According to multiple reports, including 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos have signed former UFL cornerback and returner Sean Fresch. To make room for him on the 90-man roster, the team has waived cornerback Paul Manning.
Fresch is a 5-8, 173-pound cornerback and returner who had 2 sacks, 3 TFLs, and 4 PBUs this past season, as well as leading the UFL in punt return yards with 333 yards.
He graduated from Rice in 2024 and has spent the past two seasons in the UFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks, but will now attempt to make it in the NFL and make the Broncos’ 53-man roster or their practice squad.
The Broncos are pretty loaded at corner with Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, and Kris Abrams-Draine locked into roster spots. After that, you have Taylor Reese, Jaden Robinson, Ahmari Harvey, Brent Austin, and now Sean Fresch competing for one final spot on the 53-man roster or a few spots on their practice squad.
What may benefit Fresch is his ability as a returner. He led the UFL in punt return yards this past season, but the Broncos do have an All-Pro punt returner in Marvin Mims Jr. However, he is in the final year of his deal and has recently switched agents, so who knows how that will all play out in the coming months. Having another player capable of returning punts is valuable, and we will see if Fresch can make an impact in the return game.
The Broncos also signed former UFL and St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler. No corresponding move has been announced there, but the Broncos will be adding at least two former UFL players to their 90-man roster. We have seen Dondra Tillman come from the UFL and make an impact on the Broncos roster, and now Butler and Fresch will have the same opportunity. Both players are joining stacked areas on the roster, so it will be difficult, but competition is always good, and maybe the Broncos can find some more hidden gems in one or both players.
