Predicting Denver Broncos roster cuts ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
The COVID-19 pandemic already forced the Denver Broncos and every other NFL team to cut to a roster maximum of just 80 players before on-field activities started in July.
Now, it’s time for the Denver Broncos and all 31 other teams to make difficult decisions about which players to cut or move off of their 80-player roster as they whittle it down to just 53 before the start of the 2020 regular season.
By Saturday afternoon, the Denver Broncos will have a 53-man roster, but by Sunday afternoon, they will also have up to 16 guys added back to their practice squad. It’s not out of the realm of possibility given the current climate of everything that the majority of NFL teams will prefer to have their own guys return to the practice squad when the time comes, meaning we could see 69 of these 80 players (or more) stay with the Broncos one way or another.
More likely, there will be roster movement in the form of trades, waiver claims, and possibly even some veteran free agent moves we don’t know of just yet.
I put together a list of players currently on the Broncos’ roster I think other teams will want to trade for, and if the choice for John Elway is to either cut or trade these guys, hopefully the Broncos can get something in return instead.
This time of year, there are always some surprise trades and we’ve recently seen one major domino fall with Yannick Ngakoue heading to the Minnesota Vikings. There are also some big-name veterans still available in free agency like Jadeveon Clowney, and potentially Riley Reiff very soon.
The Denver Broncos have assembled a roster which, among the 80 players currently in uniform, looks to have more than 53 guys who will be on active NFL rosters come time for the start of the regular season, so cuts will be difficult this year.
We’re going to try and predict that with just days remaining before Elway, Vic Fangio, and the Denver Broncos brain trust have to get together to make moves.
Quarterback
Keep: Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel (2, 2/53)
Cut: Brett Rypien
With practice squad rules the way they are in 2020, the Denver Broncos should not be keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster. They will likely re-add Brett Rypien to the practice squad because he spent the offseason learning the system, but it’s possible that Rypien or some fourth quarterback could come in and be an ’emergency’ QB for the Broncos in 2020.
I have a list of players I would consider for that as well, and I’m sure there are other/more options out there that would work.
Ultimately, keeping two active roster quarterbacks is the most sensible way to go since Rypien didn’t have the preseason to make himself ‘uncuttable’.
Special Teams
Keep: Brandon McManus, Sam Martin, Jacob Bobenmoyer (3, 5/53)
Cut: None
Jacob Bobenmoyer won the thrilling long snapper battle with Wes Farnsworth, who has already been released by the Broncos.
This unit is already set in stone before final cuts and there won’t be any drama here.
Running Back
Keep: Phillip Lindsay, Melvin Gordon, Royce Freeman, Andrew Beck (FB/TE) (4, 9/53)
Cut: LeVante Bellamy, Jeremy Cox
I think it’s important to point out that the Denver Broncos’ official roster lists Andrew Beck as a FB/TE, and in that order.
It could mean absolutely nothing, it could just be alphabetical, or it could be that the team views him as a fullback first, tight end second.
If the latter is the case, then Beck’s roster status should not be in jeopardy as really the only fullback on the team. Jeremy Cox, who has been listed as a fullback by some outlets and has gotten a little bit of work there from the Broncos, is more of a running back than a fullback.
I think the Broncos will do everything they can to get LeVante Bellamy on the practice squad, and they could look to add yet another running back to the practice squad with the expanded practice squad numbers.
Unless some team makes Denver an offer they can’t refuse for Royce Freeman, I think the top three here are set and classifying Beck as a fullback first allows you to keep four (other) tight ends on the roster.
Wide Receivers
Keep: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, KJ Hamler, DaeSean Hamilton, Tyrie Cleveland, Diontae Spencer (7, 16/53)
Cut/IR: Fred Brown, Trinity Benson, Kendall Hinton, Cody White, Juwann Winfree (IR)
We’re already looking heavy on the offensive skill players, but it’s necessary.
Tim Patrick, Tyrie Cleveland, and Diontae Spencer will all play key roles on special teams, and KJ Hamler should when he gets healthy as well.
The Broncos will be forced to keep seven wide receivers on their initial roster because of Hamler’s current hamstring issue and because they didn’t have preseason to see which players are really going to emerge as special teamers.
Special teams are part of the reason the Broncos drafted Tyrie Cleveland in the first place, and with how badly they struggled last year with their coverage units, he is a much bigger addition than people realize.
Diontae Spencer gets the nod for the seventh spot as the primary return specialist with really no alternatives elsewhere on the roster to take his place.
It’s going to be tough to make cuts here, especially if the Broncos decide to part ways with Juwann Winfree, but a number of these guys (at least two) should be back on the practice squad.
Tight End
Keep: Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, Albert Okwuegbunam, Jake Butt (4, 20/53)
Cut/IR/Trade: Austin Fort (IR), Troy Fumagalli (IR/Trade)
The tremendous story of Jake Butt should continue into the 2020 regular season.
I don’t think any of Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, or Albert Okwuegbunam have caused the Broncos to question their active roster status, but the tough move here is going to be with Troy Fumagalli.
Fumagalli has missed a few days with a medical issue in his abdomen, so he has gone from roster candidate or possible trade candidate to IR candidate, which is unfortunate.
If his injury is not long-term, the Broncos could waive/injured Fumagalli and try to stash him on the practice squad.
Austin Fort should go to IR for the second straight year and hopefully he can stay healthy in the 2021 offseason.
