The Denver Broncos have less than one week to decide on their final 53-man roster. Assuming no one is traded, what could the team look like week one?
The Denver Broncos have just one preseason game remaining in 2021 against the Los Angeles Rams, and it will be the first time in a very long time that fans of the team will be able to be at the stadium, in person, watching the Denver Broncos play football. Preseason or not, quarterback battle or not, that is going to be an electric atmosphere.
The Denver Broncos have probably got a pretty good idea at this point of which players will make up the majority of their 53-man roster. The 80 current players on the team should make up the majority of the 79 total players that are allowed on the roster at any given time with 16 practice squad spots.
Of those 16 practice squad spots, teams are allowed to carry up to six guys with basically vested veteran status, which hasn’t always been the case.
The Broncos could also carry some players onto the initial 53-man roster and then make some procedural moves to place them on short-term IR, possibly with guys like Michael Ojemudia who is expected to miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
For the time being, we should have a pretty good idea of a majority of the 53 players the Denver Broncos want to keep. Let’s look through the roster and some of the latest rumors floating around…
Denver Broncos latest 53-man roster predictions and rumors
Quarterbacks – 2 (2/53)
- Drew Lock
- Teddy Bridgewater
This would obviously mean the team saying goodbye, at least temporarily, to Brett Rypien. Rypien has been solid for the team and even made some really nice plays in spot duty during the 2020 season. He seems to be the quintessential long-term backup option and is a good guy to have in the quarterback room regardless of whether he’s on the 53-man roster or practice squad.
With a 16-player practice squad, Rypien is an ideal candidate to take one of those spots.
The bigger question here is whether the Broncos will be starting Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater, something we still don’t know with just over two weeks before the start of the NFL’s regular season.
Specialists – 3 (5/53)
- Brandon McManus (K)
- Sam Martin (P)
- Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
There are no surprises here as the Denver Broncos didn’t have any competition at training camp for any of these players.
They’ll all be expected to be among the best at their positions in 2021 as a result of that.
Running Back – 4 (9/53)
- Melvin Gordon
- Javonte Williams
- Mike Boone
- Royce Freeman
For now, Royce Freeman has worked his way back onto the 53-man roster projection for the Denver Broncos.
The injury Mike Boone suffered against the Minnesota Vikings in joint practices may have temporarily cost the Denver Broncos one of their 53 roster spots with Freeman being an ideal trade candidate before that.
The Los Angeles Rams figured to be a prime landing spot for Freeman after the injury to Cam Akers, but they just recently traded for Sony Michel of the New England Patriots.
Michel went for a fourth-round pick, so if there is any other team around the league still willing to pay a comparable price, the Denver Broncos might just try to get by with what they’ve got and still trade Freeman.
For now, it seems like he’s destined to be on the opening-day roster against the New York Giants.
When Mike Boone gets healthy, what then?
That will be fascinating to see at that point. The Broncos do have the option of carrying just three running backs into the regular season (Gordon, Williams, Boone) and scouring waivers for an emergency back with the idea that Damarea Crockett or even newcomer Stevie Scott III could be a fill-in if need be.
Wide Receivers – 7 (16/53)
- Courtland Sutton
- Jerry Jeudy
- KJ Hamler
- Tim Patrick
- Trinity Benson
- Tyrie Cleveland
- Diontae Spencer
If the Denver Broncos have yet to be convinced that anyone besides Diontae Spencer is a capable return option for the 2021 season, he’s a lock for the 53-man roster despite his lack of contributions offensively.
This would essentially give the Denver Broncos four specialists going into the 2021 season, a luxury that could only be justified by Spencer really proving to be an explosive threat in the return game every time he touches the ball.
To this point, he has undoubtedly been solid in that regard with the occasional huge burst.
The other major question mark here is the future of Tim Patrick. Patrick has quietly been held out of most of training camp with an injury, but has recently rejoined practices.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Denver Broncos were keeping him out of practices as teams call about his availability.
Given the emergence this year of KJ Hamler and Jerry Jeudy, as well as the development of other players like Trinity Benson, the time could be right to trade a guy like Patrick.
