ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Due to their desire to add nine undrafted rookies to go with their nine-player draft class, the Denver Broncos released two players Monday.
Tackle Paul Cornick, who was benched after four difficult starts at right tackle last season, and wide receiver Jeremy Kelley were waived.
The Broncos roster now stands at 89, one below the offseason limit of 90. They are expected to have several players attend the team's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis this coming weekend, so the Broncos would have room to sign one of those players if desired.
The Broncos' roster was at 73 players after they traded guard Manny Ramirez Friday night to move up in the first round. They then used the pick acquired in the trade to select Shane Ray in the first round.
They selected eight other players in the draft, then agreed to terms with nine additional undrafted rookies Sunday night to bring their roster to 91 players.
So when the Broncos formally turned in the contracts of the undrafted rookies to the league Monday, they had to make at least one move. The team did have a veteran minicamp last week leading up to the draft, so the decision-makers did get a brief on-field look at the roster before making any decisions.
Cornick replaced Chris Clark at right tackle for the Broncos' Oct. 19 win over the San Francisco 49ers and started the next three games at the position as well before he was benched in November for Louis Vasquez.
Cornick also started two additional games as a second tight end.
Kelley was a “futures" player signed earlier this year.
