ENGLEWOOD — The last time the Broncos didn’t have a first- or second-round pick in the NFL draft, they took running back Terrell Davis in the sixth round in 1995.

This is not to suggest that Denver rookie running back Jonah Coleman, selected in the fourth round last April, will end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame alongside Davis. But he is off to an intriguing start.

So were some other rookies in last Friday’s 27-7 win at Atlanta in the preseason opener. And this comes after the Broncos didn’t pick until No. 66, in the third round of the draft, only the third time they didn’t have a first- or second-round pick.

Let’s start with Coleman. Against the Falcons, he rushed four times for 24 yards, including a 13-yard run in which he broke tackles. Coleman, also making good strides as a pass blocker, played 14 overall snaps.

“(I thought), ‘All right, I’ve seen enough here (of Coleman),’’’ Payton said after Monday’s training camp practice at Broncos Park. “I don’t need to see additional evidence of what I’ve been seeing for three weeks (in camp).”

Entering Friday night’s second preseason game against Green Bay at Empower Field, the 5-foot-9, 220-pound Coleman is battling second-year man R.J. Harvey for playing time behind starter J.K. Dobbins. Payton often has talked about it being hard to use three running backs with regularity, but perhaps Coleman’s presence will lead him to attempt that.

“(Coleman has) good balance, a real good elusive runner for his size,’’ Payton said. “You don’t feel a young player just at practice.”

Harvey called Coleman “smart, eager to learn, physical, tough” and said that he “can catch.” He predicted Coleman’s “going to be a great player.”

While the two are competing for playing time, Harvey gladly has been dispensing tips to the rookie.

“He wanted to know how training camp was going to be, and I gave him some of the details that I experienced last year and how the preseason games were,’’ Harvey said.

The Broncos’ top draft pick was defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, but it might be like a redshirt year for him due to their having a top-notch defensive line. Four other Denver draft selections also might not play a lot in 2026 due to the Broncos’ depth: offensive lineman Kage Case (fourth round), tight end Justin Joly (fifth), safety Miles Scott (seventh) and tight end Dallen Bentley (seventh).

But another draft pick could end up making an impact at inside linebacker. Red Murdock, who was Mr. Irrelevant by being taken with the No. 257 and last pick in the draft, had a team-high eight tackles at Atlanta.

“That position you got to have the intensity to get to the ball,’’ Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen said of Murdock. “He plays sideline to sideline. He plays really hard, so really encouraging stuff. I’m definitely glad he’s on our side.”

It is wide open on who will be the top reserve inside linebacker behind veteran starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. One candidate is now out of the mix in third-year man Levelle Bailey, who suffered a broken leg against the Falcons. Payton said it is “too early to say” if Bailey will return this season, and the Broncos so far have not placed him on season-ending injured reserve.

That leaves Murdock and undrafted rookie Taurean York battling for the job along with second-year men Karene Reid and Jordan Turner. York had two tackles at Atlanta, including one for loss. Reid deflected a pass against the Falcons that cornerback Jahdae Barron secured and scored on a 97-yard interception return. Turner began training camp on the non-football injury list but has returned to practice, although he sat out at Atlanta.

Payton said Murdock and York got “valuable snaps” against the Falcons. He didn’t deny there is “a lot on their plate” as rookies, but he likes what they are doing so far.

“They’re not going to pick it up right away, but they learn quickly,’’ Payton said.

Although not a lot of Denver rookies are expected to see much time in 2026, there could be an avenue for another one as a kick returner. While wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is in line to again be both the kickoff and punt returner, there is a need for a backup at both spots. The Broncos are also looking to the future at those spots since Mims is in the final year of his contract, and it remains to be seen if he will be re-signed.

Against the Falcons, the Broncos used undrafted rookie wide receiver Cameron Ross and undrafted rookie defensive back Sean Fresch Jr. on punt returns, but the longest runback was 6 yards. On kickoffs, Denver used Ross and undrafted rookie receiver Kolbe Kotsis, but the longest runback was 22 yards.

Ross, though, turned some heads with a 28-yard run on a jet sweep.

The rookie returners are expected to get more work against the Packers, and Murdock and York should get plenty more snaps. As for Coleman, it will be seen if Payton really has seen all he needs of him in the preseason.