Trinity Benson has played so well in training camp and preseason games that it would be nearly impossible to justify cutting him again.
Tyrie Cleveland has been slightly disappointing this year so far, but the team still really likes him and his ability to contribute on special teams, where they certainly need as much help as they can get.
If Tim Patrick is traded, I think Seth Williams is the obvious next choice to be among the seven here. Kendall Hinton should be on the practice squad again and could continue to work his way onto the active roster as a full-time receiver.
At this point, you’d be sitting on pins and needles waiting to see if Williams clears waivers. This is such a tough choice between winning in the present (keeping Tim Patrick) or putting faith in your young guys and focusing one eye on the future (trading Tim Patrick).
George Paton has tough choices ahead at this position group.
Tight End – 4 (20/53)
- Noah Fant
- Albert Okwuegbunam
- Eric Saubert
- Andrew Beck (FB/TE)
The top two positions are solidified here with Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam. Fant, at the time of this writing, is taking it easy on a leg issue that Vic Fangio “doesn’t believe” to be serious.
Meanwhile, Okwuegbunam is getting healthier every day and reportedly caught a 60-yard bomb from Drew Lock at a recent practice.
You love to see it.
Eric Saubert seems to have really solidified himself as the Broncos’ TE3 and even got a little media session after Tuesday’s practice. He is obviously a really athletic player who can help the Denver Broncos as an in-line player and receiver.
Andrew Beck may be the biggest benefactor of Pat Shurmur’s apparent epiphany that the fullback position should be making a comeback with how effective his quarterbacks can be off of play-action and run-action.
If that hadn’t been clear at this point, I don’t think we would have necessarily seen Beck on the final roster, and I think he’s been pushed rather hard by rookie free agent Adam Prentice. Prentice, for the time being, should be considered an ideal practice squad candidate, along with fellow undrafted rookie Shaun Beyer.
Offensive Line – 8 (28/53)
- Garett Bolles
- Dalton Risner
- Lloyd Cushenberry III
- Graham Glasgow
- Bobby Massie
- Calvin Anderson
- Netane Muti
- Quinn Meinerz
There are four linemen who are solidified in their starting spots at this point (Bolles, Risner, Cushenberry, Glasgow) who are in no danger of being cut, though if the team loves what Netane Muti or Quinn Meinerz have been doing so far in preseason action, they could trade him.
That seems like a very remote possibility and unlikely at this point, because right now the Broncos have really enviable depth on the interior offensive line — five starters or eventual starters and only three spots. We may re-evaluate that spot in 2022.
At tackle, Garett Bolles is a lock along with Calvin Anderson and Bobby Massie, from what we’ve seen in terms of reps being divided out.
The big ‘surprise’ cut here would be Cameron Fleming, who would be a great practice squad addition if he’s open to that idea. He would obviously get to keep his $1 million guaranteed cash from the Broncos, but a different weekly check than his previously agreed to $320,000 roster bonus. And yes, he is eligible. The NFL is keeping the same rules it had in 2020 when up to six veteran players could be on your practice squad.
If the Broncos could get Fleming and perhaps another couple of bodies onto the practice squad, you obviously have plenty of depth.
If Calvin Anderson is named the starting right tackle and Garett Bolles is injured, you can just slide Anderson to the left side and put Massie in at right tackle.
Defensive Line – 6 (34/53)
- Shelby Harris
- Dre’Mont Jones
- Mike Purcell
- DeShawn Williams
- Shamar Stephen
- McTelvin Agim
There is not a whole lot to say about this position group, frankly.
I wonder if the Denver Broncos would be looking into ways they could possibly add a veteran or two to the practice squad after roster cuts are official.
There are also players like Geno Atkins out there if they are interested in making a bigger splash.
One way or another, I would like to see the Denver Broncos upgrade their depth here, and veteran practice squad additions could be the way to go. Nobody is likely to take a 53-man roster spot from any of these six guys at this point in time, and they’re all healthy.
Seventh-round pick Marquiss Spencer is a very likely practice squad addition who we haven’t heard much from so far in preseason play.
Isaiah Mack and Jonathan Harris have gotten quite a bit of work in preseason action, but neither has made enough of an impression to make the roster.
