ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Marlon Mack had a quick turnaround after signing with the Broncos two weeks ago.
“I flew here from San Fran and hopped on a plane with them to go to London,” he told DNVR.
Mack had just signed to the Broncos’ roster from the 49ers practice squad the day the Broncos were set to leave for their week in London ahead of their game against the Jaguars. The trip was a whirlwind for Mack but there were advantages to spending his first week as a Bronco on the road.
“Guys weren’t able to go home so I was hanging out with a couple of guys I didn’t know and got kinda close with them pretty quick,” Mack said. “When you’re home it’s kind of different—guys kinda do their own thing. In London you couldn’t do too much so we just had to stick with each other.”
Mack is one of a handful of Broncos who have joined the team recently. Running back Latavius Murray signed a couple of weeks before him and the Broncos traded for running back Chase Edmonds and outside linebacker Jacob Martin at the trade deadline last week.
For Martin, the transition was easy.
“I was excited to be back home,” he told reporters on Monday. “I had the chance to hang out with some of my old high school buddies over the bye and just talking to them about how we always talked about or dreamed about playing here in Denver. Now that it’s here, it’s super surreal. [I’m] super excited and I couldn’t be happier.”
Martin was born in Aurora and went to Cherokee Trail High School. He went to Temple University and was drafted by the Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was traded to Houston and signed with the New York Jets when his rookie contract expired this offseason. Shortly after the Broncos traded away Bradley Chubb, they added Martin in a deal with the Jets.
Martin says all of his teams are similar.
“That’s the fun thing about the NFL: characters are the same,” Martin said. “I find, especially on the defensive side of the football, the [defensive line] are funny guys and [defensive backs] are competitive guys.”
For Edmonds, the move to Denver wasn’t quite as simple.
“When certain things happen in life, you kind of visualize and think about what your life is going to be,” Edmonds said. “Obviously, I didn’t think I was going to be a Denver Bronco once I signed with Miami on a two-year deal. But life happens, things happen, you have to adjust, and just adapt. I’m here now, and I am happy to be here.”
The two-year deal that Edmonds signed with the Dolphins this offseason was worth $12 million. It was the second-largest contract given to any running back this offseason, by average annual value and total value.
But Edmonds lost the starting job to Raheem Mostert before the season. He was only on the field for about a third of the snaps and that number was trending down. After playing half the season, Edmonds had only put up 148 yards from scrimmage. He was included in the Dolphins’ trade package for Chubb.
“I’m just excited to be here,” Edmonds said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet so many of these guys. I got to talk to the running backs, Melvin [Gordon III], Latavius [Murray], Mike [Boone], Marlon, all those guys. We’re kicking it off to a good [start]. So right now, for me, I’m just trying to run the offense, put my best foot forward and capitalize whatever role they have me in.”
That offense is similar to what the Dolphins were running when Edmonds was in Miami. They run a similar wide zone running scheme combined with a West Coast passing attack. He says the verbiage is similar, too.
Edmonds earned his big payday as a receiving back. Of his 2688 total career yards, about 40% have come through the air. He expects a similar role in Denver.
“I got to already dive into the pass game and what we’re trying to do against Tennessee, so I feel like I’ll be up to speed by Sunday,” he said. “I don’t know the whole, full landscape. I think definitely in the passing game, probably get me outside the backfield, utilize me there, and just kind of go from there. Whatever role [I’m placed in] I’m going to accept to my full ability.”
The bye week was critical for Edmonds as he learned the Broncos’ offense and got himself situated in Denver. Following in Mack’s footsteps didn’t hurt either.
“It’s definitely helpful having a guy who’s kind of learning, too,” Mack said. “We’re learning fast but we’ve gotta have it down pat and go out there and win some games.”
Winning games is the number one priority, but Mack also hopes he’s out of his hotel and into a place of his own soon.
“It’s definitely rough,” Mack said, “but that’s the NFL life for you.”
