NFL Adds Two Spots to Practice Squad, Broncos Benefit

Aug 19, 2014; Englewood, CO, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage (3) and Denver Broncos quarterback Bryn Renner (9) during scrimmage at the Broncos Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With one of the deepest rosters in the league, the Broncos will take any additional roster capacity the NFL will give them. Thanks to a new — and much needed — development, the dream has become a reality as it was announced on Tuesday that all NFL rosters will now have 10 spots instead of just eight.

This opens 64 jobs around the league that weren’t there before, a step in the right direction, although with as many injuries as we see in any given year, it would be great to see rosters increase as a whole.

Still, it’s great to hear that the NFL is finally adding spots to rosters, and it couldn’t come at a better time for the Broncos, who like I said have one of the best, most well-rounded rosters in the entire NFL.

Even with just two additional spots, the Broncos will now be allowed 63 players between the active roster and the practice squad, and whatever other guys end up on injured reserve or any other reserve roster (hopefully none).

I can say with confidence that the Broncos have 63 players you’d like to see stick around, but having those two extra spots allows the Broncos some flexibility on the waiver wire if they do some scouting around the league and find a player they like on the open market.

Every single year, the Broncos have someone from their practice squad come up to the active roster and play some kind of role. In fact, the guy starting in place of Danny Trevathan — linebacker Brandon Marshall — was originally signed to the Broncos’ practice squad last year.

It’s a very useful tool for NFL teams to develop young guys, and for the Broncos, it will keep some intriguing prospects in-house and also allow them to look outside their own roster for even more depth. Guys like John Boyett popped up on the practice squad last year after being drafted by other teams. When teams give up on players, it’s an opportunity for the Broncos to dig up their scouting notes and essentially add additional draft picks from recent years.

I love this move, even if it’s just two players.