ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak called his shot in training camp when he surveyed the team’s rookie class and offered a preview.

“We like our young guys a lot," Kubiak said then. “We think we can get them coached up and they can help us. We see they have lot to offer and I tell the guys all the time, we’re going to need everybody."

And then, when the Broncos, as the defending Super Bowl champion, cut their roster to 53 players, all eight players in the team’s 2016 draft class were among those 53 names, as was undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kyle Peko.

Nine first-year players made a team that is doing what executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway said the Broncos must -- “and that’s stack those draft classes and keep our team competitive over the long term."

Grade: B-plus

Best rookie: Safety Will Parks and safety Justin Simmons won a game for the Broncos this season with Simmons’ blocked extra point attempt in New Orleans and Parks returned it for the two points that gave the Broncos a victory over the Saints. Both are regulars on special teams and specialty packages on defense. Fullback Andy Janovich was leading the class in production and impact until he went to injured reserve earlier this month (ankle). Now, running back Devontae Booker, who is now the team’s primary back, is leading the way. He appears to have hit the proverbial rookie wall -- no games with more than 3.3 yards per carry in last five games -- but the Broncos need him to play big down the stretch and he has handled the football responsibility they put on his shoulders.

Most improved rookie: The class has made progress in a competitive roster situation where there wasn’t much room for substantial playing time. But the Broncos liked Parks’ potential when they selected him in the sixth round and believed he could have special teams duties. Parks showed enough on defense to be one of the two rookie backups the Broncos have at the position -- Simmons is the other -- and Parks continues to play more as he has shown he’s up to the challenge.

Most disappointing rookie: Not “disappointing,’’ but fifth-round pick Connor McGovern is likely more than slightly disappointed the Broncos haven’t given him a chance to be part of the solution on the offensive line. The line has been a trouble spot, with plenty of inconsistent play. The Broncos kept McGovern, a powerful interior player, on the roster because they believed he wouldn’t have made it through waivers if they put him on the practice squad. So, he has been a game day inactive every week of the regular season leading up to Sunday's game against the Titans. The Broncos are hopeful to get him more proficient at center (he played guard and tackle at Missouri) so he can be a swing player on the interior. But McGovern will be expected to compete for a starting spot next season.

The jury is still out on … : How the Broncos will develop both Trevor Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch at quarterback. Kubiak has said Lynch will have a “brilliant’’ career, and Lynch consistently shows the physical attributes of a starter in waiting. The question is if everyone will allow him some patience to learn. The Broncos took the rare step of having Siemian, a player who had not previously started, open the season at quarterback with Lynch as his backup. That means the Broncos have a 24-year-old starter in Siemian with two years (2017 and 2018) remaining on his rookie contract and a prized rookie in Lynch, who is under contract for four more years and plenty of developmental work to do. The Broncos have the potential to be young and deep at the most important position on the field, but managing it could get bumpy at times down the road.

Undrafted rookie check in: Peko spent some time on the active roster in September, but was waived Sept. 20 to make room for safety Shiloh Keo. (Keo was later released.) Peko was signed to the practice squad and the nose tackle prospect has spent the season there. The Broncos like his potential as a player who can disrupt offenses on the interior and he should compete for a roster spot in 2017.