The Denver Broncos are just days away from the opening of their training camp for the 2022 season.
Real football is getting closer and closer to actually taking place and the start of training camp makes that more of a realization. For fans of the Denver Broncos, there is a lot to be excited about.
At least on paper, this roster is much more talented than it has been for the past several years and of course, that starts with the quarterback position and new starting quarterback Russell Wilson.
This will be a tough roster to make but the Broncos have a brand new coaching staff and the team is under new ownership. It is a completely new era in Denver so it remains to be seen what Nathaniel Hackett and his staff is going to be looking for.
There are several spots on the team that are already nailed down but training camp and preseason games are for figuring out the best way to round out the final roster.
We have already put together some 53-man roster projections this offseason and there have been others who have done the same. Here is our latest, the pre-training camp edition, position by position.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Quarterback
Quarterbacks (2, 2/53)
Russell Wilson, Josh Johnson
Cut: Brett Rypien
This position is not all that exciting and the Broncos do not have an open competition for the starting job, which has been rare since the retirement of Peyton Manning.
Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback for the Broncos and will be for some time to come. But the battle for the backup job is an interesting one.
Personally, I’d like to see the Broncos be a bit stronger at the backup position but with Wilson on the roster, the hope is that the backup will never play.
The general consensus seems to be that it is Josh Johnson’s job to lose, but that is far from a lock. Johnson, who has played for more teams than any player in NFL history, has the veteran experience and might be better in film study and helping Wilson get ready to play during the week.
But Rypien has been with the Broncos for three seasons now and it would be no surprise to see him end up overtaking Johnson for the backup spot.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Running back (3 , 5/53)
Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone
Cuts: Damarea Crockett, Tyreik McAllister
Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon are going to be the main running backs on this team, carrying likely 90-95 percent of the workload in the running game as long as both can stay healthy.
The third spot will come down to the other three players on the roster and the player that can contribute most on special teams will win the job. Mike Boone and Damarea Crockett are both good options on special teams.
Boone would seem to be the better option on offense and he actually did find some success in that department when he was with the Minnesota Vikings. An injury slowed him down during his first season with the Broncos so he will need to show something this year.
Tyreik McAllister, an undrafted free agent, will be a player to watch during the preseason. He will likely land on the team’s practice squad if he can clear waivers and be a name to keep an eye on down the road.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Wide receiver (6, 11/53)
Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, K.J. Hamler, Montrell Washington, Travis Fulgham
Cuts: Tyrie Cleveland, Seth Williams, Kendall Hinton, Trey Quinn, Jalen Virgil, Brandon Johnson, Kaden Davis
There are some great options in this group and that is what makes it one of the most competitive positions on the roster. However, the first four spots are probably a lock.
Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler are going to make the team.
Fifth-round pick Montrell Washington has a good shot at securing a spot and being the team’s main kick and punt return guy and if the team chooses to keep six wide receivers as this model predicts, that sixth spot to go to anyone.
Kendall Hinton is likely the current favorite to win that spot but Tyrie Cleveland has logged some time with the team and can be a real special teams contributor. Jalen Virgil, Brandon Johnson and Kaden Davis all have upside as undrafted guys as well.
But for me, at least right now, the last spot is going to go to Travis Fulgham, who showed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 that he can make the most of an opportunity. That sixth wide receiver will likely be a gameday inactive most weeks but should one of the top four guys go down for whatever reason, Fulgham would be a good guy to call upon.
With a 16-man practice squad, at least three of the players who are cut will likely be placed on that practice squad as well.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Tight end (4, 15/53)
Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich, Eric Saubert, Andrew Beck
Cuts: Eric Tomlinson, Dylan Parham, Rodney Williams
The Broncos used a high draft pick on UCLA’s Greg Dulcich to give the team two solid receiving tight ends with him and Albert Okwuegbunam, who assumes the starting role following the offseason trade of Noah Fant.
The main competition comes down to who will get the blocking tight end job between Eric Tomlinson and Eric Saubert. I actually lean toward Saubert to earn that spot but it could definitely go either way.
Andrew Beck lands a spot on the roster due to his versatility and ability to play the fullback position. In this model, he received the final spot on this roster but it makes sense for the Broncos to keep four tight ends with one of them being a rookie and the other a first-year starter who has played in just 18 career games.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Offensive line (9, 24/53)
Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry, Graham Glasgow, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Quinn Meinerz, Netane Muti, Luke Wattenberg
Cuts: Ben Braden, Tom Compton, Quinn Bailey, Zack Johnson, Michael Niese, Casey Tucker, Sebastian Gutierrez
This is perhaps the most difficult position group to predict but it does seem that nine is a good round number of offensive linemen to keep on the final roster and all nine of these guys have the talent to be around.
In this projection, Billy Turner wins the starting spot at right tackle and Calvin Anderson is the primary backup with the veteran Tom Compton being cut. Lloyd Cushenberry holds onto the starting spot at center but that is certainly questionable and that is where things get the most interesting.
The Broncos could plug in several different options at center and open up spots for Quinn Meinerz or Netane Muti to see more snaps. Meinerz seems destined to be one of the team’s starters which raises questions about the future of guys like Dalton Risner and Graham Glasgow.
At least a couple of the players cut will also find their way to the practice squad. Ben Braden would be a good candidate to do that.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Defensive line (6, 30/53)
Dre’Mont Jones, D.J. Jones, McTelvin Agim, DeShawn Williams, Eyioma Uwazurike, Marquiss Spencer
Cuts: Mike Purcell, Jonathan Harris, Matt Henningsen, Jonathon Kongbo
This does not seem like the most difficult position group to sort out, but there will still be some stiff competition here. For me, the key spot comes down to either McTelvin Agim or Mike Purcell. That is a complete toss-up.
