Denver Broncos: Alijah Holder, four others waived

New Denver Broncos general manager George Paton has made his first official roster moves.

No, it wasn’t a trade to net a new quarterback, at least not yet. Instead, he decided to trim some unnecessary fat as the team prepares for the 2021 season.

On Tuesday, the Broncos decided to part ways with defensive back Alijah Holder, defensive lineman Joel Heath, tight end Jordan Leggett, offensive lineman Darrin Paolo and wide receiver Fred Brown.

None of these players were huge contributors in recent years but all of them figured to at least get a shot to be part of the team’s training camp later this summer. Paton decided that wasn’t necessary.

Paulo was claimed on waivers after being cut by the New Orleans Saints just before the season started. He spent the year on the Broncos’ practice squad.

Leggett, a former fifth-round pick of the New York Jets, spent just a month in Denver. He was signed to a futures contract in January but the new regime, led by Paton, didn’t see him as a fit.

Heath spent four seasons with the Houston Texans before being signed by the Broncos late last year. Like Paulo and Leggett, he never played a down for the team. This summer, he chose to opt-out of the season.

Brown has been in Denver the past two seasons, mostly as a practice squad guy. He was always a bubble player to make the roster though as he did make that push and even spent some time on the 53-man roster in 2019, catching two passes.

Holder was a bit of a surprise cut as the undrafted free agent out of Stanford seemed to make strides in 2020, playing in eight games. The  Broncos used him at both safety and cornerback and it seemed he at least had some value as a practice squad guy but for him, he will have to hope he can continue his playing career elsewhere.

Though these moves won’t make shockwaves across the league it is clear that Paton wants to get in and get to business quickly on reshaping this roster.