More over two weeks into training camp, the three-year special teams ace was playing his finest football as a safety. Following a mid-August session, former defensive backs coach Christian Parker praised Locke’s progress in his game. Parker also questioned Locke, questioning if he would plateau or continue to climb toward greater achievement.
“I was like, ‘You already know the answer to that,'” Locke explained Tuesday.
The following day, Locke’s progress was virtually undone. In a two-on-two practice, Locke believes he clipped the receiver’s foot and dislocated his big toe. He was carted off the field and later placed on injured reserve at the conclusion of the preseason.
“It’s easy to get really discouraged,” Locke said. “When I first did it, I was like, ‘My season’s over with.'”
However, Locke was given a better prognosis. He spent the first four games of the season on injured reserve before being activated for Week 5. He thanked former safety Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson for keeping him in the defensive backfield, and he remained aware of the Broncos’ defensive game plans.
While on the bench, Locke donned a headset to track Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s calls and keep connected to the system. When he was able to return, his decision paid off.
“When I got back, all I really had to do was just work on my physical side,” Locke stated. “The cerebral aspect was already up to date. That’s what made things easy for me.
Locke quickly established himself as a top-tier player. After receiving little defensive snaps in his first two games, he was thrown into the lineup against Green Bay in the second half. In his first significant action of the season, Locke leaped across the field at the end of the game to intercept a late Jordan Love pass and spark a five-game winning streak.
“It was a special moment, because it was my first pick in the NFL,” Locke stated. “Finally getting that opportunity, it was a lot of emotion going on.”
Locke and his family celebrated that night with backstage passes to Travis Scott and Teezo’s Touchdown show at Ball Arena. Locke is from the same hometown as Aaron Lashane Thomas, aka Teezo Touchdown, and gave him a gift at the show.
“I gave him a signed jersey — the same jersey I picked the ball off in,” Locke stated. “It was a memorable moment for Beaumont, Texas.” It was really cool. “It was definitely a night to remember.”
From there, Locke’s prospects only expanded. He started eight of the Broncos’ next ten games and drove hundreds of miles in an RV to be ready for a Week 15 matchup in Detroit. Locke, a menace near the line of scrimmage, established himself as a playmaker with the Denver Broncos.
“I always felt like I was a starter at some point,” Locke stated. “I just needed my break.”
Payton says he watched Locke take advantage of the initial opportunity to win additional snaps.
“Last season, I think he began to create that vision for himself, to his credit,” Payton stated. “Closer to the ball as a pressure player and in covering. It was nice to see him out there in good health. I believe he earned some of those snaps.
“…He’s one of those athletes when I talk about seeing confidence via demonstrated [skill], he saw and felt it. Then it’s quite powerful. He’s intelligent. “He is tough.”
Locke stated that the two had multiple chats regarding his path to the NFL, and Payton’s belief in Locke’s abilities translated to the Texas product’s performance on the field.
“He just gave me some confidence that he had confidence in me,” Locke stated. “That goes a long way for me. When a coach believes in me, it gives me an energy boost and increases my confidence in myself. “When I play confidently, I am dangerous.”
Locke opted to stay with the Broncos on a two-year contract this offseason rather than pursue other offers, and Payton has already identified Locke as one of the team’s new defensive captains. Locke stated that he expected to learn from Simmons for one more season, but he has already begun to seek his own leadership style.
“When I heard the news [of Simmons’ release], I had a shift in mindset,” Locke stated. “… I’m currently going through certain things. It’s not really difficult; I’m simply trying to figure out how to do it. I am not Justin, and I am not Kareem. I am more of a lead-by-example type of guy.”
Locke also stated that, while it is “special” to overcome the odds as an undrafted athlete, he feels he still has a lot to prove heading into the 2024 season.
“I feel like I still have a chip on my shoulder,” Locke stated. “I have some personal ambitions that I am not going to talk about that I want to achieve. These are the things that keep me hungry. I still have the mindset of simply proving it to myself. There is absolutely no slack being cut.
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