Could fifth-rounder Montrell Washington be the returner the Broncos have hoped to find?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Montrell Washington didn’t expect to get drafted.

The Samford wide receiver/kickoff returner/punt returner knew he was on NFL radars — including that of the Broncos. He noted that the team had a presence at his Pro Day, including a lengthy one-on-one conversation with team representatives.

But he believed that his shot would likely come moments after the draft, when teams scramble to procure the best undrafted rookies that they can find.

Instead, the call came about four hours early. And over an hour after the Broncos chose him with the 162nd overall pick, Washington was still awash in an ocean of whoops and hollers from his family, who could be heard cheering from downstairs while Washington was on a conference call with Denver-area media.

“To be honest with you, I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t, because I was shocked,” Washington said. “I’m at a loss for words.”

An hour after the pick, Washington said he was still “shaking.”

“I wasn’t even worried about the draft, to be honest with you,” he said.

And now Washington goes from just hoping for a shot to likely having the best chance of an extensive role among the Broncos’ Day 3 picks. He has the most direct route to a first-team spot. He immediately becomes the favorite to handle punt and kickoff returns.

“We feel he can be a dual returner for us. He’s explosive. Just watch him against Florida; you see how explosive he is,” Broncos general manager George Paton said, later adding that he has “dynamic traits that you can’t teach.”

Washington’s special-teams skills vaulted the 170-pounder onto NFL radars, as he averaged 18.2 yards per punt return for his career, with four touchdowns on 47 returns.

He also said during his college career, “I don’t fair catch.”

But that mantra will end with is college career.

“In college, you just say stuff,” Washington said. “It’s professional football. It’s completely different. This is business. I will do my job. If I need to fair catch, I will fair catch, for sure.”

That may not be exciting, but it’s prudent business. And it should save wear and tear. At 170 pounds, the Broncos won’t want Washington to get hit often — but will want to maximize his chances for breakaway returns. He has the chance to give the team the home-run threat on returns it has craved and lacked since the salad days of Trindon Holliday.