The Denver Broncos have had over two weeks of training camp, one game, and a good amount of time to evaluate. Here’s a new 53-man roster prediction.
The Denver Broncos are already into their third week of training camp. They’ve played one of their five preseason games.
The evaluation period is still ongoing, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen enough from players at this point in camp and in the preseason game against the Falcons to form an opinion of what the roster could look like come September.
Assembling a 53-man roster at this point is still pretty difficult. There are tight position battles yet to be decided and plenty of room yet for guys to make an impression on the coaching staff in Denver, but I want to put one together now for a couple of reasons.
First of all, to highlight guys who appear to currently be winning roster spots over other guys. Second, to look at what the roster could look like given the recent move to acquire running back Theo Riddick. Third, to highlight players who need to get back on the saddle and win their jobs back over the course of the next month.
It’s easy to forget, as much as the Broncos have already worked, that most teams are just getting going around the league, and 30 other teams have yet to even play a preseason game.
With all of that said, I want to look at the offense, defense, and special teams quickly and spend most of the time here talking about guys who are winning spots and guys who need to win them back or get things going fast.
Offense (25)
QB (3): Joe Flacco, Kevin Hogan, Drew Lock
RB (5): Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman, Theo Riddick, Khalfani Muhammad, Andy Janovich (FB)
WR (5): Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick, Juwann Winfree
TE (3): Jeff Heuerman, Noah Fant, Troy Fumagalli
OT (3): Garett Bolles, Ja’Wuan James, Elijah Wilkinson
OG (4): Dalton Risner, Ron Leary, Sam Jones, Don Barclay
C (2): Connor McGovern, Jake Brendel
In my opinion, the Broncos have some flexibility here to do some things they want. They could end up being confident in just two quarterbacks depending on how Drew Lock progresses over the next month.
If Lock doesn’t inspire confidence, they might keep Hogan around. Another scenario would involve Brett Rypien playing his way onto the active roster. So far, it looks like he’s practice squad-bound.
I’m intrigued by the option of keeping his many backs, because all offer something different.
Phillip Lindsay is your superstar. Freeman is a bell-cow. Riddick is a pass catching and after-the-catch specialist. Muhammad is a speedy player who can return kicks/punts.
I don’t love the Broncos keeping nine offensive linemen, and never really have, but it’s hard to find good help in the NFL on the offensive line. If Denver needs to free up a spot on offense, I would think either Jones, Barclay, or Brendel would be among the first to go.
Who’s fighting for a job?
RB Devontae Booker
The Broncos’ signing of Theo Riddick puts Devontae Booker squarely on the bubble. Before, Booker was the clear-cut RB3 for the Broncos but Riddick is in town to pretty much take his role.
It would shock me if Booker was on the Broncos come September at this point.
TE Jake Butt
Butt, a fifth-round pick in 2017 with huge talent, has been unable to stay healthy. He is slowly making his way back from a knee injury suffered last year, but if he gets out and shows what he can do, he could easily replace someone on this list.
I personally hope he finds a way on the team.
WRs Kelvin McKnight, Trinity Benson
McKnight and Benson have both flashed in training camp. If they continue to make plays throughout the preseason, they could force the Broncos to keep one on the active roster.
Defense (25)
DL (6): Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris, Adam Gotsis, DeMarcus Walker, Zach Kerr, Dre’Mont Jones
EDGE (5): Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Justin Hollins, Dekoda Watson, Malik Reed
ILB (4): Todd Davis, Josey Jewell, Alexander Johnson, Joe Jones
CB (5): Chris Harris Jr., Bryce Callahan, Isaac Yiadom, De’Vante Bausby, Horace Richardson
FS (3): Justin Simmons, Will Parks, Dymonte Thomas
SS (2): Kareem Jackson, Su’a Cravens
Special Teams (3)
K: Brandon McManus
P: Colby Wadman
LS: Casey Kreiter
The pressure is on for certain players in the Broncos’ defense to either start making plays or keep making plays.
I think the defensive line and top six players there are solidified.
The edge players could end up including Dekoda Watson and Malik Reed, or just one of those two guys. The inside linebacker position had six players last year, which seemed like a poor use of roster spaces. The Broncos have had some injury issues there, so perhaps they go with five.
As much as the Broncos’ starting secondary has dominated headlines, one of the more interesting battles — for the CB5 spot — has gone under the radar.
I think the top four safeties (Simmons, Jackson, Parks, Cravens) are all but assured of making the roster. The Broncos have a number of intriguing candidates to take a fifth safety spot.
Who’s fighting for a job?
LB Josh Watson
The undrafted rookie out of Colorado State has been working a ton with the first-team defense. With injuries to Todd Davis and now Joe Jones, he could sneak up on everyone and claim one of the 53.
CB Trey Johnson
Johnson had the first interception of the preseason for the Broncos and has quietly been making plays throughout training camp. Keep your eye on this guy.
S Trey Marshall, Jamal Carter, Shamarko Thomas
It doesn’t seem like anyone has made many splash plays for the Broncos at safety so far this offseason. We’ve seen some good work from Dymonte Thomas in the past, and the team once had very high hopes for Jamal Carter.
Marshall is a downhill athlete who plays with physicality, and Shamarko Thomas is a possible ace special teamer.