Following the 2025 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos signed several players as undrafted free agents, and one of the more recognizable names on that list is that of Karene Reid.
Brett Sobleski of Bleacher Report called Reid the 'most exciting' undrafted player the Broncos brought in this offseason and others have termed him as the undrafted player most likely to make this year's roster. The Broncos have a rich history of undrafted players making the team as at least one makes the 53-man roster every season. Will Reid be that player this year?
Name: Karene Reid
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 231
Position: Inside linebacker
School: Utah
Karene Reid was a four-year starter for the Utes and registered 238 total tackles for his career to go along with nine sacks and three interceptions. His father, Spencer, played at BYU as a linebacker and had a brief NFL stint with the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts.
Reid is a player many teams would consider too small to play linebacker but he makes up for that with a non-stop motor and effort on every play. He struggles in pass coverage but can make plays at the point of attack and even get into the offensive backfield to disrupt passing plays.
He joins a position in Denver at inside linebacker that needs depth and that is likely why many like his chances to make this squad.
Chances to make 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 4
The Broncos have a lot of question marks at inside linebacker this season. How will Alex Singleton, now 31 years old, bounce back after tearing his ACL last season? How will Dre Greenlaw fit in after a 2024 season that was marred by an injury?
Behind the presumed starters, Singleton and Greenlaw, the Broncos have third-year linebacker Drew Sanders, who might be the biggest question mark on the entire roster. Justin Strnad is there but his career has been mostly as a special teams guy, though he filled in nicely last year.
You can see how there is a path for Reid to make this team, but he will have to show something on special teams in order to do that. The Broncos also have Levelle Bailey, an undrafted player last year, who showed a lot of promise during last year's preseason. There are also two other undrafted players at the position, JB Brown and Jordan Turner, who Reid would need to outperform.
There's a chance for him to make the team, but it will only happen if Sanders falters or if Reid just excels as a special teams guy for Darren Rizzi. Starting his career on the practice squad seems more likely.
MORE BRONCOS CONTENT
Will Denver Broncos begin to run play that was nearly banned?
NFL analyst names best offseason move by Broncos and it's not a player
Broncos still being connected to major free-agent running back
Bo Nix given absurdly low ranking by PFF
Broncos make beautiful decision for 38th member of team's Ring of Fame