5 players that would be shocking cuts for the Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos must cut their roster down from 85 players to just 80 on Tuesday afternoon, and it’s likely we’ll see 60 or fewer of those players actually end up playing against the Minnesota Vikings in the team’s preseason finale on Saturday night. Whatever players make it through to the final 80 will have a chance to not only put some tape out there for the Broncos but all 31 other teams as well. It’s a chance to make another roster, or at least impress enough to get a shot on someone’s practice squad.

And that includes the Broncos. Unfortunately, as the roster gets better and better, making difficult roster cuts is going to become more and more common. The Broncos will have to say goodbye to players when roster cuts come around that have had big offseasons, that previously made a strong impression, or perhaps even once looked like long-term key contributors.

With cuts to 53 players looming, I thought it might be interesting to take a look through a handful of players on the roster right now that would be considered rather “shocking” cuts, relatively speaking. There are only 53 spots on the team. Which players would be more along the lines of shocking or at least surprising cuts? Here are five names.

Denver Broncos shocking potential cut no. 1: JR Reed, DB

As the Denver Broncos approach roster cuts, my best guess is that they’re going to be trying to keep at least 10 or 11 defensive backs. Usually, you’ll see teams go with six cornerbacks (because your starting lineup typically includes three) and five safeties. Could we see the Broncos go slightly unconventional and keep six safeties with five corners?

I would say that’s not impossible just because the players at safety right now, you almost like them better than you like the players at corner. The Broncos have a variety of players worth keeping at the safety position:

• Justin Simmons
• Kareem Jackson
• PJ Locke
• Caden Sterns
• Delarrin Turner-Yell
• JR Reed

Is the team going to try to keep all of these guys? At this point, it seems like the decision is between cutting fifth-round pick Delarrin Turner-Yell (after you already cut Jamar Johnson) or cutting JR Reed, who has done really well in training camp and the preseason. Reed was also out there with the Broncos’ top special teams unit against the Buffalo Bills.

At this point, I think it would be more shocking to see Reed be the one that gets cut as opposed to Turner-Yell, who the team could try to sneak onto the practice squad, even as a fifth-round pick.