During the seventh round of the NFL draft last Saturday, Broncos coach Sean Payton called Levelle Bailey.

Not once but twice.

The Broncos went into the draft seeking an athletic inside linebacker with coverage skills and had not taken one in the first six rounds. They ended up in the seventh and final round selecting Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele with the No. 235 pick and South Carolina offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo at No. 256 while Payton was busy trying to convince the Fresno State linebacker to sign with the Broncos if he didn’t end up getting drafted.

“He actually called me twice,” Bailey told The Denver Gazette. “The first time he really brought up how I can really contribute to a winning culture and getting later into the round he called me again and that’s when he brought up the percentages of the undrafted free agents and things like that.”

Payton in the second call told Bailey about the number of undrafted players who have made 53-man rosters in his years of coaching the New Orleans Saints and Broncos and an email was sent to Bailey with some statistics related to that. In Payton’s first Denver season of 2023, undrafted free agents who made the roster were running back Jaleel McLaughlin, tight end Nate Adkins, outside linebacker Thomas Incoom and tackle Alex Palczewski.

Bailey was impressed with Payton’s push. And after the draft he agreed to sign with the Broncos a deal in which he receives a $15,000 signing bonus and has $125,000 his contract guaranteed.

“It felt amazing just knowing that he cares for players like that, and it’s really kind of like he really wanted me,’’ Bailey said of Payton’s two calls.

Bailey will report Thursday along with other rookies for next weekend’s rookie minicamp. The Broncos hope he can develop into the type of player they had sought, with general manager George Paton having said in March they “would like to get a little more athletic at the linebacker position for coverage range.”

Bailey believes he can fit that bill.

“Absolutely. A thousand percent,’’ he said. “That’s another facet that led to my decision was the need for a linebacker down there in Denver. (Inside linebackers coach Greg) Manusky really was kind of egging me on to try to fill that role and try to come in and contribute to the team immediately.”

Bailey said the Broncos had been in constant communication with him since the Hula Bowl on Jan. 13. Bailey said it “was always the dream” to get drafted but he’s pleased with the situation he has ended up in Denver.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Bailey, a native of Sacramento, Calif., was named second-team All-Mountain West last season at Fresno State. Entering the draft, he was rated the No. 38 linebacker prospect by analyst Dane Brugler.

Bailey had 82 tackles in 2023, including five for loss and 2 ½ sacks along with three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He was Defensive MVP in the Bulldogs’ 37-10 win over New Mexico State in the New Mexico Bowl, with eight tackles, including one for loss.

Bailey is the son of Lester Bailey, and Diana Tapa, a native of Tonga. Bailey, who has six older siblings, was on the watch list last season for Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.

“It means a lot,’’ Bailey said of his Polynesian heritage. “Just growing up family based, that’s something that every Polynesian household really appreciates.”

Now, Bailey is excited to join the Broncos.

“I’m going to be a hard-working guy, willing to learn, willing to do whatever it takes to help contribute to the team,’’ he said. “Obviously, I feel like my main positive could be like an athletic linebacker who’s able to cover anyone, really anyone you can put in front of me.”

Bailey said he also was contacted by Carolina, Cincinnati and Minnesota about signing as a free agent. But did he get the same treatment from those teams that he did by Payton calling?

“No,’’ he said. “I didn’t talk to their head coaches.”