Denver Broncos final 53-man roster predictions and analysis

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Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Kalif Raymond (19) runs the ball in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

(@AricManthey – Aric Manthey)

OFFENSE

QB- 2: Siemian-Lynch

RB- 4: Anderson-Booker-Hillman-Bibbs

FB- 1: Janovich

OL- 9: Okung-Garcia-Paradis-Schofield-Stephenson
Sambrailo-Weems-Ferentz-McGovern

TE- 3: Green-Phillips-Heuerman

WR- 6: Thomas-Sanders-Norwood-Taylor-Fowler-Latimer

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Offensive Breakdown: The QB competition has ended and we have our clear cut starter heading into the season. With Trevor Siemian securing the starting gig, it’s only natural to slot rookie Paxton Lynch as the back up. Every rep that Lynch can get this year will be paramount for his long term development and I believe that he has shown enough in the preseason for the Broncos to be able to trust him as their #2 QB heading into the season.

I commend Sanchez for the way he went about preparing for the QB competition this offseason and I have nothing bad to say about the guy personally. With that said, unless he’s willing to take a significant pay cut, then there’s little reason to keep him on the roster. Aside from wanting to give Lynch more reps, Sanchez may have a better opportunity to be a #2 and potentially start games this year with another team. With Teddy Bridgewater down for the year, the Vikings become another team in the veteran QB market and you have to wonder when (not if) Sanchez will be moving on to another team for a better opportunity.

For the RB’s, I feel like this is a situation where the Broncos will try to have their cake and eat it too. Many expected Hillman or Bibbs to fight for one roster spot, but I think that both of them have shown enough to stick around. While Bibbs is the more versatile player (his ST play can’t be understated), Hillman does provide a skill set that no other back on the Broncos roster possesses. In a limited role, he could be very effective as that “speed” back. Janovich is the obvious lock because of his position and ST ability.

Like the RB group, the OL is another group where I could see one less player than I projected to make the roster. I gave them 9 at this point simply because of the injuries surrounding Sambrailo and Weems. Virgil Green has established himself as the #1 TE, so there’s nothing to debate there. The real question becomes, who is the #2 TE? With Garrett Graham heading to IR, it appears that the recently signed John Phillips and Jeff Heuerman are the two to battle for that spot. Philips is the veteran with a reputation for being a good blocker, so I would give him the advantage for the #2 job. Heuerman is a lock and the de facto #3 mainly due to his draft status. Henry Krieger-Coble has had a good preseason but he’s a good candidate for the Practice Squad.

Finally, the receiving core will have six for the second straight season. This is the deepest group of any position on offense and it’ll be easy to see why we keep so many of them. Not only are they talented, but most of them play special teams. With Latimer and Fowler nursing injuries, you have to keep receiver that can not only make plays, but give you options on Special Teams as well.

DEFENSE

DL- 7: Wolfe-Williams-Crick-Gotsis-Kilgo-Melton-Winn

OLB- 5: Miller-Ware-Barrett-Ray-Watson

ILB- 4: Marshall-Davis-Anderson-Nelson

CB- 5: Harris-Talib-Roby-Webster-Doss

S- 4: Ward-Stewart-Simmons-Parks

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Defensive Breakdown: You could make the argument that the Broncos have the talent and versatility to carry six Defensive Lineman and I see the validity in the argument. For me, I think that this position is similar to the receivers in that there’s so much talent and depth that it will be hard to let a few of them go. I could see Billy Winn possibly getting the axe but I think that they’ll hang on to him for depth reasons. The linebacker positions have been slotted and decided for quite some time now. The only exception is Dakota Watson. He has been fantastic this preseason and with his ability to play any linebacking position along with his ST play, you have to make a spot for him on the roster.

Like the linebacker core, the secondary has been mostly slotted for a while now. The only notable absence on the roster is Shiloh Keo. We have to keep in mind that he is suspended for the first two games of the season, so his presence on the roster won’t be counted for. Even when he comes back, I think it’s likely that he will be cut knowing that they can always bring him back later in the season(if they need to).

SPECIAL TEAMS

K- 1: McManus

P- 1: Dixon

LS- 1: Kreiter

Next: Cameron Parker

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Denver Broncos: Final 53-man roster predictions

By Sayre Bedinger | Sep 2, 2016

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