Denver Broncos: Players on the chopping block at each position

Wide receiver: Diontae Spencer

The Denver Broncos could keep as many as seven or eight receivers on the 53-man roster in 2021.

The way things have been going lately, it wouldn’t be a shock if Kendall Hinton found his way onto the roster after being singled out by Vic Fangio as one of the most impressive players at the entire offseason program.

With Hinton’s emergence and a loaded group of young players who have been drafted in recent years, it’s going to be tough for top return specialist Diontae Spencer to make the team.

This was the issue Spencer faced when he was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2019 season when the Broncos got him off of waivers. That, at the time, was a huge addition for the Broncos who had struggled with inconsistency and poor play in the return game for years.

Spencer is going to need to carve out a clear role for himself in the offense in 2021. There is no question about it.

In two seasons with the Broncos, Spencer has just 15 receptions. It’s not like he needs to be a featured piece of the offense, but if you’re going to be taking up a 53-man roster spot, the reality for the Denver Broncos now is you can’t just be a special teams guy.

There are already three roster spots being taken up by specialists.

Perhaps the Broncos don’t see this the same way but I think Spencer clearly has to emerge as a threat for the offense, more than he’s been, to make the team in 2021.