Denver Broncos roster locks ahead of the 2022 season

Which Denver Broncos players are locks to make the final 53-man roster?

The Denver Broncos have most positions locked up for the 2022 season. There are also competitions at other spots on the team, including a couple of starting jobs.

Here are the players at every position that I feel are locks to make the team. Who did I get wrong? Feel free to chime in.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

The backup quarterback position is interesting for the Denver Broncos. It’s between Josh Johnson and Brett Rypien. Both could still make the 53-man roster but it sounds like Rypien is having the better camp.

There have been several plays during camp where Rypien has apparently thrown dots to his receivers. He could have an edge over Johnson simply because he has been around most of the offensive players for several years, whereas Johnson was just signed this offseason.

This competition could come down to the last minute—in the preseason.

Running Back: Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone

Who will end up starting for the Broncos at running back? If you ask around, it seems like Williams is the guy for that role after he and Gordon split carries last season equally. It still might end up that way in 2022 but I’d imagine the team wants to give the ball to the younger guy.

Williams is the future of the Broncos’ backfield. We don’t know how much longer Gordon will be around—he was a free agent for quite some time when free agency began but appeared to not have received a good enough offer to switch cities.

Sadly, we saw Damarea Crockett go down with a torn ACL in practice, which will cost him the 2022 season. He was listed as the fourth-string running back, behind Mike Boone.

Boone has not seen a significant amount of playing time since signing with the team. He was dealing with several injuries since arriving in Denver but he was brought in by general manager George Paton. I’d imagine they want to keep him as a solid RB3 option.

Tight End: Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich, Eric Saubert

Sure, the Broncos’ tight end group has something to prove in 2022, but these are the three that I feel are going to make the team. Okwuegbunam and Dulcich are the obvious picks, and Eric Saubert has really made an impression during training camp.

The Broncos took Dulcich with their second pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, and word on the street is that he very well could be in line to be the top tight end on the depth chart at some point. Dulcich has been dealing with a hamstring injury lately but participated in team reps on Thursday.

If the Broncos keep four tight ends, TE4 could be Andrew Beck, who is a tight end/fullback hybrid. That will depend on whether or not Nathaniel Hackett wants a fullback on the roster.

Wide Receivers: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Montrell Washington

The top three (Sutton, Jeudy, Hamler) are the no-brainer options at receiver. I personally wanted to place Seth Williams on this list of guarantees to make the roster, but with the competition happening and it being so early, I can’t do that yet.

It feels like Williams has been talked about quite a bit in terms of replacing Tim Patrick, but that’s the coach’s decision.

Montrell Washington was a mid-round pick of the team in 2022 and can contribute both on offense and special teams. He has been doing exceptionally well in training camp thus far.

Patrick is not listed because he does not count against the 53-man roster. However, he is still on the team.

Offensive Line: Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry, Graham Glasgow, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Netane Muti, Quinn Meinerz

How will the interior of the offensive line end up? Garett Bolles is the starter at left tackle, and I do feel like Risner will keep his job at left guard.

Will rookie Luke Wattenberg challenge Lloyd Cushenberry for the starting center spot? How about Netane Muti challenging Graham Glasgow at right guard? I think those are legitimate questions that will have to be answered.

At right tackle, it will be Calvin Anderson. Billy Turner was signed to be the starter but has not practiced. The team also signed Cam Fleming off the streets. Fleming was with the Broncos last season as the backup to Bobby Massie.

I would say it’s probably too early to call Fleming a lock to make the 53, but I could be wrong.

There have been rumblings about Netane Muti possibly earning a starting guard job.