Sacramento Area Booming With First-round Selections

MEXICO CITY — Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs, Kyle Tucker added a solo shot and the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 12-4 on Saturday night in the MLB World Tour: Mexico City Series to snap a five-game losing streak. Alvarez hit a two-run homer to center field and Tucker followed with a shot to left field and the Astros took a 4-2 lead in the third.

The Post’s sports staff weighs in with grades on the Denver Broncos’ 2024 NFL draft. Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat writer Grade: B- There’s no way around the fact that this draft class gets graded based on how Bo Nix pans out. It ultimately will either be an A or an F without a whole lot of grey between.

When Sean Payton led a Broncos contingent to Oregon in the middle of March, so much of the franchise’s offseason remained unsettled. A few days into free agency, most of Denver’s biggest moves had been outbound. Russell Wilson released. Justin Simmons, too. Jerry Jeudy traded. Josey Jewell clearly headed elsewhere. The Broncos had made some additions, too, but more modest in nature.

The Broncos improved the running backs room by drafting Notre Dame standout Audric Estime in the fifth round. But they didn’t stop there. Following the conclusion of the NFL draft, Denver signed Memphis running back Blake Watson as an undrafted free agent. A source told The Denver Post that Watson’s deal includes a guaranteed salary of $250,000 and a $25,000 signing bonus. Watson rushed for at least 1,000 yards in two of his five seasons at Memphis.

The Broncos roster features every Duck but Daffy. Coach Sean Payton bet on himself with Bo Nix, staking his legacy to a quarterback critics view with a low ceiling, but he believes will exceed expectations. The Broncos have shown they are motivated to fit around Nix rather than the other way around. Alex Forsyth, his Oregon center in 2022, figures to start this season for Denver, serving as Nix’s security blanket.

The Broncos had five picks on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Get to know the new players coming to Denver after the Broncos took quarterback Bo Nix on Day 1 and edge rusher Jonah Elliss on Day 2. WR Troy Franklin Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin catches a ball during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis.