5 Denver Broncos players tumbling down the depth chart in preseason

5. Derrek Tuszka, EDGE

At most, the Denver Broncos will probably keep five edge rushers on their final 53-man roster. Players at the bottom of the depth chart right now have the chance to impress enough to the point that they might be able to sneak onto the practice squad.

The team’s initial depth chart revealed that rookie Jonathon Cooper has emerged as the favorite to be the fourth edge on the depth chart behind stars Von Miller and Bradley Chubb as well as top reserve Malik Reed.

The team’s depth off the edge was bad enough in 2020 that they signed Anthony Chickillo, who ended up playing far too many snaps for where his abilities are or were at.

Now, the Denver Broncos have at least some intriguing depth off the edge in the form of youth with potential. Not only is Jonathon Cooper a fascinating option, but the team has undrafted rookie Andre Mintze who made a lot of plays in his preseason debut.

Behind those guys, however, is 2020 seventh-round pick Derrek Tuszka. It was Tuszka’s lack of ideal physical development in 2020 that led to the signing of Chickillo.

Tuszka had a couple of really good reps in his first NFL preseason action, which was really some of his first on-field, full-speed action that we’ve seen in a non-special teams role.

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Entering the 2021 offseason, Tuszka sort of inherited the fourth edge spot on the depth chart, but he’s now fifth at best and maybe sixth behind both Cooper and Mintze.