Denver Broncos: 6 players who could be surprise cuts in 2020

4. Josey Jewell, LB

As I’m writing this article up, the Denver Broncos made a trade for Austin Calitro.

You typically don’t make trades for players at this juncture who aren’t going to make your final roster, and if Calitro is making the team, it could spell doom for former fourth-round pick Josey Jewell.

With Todd Davis’ health rapidly improving, the Broncos appear on track for an opening day lineup that includes Davis, Alexander Johnson, and now Mark Barron in the nickel/dime role.

The Denver Broncos could very well choose to keep more than four inside linebackers on their roster, but they could also put someone on the practice squad like Josh Watson and protect him from other teams.

Josey Jewell was a fourth-round pick for a different defensive regime, and he was benched in favor of Alexander Johnson last season. He wants to start, and understandably so, but he hasn’t translated well yet in the coverage department.

If the Broncos want to keep him for special teams value, that’s great, but Calitro has just as much regular-season experience as Jewell playing defense and he is also good at special teams.