Denver Broncos: Players who will be really tough to cut in 2020

6. Josey Jewell, LB

At this time a year ago, Josey Jewell was in line to start alongside Todd Davis for the Broncos at inside linebacker, and that’s what he did to open the season.

Jewell was once one of the premier linebackers in college football at the University of Iowa, where he was not only a playmaker in the run game but in coverage as well.

There were questions about whether Jewell’s athleticism would be an issue as he got to the NFL level, and through two seasons, they have proven to be, unfortunately.

Jewell has still made some nice plays for the Broncos, but he was replaced in the starting lineup by Alexander Johnson last year, and Johnson had a tremendous season for Denver and has become a key building block for the defense.

Is Jewell strong enough on special teams to hold off players like rookie Justin Strnad and Josh Watson, one of the 2019 UDFAs the team really likes?

All six of the linebackers on the Broncos’ roster right now have legitimate arguments for a roster spot in 2020, and if the Broncos go with higher upside options, Jewell could be a really tough cut for this team as a fourth-round pick in 2018.