It may seem superfluous for the Broncos to keep four tight ends and Andrew Beck elsewhere on the roster, but you’ve got to keep your best 53 and with the way the Broncos have struggled to both score points and stay healthy at the tight end position in recent years, the depth will undoubtedly be necessary.
Offensive Line
Keep: Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry, Graham Glasgow, Elijah Wilkinson, Demar Dotson, Austin Schlottmann, Netane Muti, Calvin Anderson (9, 29/53)
Cut: Jake Rodgers, Tyler Jones, Hunter Watts, Quinn Bailey, Patrick Morris, Darrin Paulo
The NFL is allowing for two additional players to be on the gameday roster starting in 2020 (from 46 to 48) and one of those spots has to be dedicated to the offensive line.
For that reason, it makes sense that teams might consider keeping nine linemen instead of eight this year on the active roster.
Last year, the Broncos kept just eight going into September but I like this group of nine with two guys who have developmental starter potential.
One surprise cut on here is Patrick Morris, who could be kept around if the team likes him as a backup guard, but with Graham Glasgow’s versatility to play center along with Risner’s ability to play there in a pinch, the Broncos have four guys who can snap between Cushenberry, Glasgow, Schlottmann, and Risner.
The tackles are an interesting group here with Anderson the guy the Broncos maybe buy into as someone who can contribute beyond 2020.
Will the team try to sneak Netane Muti to the practice squad? He might have been too well-liked in the pre-draft process by other teams to do that so he might get the old 53-man roster redshirt in 2020.
Defensive Line
Keep: Jurrell Casey, Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell, Dre’Mont Jones, McTelvin Agim, Christian Covington (6, 35/53)
Cut/Trade: DeMarcus Walker (trade), DeShawn Williams
There will be a tough call here between DeMarcus Walker and Christian Covington for the sixth and likely final defensive line spot on the Denver Broncos’ roster.
Covington was brought in as a free agent with the team knowing full well what both he and Walker bring to the table, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see another team take a shot on Walker’s upside in a trade.
Covington has a longer track record of consistent production than Walker does at this point, and with Walker entering a contract year, the Broncos may prefer that more proven track record.
As a former second-round pick, some team may take a shot on Walker, but if he were to hit waivers and clear, he would also be eligible for the practice squad in 2020.
Edge Rushers
Keep: Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Jeremiah Attaochu, Malik Reed (4, 39/53)
Cut/Trade: Derrek Tuszka, Justin Hollins (trade), Malik Carney
This position group has really come into focus the longer training camp has dragged on.
After coming out of the stadium practice with discomfort in his knee, Bradley Chubb has still not practiced and that has become more than a little concerning.
Vic Fangio reassured everyone that he never said Chubb was 100 percent or anything like that, and that this is simply where the Broncos thought he would be at this point.
If Chubb is not fully healthy to start the season, it won’t be entirely unexpected, but if he’s not feeling good about his knee or is experiencing unexpected discomfort in his knee, the Broncos should have Jadeveon Clowney on the horn.
Jeremiah Attaochu looks like the clear number three edge and Malik Reed looks like the clear number four.
This could make it tough for Derrek Tuszka to crack the initial roster but after converting from defensive end at North Dakota State, the practice squad might be his best option initially anyway.
Justin Hollins would be another really tough cut for the Broncos but Denver could also look to trade him. They moved him from the outside to inside linebacker after Justin Strnad’s injury, only to sign Mark Barron in free agency.
They could try to sneak him onto the practice squad as well but some team would take a shot on his athletic traits.
Linebacker
Keep: Alexander Johnson, Todd Davis, Josey Jewell, Mark Barron (4, 43/53)
Cut: Joe Jones, Josh Watson
The Denver Broncos could very easily keep five linebackers on the active roster heading into week one with the injuries they have suffered, but this group of guys will be the ones playing the majority of snaps defensively.
Josey Jewell has cemented himself as a key special teams player, at the very least, but will the Broncos need a second linebacker whose primary role is on special teams? That’s very possible and if that’s the case, that is obviously Joe Jones’ bread and butter.
It would be a shame if the Broncos had to replace Justin Strnad by keeping two guys since Strnad was expected to play a role in the nickel defense as well as on special teams, but that could be on the horizon.
If they require another linebacker for special teams, this is one prediction that could change and that spot could go to either Jones or Watson.
Defensive Backs
Cornerback
Keep: AJ Bouye, Bryce Callahan, Isaac Yiadom, Davontae Harris, De’Vante Bausby, Michael Ojemudia (6, 49/53)
Cut: Duke Dawson, Essang Bassey
The cream has risen to the top at this position group. It would be a surprise at this point if Duke Dawson or Essang Bassey made the final roster based on what we’ve heard coming out of training camp not only regarding their performance but the other players who are contending for those top spots on the depth chart.
This is a position group — the defensive backfield as a whole — where it would not be surprising to see the team look for depth via trade, free agency, or waivers.
Safety
Keep: Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Trey Marshall, Alijah Holder (4, 53/53)
Cut: Douglas Coleman III, PJ Locke
Even though he’s missed some time with injuries, it sounds like Alijah Holder has very possibly won himself a roster spot as a key backup in the secondary and special teams player.
The top three safeties on the roster are set in stone at this point. Trey Marshall has quietly had a good camp after the Broncos put plenty of faith in him by not really bringing anyone else in.
Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson are obviously the top safety duo in the NFL right now, but the backups here are questionable at the very least.
Coleman and Locke are both practice squad candidates right now.