Denver Broncos 16-player practice squad predictions
Defense
There will be plenty of players the Denver Broncos just let go of who will be high on their priority list for the practice squad.
It might be tough for some of these players to clear waivers considering some of their coaching connections around the league.
DL: DeShawn Williams/Someone from another team
EDGE: Justin Hollins, Derrek Tuszka
LB: Josh Watson, someone from another team
CB: De’Vante Bausby, someone from another team
S: PJ Locke, Alijah Holder
The Broncos might have a hard time bringing back Justin Hollins and De’Vante Bausby. Both players were right in the 53-55 range in terms of the overall roster but just weren’t where the Broncos needed them right now to be on the initial 53.
Hollins was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and the Broncos like him as an overall athlete but he has yet to find his perfect fit. It could be tough for him to get past the LA Rams on waivers.
The same could be said for Josh Watson, who was on the active roster with a special teams role in 2019.
De’Vante Bausby should have some suitors based on his 2019 tape, but will teams be scared off by his spine injury last year and subsequent injury time in camp? It might not be too tough for the Broncos to get him back, but we’ll see.
It seems likely that all of Tuszka, Locke, and Holder will make their way back to Denver.
I think the Broncos will have to look outside of Denver for another defensive lineman to stash on the practice squad. Right now, the only in-house option would be DeShawn Williams. He’s certainly an option for the practice squad, but the Broncos may prefer to scour the wire or other veteran options.
The Broncos should also be looking for linebacker or cornerback help they can add to the practice squad.
What about a veteran option for one or both? Prince Amukamara is available and his name has been thrown out there. It would be intriguing to have both Bausby and Amukamara on the practice squad while you let the young guys earn their stripes out on the field.
One way or another, the Broncos should obviously emphasize bringing back their own guys, but they shouldn’t shy away from the possibility of adding other players from around the league either, especially if they were just on another team.
John Elway said at his Saturday press conference that players who have been with other teams would basically only need two days to get out onto the field for a new team, and since the Broncos play on Monday Night Football, they don’t report until Tuesday anyway.
dark. Next. Biggest developments from 2020 roster cuts
Even as much as the Broncos would like to keep their own guys, there will be help needed from the outside, and fixed salaries for players — veterans or not — help make the option of looking out of house even more appealing.