long-snapper Christian Kuntz.

The Broncos’ current placekicker, Brandon McManus, and long-snapper, Casey Kreiter, shouldn’t be surprised they have some competition.

But don’t read too much into this. McManus’ $2.25 million salary for 2018 became fully guaranteed on Sunday so he’s not going anywhere. Bertolet may be little more than a “camp leg” for now, although it’s possible he will get a chance to showcase during the preseason.

Broncos’ special teams were dreadful most of the 2017 season. After the season, head coach Vance Joseph replaced special teams coordinator Brock Olivo with Tom McMahon. Two of the better special teams players, Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler III, were allowed to become unrestricted free agents.

The Broncos are also looking at punters in the draft with plans on bringing in competition for Riley Dixon.

After his college career at Texas A & M – where Broncos’ star Von Miller and front-office consultant Gary Kubiak attended – Bertolet signed as an undrafted rookie with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 but was among their first camp roster cuts.

Kuntz, a former small-college second-team All American linebacker at Duquesne, signed with New England as an undrafted rookie in 2017 – and was cut after one practice when the Patriots signed another player. The Duquesne media guide did not mention long-snapping among Kuntz’s accolades, so it appears he is attempting to reinvent himself in hopes of making an NFL team.

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