The Denver Broncos are officially done with OTAs, which means there will be a break until training camp. What could the 53-man roster look like?
The offseason is rolling along at a rapid pace for the Denver Broncos, it feels. OTAs are officially in the books and after an extended break, the team will reconvene for training camp in July.
Football season is nearly upon us yet again, and the old adage has proven itself true — time flies when you’re having fun.
With the offseason program now behind us, let’s take another early look ahead at what the future could hold for the Denver Broncos’ 53-man roster in 2022.
There are a lot of new factors to consider and plenty of options with the current 90-man roster. Injuries could obviously play a major role in how this roster is ultimately constructed, and so will other factors like how guys do when the pads come on, how they perform in joint practices and preseason games, and what trade options arise.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs 53-man roster prediction
Quarterbacks: 2 (2/53)
- Russell Wilson
- Josh Johnson
Would it be risky for the Denver Broncos to subject Brett Rypien to waivers if they truly want him to be part of their QB room in 2022?
Sure, but at the same time, the Broncos have been able to get Rypien through waivers before and they will probably be able to do it again barring some kind of other-worldly preseason performance from the former undrafted free agent.
Rypien is a valuable piece of the QB room, but the numbers game for this year’s roster will be extremely tight.
At this point, the Broncos will need to take that risk and try to get Rypien through waivers to make sure they have 51 other spots to utilize.
Special teams: 3 (5/53)
- Brandon McManus, K
- Sam Martin, P
- Jacob Bobenmoyer, LS
At this point, there’s not really been any big hype for the only player on the roster competing for a job on special teams — punter Corliss Waitman.
Any sort of competition with Sam Martin will have to unfold throughout training camp and during the preseason. I do feel like the Broncos would be willing to move on from Martin if Waitman proves himself to be a weapon in the kicking game, but time will tell.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster predictions at running back
Running Backs: 4 (9/53)
- Javonte Williams
- Melvin Gordon
- Damarea Crockett
- Mike Boone
Ultimately, I struggled with whether or not to keep four backs on this roster projection for the Denver Broncos.
We know Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon are making the team.
Behind those two, it’s a pretty intriguing competition shaping up for training camp.
The Broncos signed Mike Boone from the Vikings last offseason and he was having a great offseason before an injury in joint practices with Minnesota ultimately cost him the start of the season.
All we really saw from him last year at all was one pretty great performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on a per-touch basis but that was truly it.
Damarea Crockett didn’t play a big role for the Broncos as a running back last season, at least not compared to the work he got on special teams.
Boone was someone George Paton obviously prioritized last offseason and he has experience working around new QBs coach Klint Kubiak who was on the Vikings’ coaching staff from 2019-2021.
Crockett had some experience with the new coaching staff that came in this offseason when they worked together with the Green Bay Packers.
Because both of these guys will contribute on special teams, I think keeping all of them on the active roster is wise.
We’ll see how training camp and the preseason go because if both of these guys shine in the preseason, there’s no way the Broncos will let one go.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster prediction at WR
Wide receivers: 6 (15/53)
- Courtland Sutton
- Tim Patrick
- Jerry Jeudy
- KJ Hamler
- Kendall Hinton
- Montrell Washington
The Denver Broncos are going to have to hope and pray when roster cuts have to be made that their depth isn’t depleted by poachers on the waiver wire.
Last offseason, we saw Trinity Benson turn a great camp and preseason with the Broncos into an opportunity with the Detroit Lions. The Broncos sent him to Detroit for two draft picks in 2022, getting great value in return for a player that simply didn’t factor into their immediate or long-term plans.
That could be the case for a number of guys in 2022 with Tyrie Cleveland, Travis Fulgham, Kendall Hinton, Montrell Washington, Seth Williams, and a handful of other players vying for likely two spots on the final roster.
The Broncos should be able to get value for at least one of these guys if someone can have a big preseason.
Some may hit the waiver wire.
Some will return to the practice squad, and the hope is that you’d be able to keep most if not all of the guys you like one way or the other.
Having a lot of depth here is a great problem to have. My guess is that the Broncos would likely have to say goodbye to Seth Williams if they don’t keep him on the active roster this year, which would be a bummer.
