ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Knowshon Moreno is no longer "No-Show Moreno."

The Denver Broncos' top draft pick agreed to a five-year, $23 million contract Friday that includes $13 million in guarantees, ending an eight-day holdout.

Moreno, who rushed for 2,734 yards and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons at the University of Georgia, was the 12th overall pick and the first running back selected in the NFL draft in April.

He'll join the Broncos for his first practice Sunday afternoon. The team is taking Saturday off.

When he does make his delayed debut, Moreno shouldn't have to worry about catching any grief for missing a dozen training camp practices and a structured scrimmage at Invesco Field.

His coach said he holds no grudges and his teammates were excited for him to arrive and add some pop to an offense that has lost some of its razzle and dazzle since Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler was traded to Chicago and receiver Brandon Marshall went down with a leg injury early in training camp.

"I understand how this game works," coach Josh McDaniels said Friday while the sides were hashing out the final details of Moreno's contract. "His representatives are doing what they feel is best for him ... and we're both trying to do what's best for Knowshon and get him here as fast as we can."

While Moreno has some catching up to do, McDaniels insisted he hasn't missed his chance to win the starting tailback job.

"No. I think everybody's competing. He's missed 12 practices, so I think ... he'll earn his role after he gets here, that's the best way to say it," McDaniels said. "Whatever he does with his opportunities he has once he gets here, that will tell us where to play him and how much to play him, and that really goes for everybody."

Moreno, who joined Herschel Walker as the only Bulldog in school history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, will join a crowded Broncos backfield that includes free agents LaMont Jordan and Correll Buckhalter and second-year holdovers Peyton Hillis and Ryan Torain.

"Once he's here, we'll look forward to working with him and working him in and trying to get him as up to speed as we can get him before the first preseason game or the second preseason game or whatever that may be," McDaniels said.

Buckhalter said he welcomes Moreno's arrival even though it'll mean fewer carries for everybody.

"It's another added dimension to our offense," Buckhalter said. "We're a family in this backfield. We compete with each other, but we're still a family. We want everything we can in here to help this team win."

"This team needs everyone we can get," Hillis concurred. "He's going to be a good teammate."

The Broncos needed some good news after their scrimmage Thursday night at Invesco Field, where the largest crowd ever to witness one of their practices -- 13,402 -- was quick to show its displeasure with new quarterback Kyle Orton over two interceptions in team drills and several bad throws in the two-minute offense.

McDaniels had his quarterback's back Friday after watching the film, however.

"Kyle did fine yesterday," McDaniels insisted. "Obviously there's a couple of plays we could have had back, but he made no more mistakes certainly than anybody else did. ... So, I'm not disappointed in anybody for his performance and all of them can get better and Kyle's certainly in that group."

Still, the Broncos' practice went an hour long Friday as they corrected all the mistakes from the night before.

"We've got a long ways still to go and that's why we're in training camp," offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said.

Additional Details On Moreno

Moreno (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) claimed first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2007 and 2008 after totaling 2,734 career rushing yards on 498 carries (5.5 avg.) during his two-year career, which ranked first in the conference and sixth in the nation during that span. He finished his collegiate career ranked third in Georgia history in 100-yard games (13), fourth in rushing yards (2,734) and rushing touchdowns (30) and seventh in career yards per rush (5.5).

As a senior in 2008, Moreno started all 13 games for the Bulldogs and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s best running back) after leading the SEC and ranking 11th in the nation with 1,400 rushing yards on 250 carries (5.6 avg.). He posted 16 rushing touchdowns and 33 receptions for 392 yards (11.9 avg.) and two scores, joining Herschel Walker (1980-82) as the only players in Georgia history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in consecutive seasons.

Moreno played 13 games (6 starts) for Georgia as a redshirt freshman in 2007 and ranked second in the SEC and 23rd nationally in rushing yards, carrying 248 times for 1,334 yards (5.3 avg.) with 14 touchdowns while posting 20 receptions for 253 yards (12.6 avg.). He led all freshman running backs that year and ranked third in SEC history and second in school annals for rushing yards as a freshman.

Ending his prep career at Middletown South High School in Middletown, N.J., as the state’s all-time leader in total touchdowns (128) and scoring (782 pts.), Moreno was born on July 16, 1987, in Belford, N.J.