Earlier in the week, I released a post-training camp 53-man roster projection for the Broncos. Well, things have changed since then. First, I was made aware of a new injured reserve rule (thanks, Ozark!), which clears a few things up, and now, the Denver Broncos traded away wide receiver Devaughn Vele. All these things made […]
Earlier in the week, I released a post-training camp 53-man roster projection for the Broncos. Well, things have changed since then. First, I was made aware of a new injured reserve rule (thanks, Ozark!), which clears a few things up, and now, the Denver Broncos traded away wide receiver Devaughn Vele. All these things made that projection fairly useless, so why not do another?
In this 53-man roster projection, I will have the Broncos using their two injured reserve slots on tight end Nate Adkins and linebacker Drew Sanders. Both are expected to land on the IR to start the season, and this will open up two extra roster spots for the Broncos. I’ll also explore how the Broncos could construct their 53-man roster after the Vele trade.
QUARTERBACK(2)
Made the team: Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham
Cut: Sam Ehlinger
Nothing surprising here. Bo Nix is your starter and is coming off a great joint practice with the Cardinals, and backup Jarrett Stidham has been absolutely dealing as the backup. Ehlinger has been solid, too, but only carrying two quarterbacks makes sense for the roster construction, and they will try to sneak him onto the practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (4)
Made the team: J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Tyler Badie
Cut: Blake Watson, Audric Estime, Adam Prentice, and Michael Burton
J.K. Dobbins and rookie R.J. Harvey are your starters, and I believe Jaleel McLaughlin will be your RB3. After that, is where things could get interesting. I have Tyler Badie making the team because he has looked like the best all-around back of the group. However, he has cleared waivers three separate times in his career and most likely would be able to do it again. You could waive him and keep either Blake Watson or Audric Estime on the 53-man roster and no risk them to waivers.
I’m personally not worried about that. I believe Badie will make the 53, and he has earned it, while Blake Watson will make the practice squad. I don’t think Estime has a future with the team, and I think he’ll either be traded or waived and be on another roster come week one.
As for the fullbacks, I don’t think any of them make the 53-man roster. Michael Burton is dealing with a hamstring injury, and the team just signed Adam Prentice. One or both of them will be on the practice squad come week one.
WIDE RECEIVER(6)
Made the team: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Trent Sherfield Sr., and Courtney Jackson
Cut: A.T. Perry, Michael Bandy, Kyrese Rowan, Jerjuan Newton, and Joaquin Davis
With Vele traded to the Saints, it changes things a bit for the Broncos at the wide receiver position. Sutton, Mims, Franklin, Bryant, and Sherfield are all obviously making the roster. However, it does open up a spot for one of the other receivers on the roster. They could just roll with five receivers, but I think they’ll carry six on the 53-man roster.
I have undrafted rookie wide receiver Courtney Jackson making the 53-man roster now. He has stood out to me during the preseason games, looks explosive as a returner, and can make plays in space. Jackson appears to be the backup returner behind the All-Pro Mims and could be active on gamedays. With Mims having a larger role on offense, we could see his special teams work scaled back just a little bit and allow Jackson to take over those duties.
That’s the direction I think they could go, but they have options. Joaquin Davis is a size, speed, and traits project that they may not want to hit waivers. So, instead of keeping Jackson on the 53, they could hope to get him to their practice squad and keep the freaky athlete on the active roster. A.T. Perry, Bandy, Newton, and even Rowan all have a shot to stick around as well. It’s still a deep and talented group, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.
TIGHT END(4)
Made the team: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Caleb Lohner
Cut: Caden Prieskorn
Engram is your ‘Joker’ while Trautman is your inline traditional tight end. After that is where things get interesting. Nate Adkins is starting the year on the injured reserve, which leaves a bit of a hole in their tight end room.
Right now, I have Lucas Krull making the team, but I would not be shocked if they added a tight end instead, either via trade, waivers, or signing. As for Lohner, I think he is getting the Frank Crum treatment. Could he clear waivers? Probably, but I am not sure if Payton will risk it. Caden Prieskorn will likely clear waivers and land on the Broncos practice squad.
OL(9)
Made the team: Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, Alex Forsyth, and Frank Crum
Cut: Marques Cox, Will Sherman, Calvin Throckmorton, Joe Michalski, Clay Webb, and Xavier Truss
No real surprises here. We’ll see if Frank Crum makes the 53 again, but right now, I think he does. Outside of that, it looks as expected.
With Nick Garguilo going down with a serious lower-body injury, it did hurt the depth of this room. Wouldn’t rule out them adding another interior linemen if possible during cuts. As for the practice squad candidates, I would guess Webb and Truss are the leading candidates for those spots, along with the veteran Throckmorton.
IDL(6)
Made the team: Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Sai’vion Jones, and Jordan Jackson
Cut: Eyioma Uwazurike, Jordan Miller, and Kristian Williams
I am still leaning toward Jordan Jackson over Uwazruike. I know he has the size, athleticism, and draft pedigree, but I am not seeing it. They like Jackson; he made the 53-man roster last season, and I believe he earned that spot again this season in a deeper IDL room.
Uwazruike and Miller would both be leading practice squad candidates in this scenario.
EDGE(5)
Made the team: Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson
Cut: Andrew Farmer and Garrett Nelson
All five of these edge rushers looked good in the preseason and give the Broncos a talented and very deep pass-rushing unit. No real surprises here.
LINEBACKER(5)
Made the team: Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Levelle Bailey, and Jordan Turner
Cut: Garret Wallow and Karene Reid
Veterans Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton are your starters, Justin Strnad is your core special teamer, and Levelle Bailey has simply earned a roster spot. The surprise here in undrafted rookie linebacker Jordan Turner making the 53-man roster. He has looked good during the preseason and gives the team some added depth behind veterans Greenlaw and Singelton.
On the practice squad side of things, I have undrafted rookie Karene Reid being added to that group.
CORNERBACK(5)
Made the team: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Ja’Quan McMillian, and Kris Abrams-Draine
Cut: Damarri Mathis, Jaden Robinson, Joshua Pickett, Quinton Newsome, Micah Abraham, and Taylor Reese
The Broncos’ cornerback room is talented, deep, and, like the wide receiver room, could see a player moved to fill a weakness elsewhere on the roster. Not saying it should or will happen, but if they did go that route, those two positions are the candidates for that.
As for the players, PS2 is CB1 (For the Broncos and in the NFL), Moss has had a strong summer, rookie Jahdae Barron has looked promising, veteran slot corner Ja’Quan McMillian brings experience, and second-year corner Kris Abrams-Draine continues to look really good.
SAFETY(4)
Made the team: Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke, and JL Skinner
Cut: Devon Key, Sam Franklin, Keidron Smith, and Delarrin Turner-Yell
I originally was going to add Sam Franklin to the 53-man roster due to his special teams ability. However, I started thinking, “Who has looked better? Jordan Turner or Sam Franklin?” I cannot recall Franklin standing out to me at all, while Turner has been flying all over the field and sacking the quarterback. So, I leaned towards the rookie and believe JL Skinner can handle the special teams side of things.
I would imagine in this scenario that Franklin would be added to the practice squad.
SPECIAL TEAMS(3)
Made the team: Wil Lutz, Jeremy Crawshaw, and Mitchell Fraboni
As expected here. Just need Crawshaw to bring it all together as a punter.
Category: General Sports