Travis Fulgham has had a good offseason program thus far and might be a trade candidate like Benson was last year.
We’ll see about the other depth pieces but Kendall Hinton seems like one of Russell Wilson’s favorites early on and rookie Montrell Washington is expected to be the team’s primary return specialist.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster predictions at TE
Tight end: 4 (19/53)
- Albert Okwuegbunam
- Greg Dulcich
- Eric Tomlinson
- Eric Saubert
This was another tough position to sort out after the addition of Eric Saubert.
Saubert has been talked about by Russell Wilson a lot, the Greg Dulcich hype train is off the charts, and the Broncos have advertised Albert Okwuegbunam as the TE1 this season.
While that spot may, in reality, still be up for grabs, I think that the one player at this position group whose inclusion is tough is Eric Tomlinson.
Tomlinson may not be the most exciting player in terms of his receiving skills, but he’s one of the best blocking tight ends in the game and could be utilized accordingly this season.
Because he’s been so good at that throughout this career, and because the Broncos guaranteed him $1 million, I think Tomlinson is a safe pick for the roster barring injury.
Eric Saubert could be the odd-man-out if the Broncos choose to keep only three guys here, but my guess is that the team brought him back as more than just a camp body.
He does a little bit of everything well, including playing some special teams.
The tight end group would be well-rounded with this group of four players.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster prediction on the OL
Offensive line: 9 (28/53)
- Garett Bolles (T)
- Calvin Anderson (T)
- Billy Turner (T/G)
- Quinn Meinerz (G/C)
- Lloyd Cushenberry III (C)
- Graham Glasgow (G/C)
- Tom Compton (G/T)
- Dalton Risner (G)
- Luke Wattenberg (C/G/T)
Ultimately, the offensive line is going to be impossible to predict accurately until we see some more of these guys on the field in action.
The Broncos have a ton of guys on paper, but there are a lot of question marks with a good amount of these guys.
Players on the OL that have missed time or haven’t even been on the field yet in the offseason because of injuries include:
- Billy Turner
- Calvin Anderson
- Graham Glasgow
What needs to be considered here is the future of the roster, not just the present.
The Broncos probably want Tom Compton and Billy Turner around as veterans with experience in this kind of scheme, and a lot of it.
Players in unique positions because of their contract situation include guys like Dalton Risner and Graham Glasgow. The Broncos are almost backed into a corner right now with Glasgow’s contract situation in 2023 and if he’s not in the future plans, do you let a talented prospect like Netane Muti out of the building?
Does the team still believe in Dalton Risner as a long-term fixture at left guard?
I think we’ll see the Broncos keep nine offensive linemen and maybe dangle someone in a trade. They need to make sure they don’t let a good player or multiple good players from this group walk and get nothing in return.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster prediction on DL
Defensive line: 6 (34/53)
- Mike Purcell
- Dre’Mont Jones
- DJ Jones
- McTelvin Agim
- Eyioma Uwazurike
- Matt Henningsen
Similar to the offensive line, the defensive line is just so hard to project until the pads come on and we start to see guys make plays.
It seems like Mike Purcell is ready for a resurgence after two years that were drastically affected by injuries.
Dre’Mont Jones is in a contract year for the team but he appears to be a long-term fixture, as does 2022 free agent acquisition DJ Jones.
The question marks will be behind those top three guys.
Who is going to step up?
2020 third-round pick McTelvin Agim has a chance to really be a key player this season because the fourth defensive lineman in this rotation is going to get a lot of snaps.
Eyioma Uwazurike could play a huge role as a rookie and so could 2022 sixth-round pick Matt Henningsen, an athletic freak who suffered a calf injury early in OTAs and hasn’t been on the field a ton yet.
The jury is out on this group until we see them make plays but the young guys are going to have to prove they can be more effective than guys like DeShawn Williams and Jonathan Harris who have been around much longer.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster predictions at EDGE
Edge rusher: 5 (39/53)
- Bradley Chubb
- Randy Gregory
- Nik Bonitto
- Baron Browning
- Jonathon Cooper
How are the Denver Broncos going to deal with having an over-abundance of pass rushers in 2022?