Linebackers – 8 (42/53)
Off-Ball Linebackers
- Alexander Johnson
- Josey Jewell
- Justin Strnad
- Baron Browning
As is the case with Tim Patrick right now, I’m not so sure the Denver Broncos aren’t listening to offers on Alexander Johnson.
Justin Strnad looks ready to start, the team obviously likes Baron Browning, and there are players available that could play in a pinch still on the open market like Nathan Gerry, KJ Wright, and Reuben Foster.
Johnson is a very capable player who makes sense in a one-year vacuum, but it all depends on what the Denver Broncos want to see out of Justin Strnad this year.
If Johnson is kept and no changes are made here, I think the Denver Broncos will look into the aforementioned names and other cuts around the league for other bodies to bring onto the practice squad in case special teams go haywire.
Curtis Robinson, a priority free agent out of Stanford this year, seems to have some favor with the coaching staff and has done a solid job through two preseason games. With his ridiculous athletic profile, he’s an obvious practice squad candidate.
Edge Rushers
- Von Miller
- Bradley Chubb
- Malik Reed
- Jonathon Cooper
Jonathon Cooper has won the fourth EDGE spot for the Denver Broncos, but will they keep four or five here?
That could depend on what happens with the wide receiver position or with guys like Royce Freeman and how the Broncos budget other roster spots.
Andre Mintze and Derrek Tuszka have both made strong cases and should be considered ideal practice squad candidates if they are cut. Mintze was one of the team’s most prized undrafted players and he certainly looked the part in the first preseason game.
Barring some team blowing George Paton away with a trade offer for Malik Reed, the top four at this position are set.
Cornerbacks – 6 (48/53)
- Ronald Darby
- Kyle Fuller
- Pat Surtain II
- Bryce Callahan
- Michael Ojemudia
- Saivion Smith
Along with Tim Patrick and Alexander Johnson, don’t be surprised if Bryce Callahan’s name comes up in trade discussions in the next week.
Callahan was outstanding last year but none of his 2021 salary is guaranteed and he’s been a bit of a liability in terms of his injury issues in recent years.
The only issue with trading Callahan is, who replaces him?
It could very well be Essang Bassey, who has been working his way back from a knee injury and could come off the PUP at any moment.
If Bassey comes off the PUP, I think he is the CB6 and maybe CB5 to open the season with Michael Ojemudia now out for close to two months with a hamstring injury.
Nate Hairston has played well enough to earn a roster spot, which he very well could get after initial cuts are made given Ojemudia’s injury.
The Broncos also seem to like what they have seen from Saivion Smith, who is one of the newest players on the team yet hasn’t been in the first couple waves of cuts. He’s also got some chemistry and rapport with Pat Surtain II going back to their days together at Alabama.
Another advantage for Smith — his contract. Nate Hairston is 27 and on a veteran minimum deal. After the 2021 season, he would be an unrestricted free agent. Smith is still just 23, and would be an exclusive rights free agent after the 2021 season.
Kary Vincent Jr. has also made a strong case for the active roster, but he’s still pretty raw and might be a ways behind even Bassey at this point. He is an ideal practice squad type if the Broncos can get him there.
So, you go with this group initially, and possibly factor in a player like Bassey or maybe Hairston after you put Ojemudia on temporary IR.
Safety – 5 (53/53)
- Justin Simmons
- Kareem Jackson
- PJ Locke
- Caden Sterns
- Jamar Johnson
I will admit, I sort of made sure this roster projection included Jamar Johnson because his potential is too good to let hit waivers.
The Broncos did that last year with Justin Hollins, who now looks like he’s going to be a key piece of the Los Angeles Rams’ defense.
Johnson has tremendous upside and has shown his ability to make plays in coverage as well as in the tackling department in a limited sample.
There is zero concern here about the top four players making the roster. PJ Locke has developed into a top reserve and core special teams player. Caden Sterns has had one of the most impressive camps of any Denver Broncos rookie.
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With Johnson getting up to speed, the decision to keep 11 defensive backs with five safeties should be an easy call for George Paton and Vic Fangio to make.