Purcell has proven to be a stout run defender for the team in Vic Fangio’s old defensive scheme but will he still fit with what the team is doing now? Agim has proven… well nothing. The former third-round pick absolutely has to step up this summer.
Eyioma Uwazurike could be an instant-impact kind of rookie and the last spot here will come down to either Marquiss Spencer or Matt Henningsen, last year’s seventh-round pick against this year’s sixth-round choice. That could go either way.
DeShawn Williams also gets the nod after being a nice rotational piece for the team for the last couple of seasons. But, at least for me, the decision on what to do with Purcell is going to be the most interesting thing to watch with this group.
Agim should not be retained simply because he was a high draft pick and since the current regime had nothing to do with that selection, it’s quite possible he is shown the door.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Outside linebackers/Edge rushers (6, 36/53)
Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, Malik Reed, Jonathon Cooper
Cuts: Aaron Patrick, Christopher Allen
The Broncos have loaded up on pass rushers this offseason and will likely be using Baron Browning in that role as well so they are going to keep as many as they can. In fact, both Aaron Patrick and undrafted free agent Christopher Allen could both be placed on the practice squad as well.
Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory and Nik Bonitto are on the team. Jonathon Cooper had a strong rookie season and it would be wise to allow him to continue to blossom. It remains to be seen how many snaps Browning will see on the outside this season but his versatility should give the team some flexibility when deciding who to keep at linebacker.
The big decision comes down to Malik Reed, a player that has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. If I’m general manager George Paton, I’m passing hard on that idea.
However, if a player like Allen or Patrick shows enough in camp and preseason games, the team could certainly dangle him as trade bait in order to see what can be obtained in return.
As long as Chubb and Gregory can stay on the field and second-round pick Bonitto brings as much as many feel he will, then there is a case that Reed has become somewhat expendable.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Inside linebacker (3, 39/53)
Josey Jewell, Alex Singleton, Jonas Griffith
Cuts: Justin Strnad, Barrington Wade, Kana’i Mauga, Kadofi Wright
Three might not be enough at the inside linebacker position but because Browning can play in that spot, that was the decision that was made here. The team could certainly choose to keep Justin Strnad and cut Andrew Beck, for example.
Josey Jewell is going to start at one inside linebacker spot. The other spot will be a battle between Jonas Griffith and Alex Singleton and that is going to be one to watch.
Singleton led the Philadelphia Eagles in tackles in each of the last two seasons but Griffith is a player who is experiencing a fast rising within the organization and if I had to place money on it right now, I’d pick him to start the season opposite Jewell.
The Broncos made some interesting decisions at this position this offseason, including the choice to only bring back Jewell and not Kenny Young or Alexander Johnson. They also had the chance to draft Nakobe Dean, a player capable of making a big impact, but passed on that.
Browning seems to be the key in this equation and the fact that the team is going to try and move him all over the field could allow them to keep an extra player (in this projection, Beck) at a different position.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Cornerback (6, 45/53)
Patrick Surtain, Ronald Darby, K’Waun Williams, Damarri Mathis, Michael Ojemudia, Essang Bassey
Cuts: Bless Austin, Ja’Quan McMillian, Donnie Lewis, Faion Hicks
Six cornerbacks is about the right number to keep on the active roster. In today’s passing league teams love to air the ball out and that will likely be turned up a notch in the AFC West this season.
The Broncos have a good group here and there should be some good competition with the last spot coming down to either Essang Bassey or seventh-round pick Faion Hicks.
Bassey has a bit more experience and had a solid start in Denver before injuries slowed down his progression. Hicks would likely find himself on the practice squad in this situation.
The big question for me is going to be Michael Ojemudia, a player who needs to bounce back in a big way after a downer of a 2021 season. The former third-round pick is going to be no better than No. 4 on the depth chart when the season opens in all likelihood and he will have to prove to the new coaching staff that he deserves a prominent role on this team.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Safety (5, 50/53)
Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, Delarrin Turner-Yell, P.J. Locke
Cuts: Jamar Johnson, J.R. Reed
Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson and Caden Sterns are locks to make the roster and you will be hard-pressed to find a better trio of safeties in the league than that one.
Simmons is one of the best safeties in all of football and Jackson is a tremendous veteran who can still get the job done. Sterns is coming off of a solid rookie campaign and if he builds on it at the rate that he did in year one, he could be one of the better young defenders in the league.
The decisions come down to the other spots. I have the Broncos keeping five safeties, starting by choosing to keep this year’s fifth-round pick, Delarrin Turner-Yell, over last year’s fifth-round pick, Jamar Johnson.
P.J. Locke also makes the squad as he is one of the better special teams players on the roster.
Johnson, who showed almost nothing as a rookie last year, would likely be retained on the practice squad if he were to clear waivers.
Broncos 53-man roster projection: Specialists (3, 53/53)
Kicker: Brandon McManus
Punter: Sam Martin
Long-snapper: Jacob Bobenmoyer
The only player here who faces any kind of competition in camp is Sam Martin and it could be a legitimate battle against backup punter Corliss Waitman. The Broncos jumped on Waitman when he was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers back in January and if he could beat out Martin for the job, the team would save around $2 million in cap space.
Brandon McManus has been the team’s kicker since the 2014 season and is second behind only Jason Elam on the team’s all-time scoring list. The fact that the team hasn’t even brought in another kicker to challenge him much over the years shows a lot of confidence in him.
Jacob Bobenmoyer took over the team’s long-snapping duties from Casey Kreiter starting in 2020 and will be entering his third season in that spot for the team.
Of course, injuries and several other factors can change these projections but this is how it sits heading into training camp, which will open on Wednesday.