Again, it’s a good problem to have, but it’s always hard to sift without seeing preseason games or training camp reps in full pads.
We know, barring a surprising trade situation near the top of the depth chart right now, that Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory will be the team’s top edge duo heading into this season.
Nik Bonitto, the team’s top pick in 2022, is going nowhere.
Baron Browning is one of the best athletes on the team and is now playing one of the most valuable positions. He should be safe.
Jonathon Cooper had an outstanding rookie year and with three years left on his contract at a very team-friendly price, he should also be back.
That would leave players like Malik Reed, rookie free agent Christopher Allen, and Aaron Patrick on the outside looking in.
There’s a chance the Broncos could get Allen and Patrick back on the practice squad.
Malik Reed would be a prime trade candidate.
He’s started a lot of games for this Denver defense the last couple of years and as teams suffer injuries over the course of camp and preseason play, the Broncos should actually be able to get something really nice for him at his salary and age.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs 53-man roster predictions at LB
Linebacker: 3 (42/53)
- Josey Jewell
- Jonas Griffith
- Alex Singleton
It’s a new era in the NFL.
The Denver Broncos, not long ago, were keeping upwards of six off-ball linebackers on their roster.
It makes sense to a degree, considering the number of injuries you might suffer over the course of a season at this position and how physical of a position it really is.
Jonas Griffith appears to be securing that starting position opposite Josey Jewell at the present moment.
His athleticism popped when he got an opportunity in 2021 and the Broncos seem rather pleased with where he’s at as of right now.
Alex Singleton was brought in on a relatively modest one-year deal but he could give the Broncos a tremendous presence on special teams, and he’s also got starting experience.
So would the Broncos actually keep just three linebackers on the active roster?
That’s certainly risky, but it’s not impossible.
As much nickel and dime as we anticipate this team will play in 2022, keeping just three active roster linebackers and calling guys up from the practice squad weekly is not out of the question.
The Broncos will keep a variety of safeties that can come into the box and play a “linebacker” role and I think we’ll see them load up on guys who can stick on the practice squad at this position to be brought up for depth.
Remember, teams can now promote players from the practice squad three times per season before having to subject them to waivers.
Guys like Justin Strnad and Barrington Wade could be ideal in that kind of spot.
Denver Broncos post-OTAs roster prediction at defensive back
Cornerback: 6 (48/53)
- Pat Surtain II
- Ronald Darby
- K’Waun Williams
- Michael Ojemudia
- Damarri Mathis
- Faion Hicks
There should be a great training camp battle at the cornerback position.
The Broncos have a lot of intriguing young players to consider, including 2022 draft picks Damarri Mathis and Faion Hicks.
The team got more athletic in the defensive backfield with those two additions but they also still have guys like Essang Bassey, Bless Austin, and undrafted rookie (AP All-American) Ja’Quan McMillian to consider.
Ultimately, preseason games could be crucial, but I went with young Faion Hicks as the final corner in this roster projection.
Safety: 5 (53/53)
- Justin Simmons
- Kareem Jackson
- Caden Sterns
- PJ Locke
- Delarrin Turner-Yell
The Broncos have one of the best groups of safeties — young and old — in the entire NFL.
Justin Simmons has established himself among the NFL’s elite at this position.
Kareem Jackson is back on another one-year deal with the team.
Caden Sterns is looking to build off of an outstanding rookie season in which he proved himself as a pass rusher and in coverage.
PJ Locke is a player this team really likes who can come into the box and attack the line of scrimmage as well as play deep.
Delarrin Turner-Yell was one of the team’s fifth-round picks in 2022 and could very well end up cracking the rotation if he can prove himself worthy on special teams right away.
7 major takeaways for Denver Broncos as OTAs come to a conclusion
As OTAs come to a close, what are the biggest takeaways so far for the Denver Broncos? What should we be looking for as training camp approaches?
It would be tough to say goodbye to 2021 fifth-round pick Jamar Johnson, who could still impress over the course of camp and preseason play. This is another position group where a trade with another team could be considered by the Broncos.