The Denver Broncos have one more preseason game left, and shortly after that, the entire NFL will cut down their rosters to 53 players. There are some players on the roster right now who are locks to make it, which includes backups.
However, there are some players who could be firmly on the bubble as we speak, and they only have one more chance to prove to the coaches that they belong. While there are more than three players, we've listed three of the more notable names here.
Who could lock up a roster spot with a strong preseason finale showing?
Denver Broncos who could lock up a roster spot with the team's final preseason game
Lil'Jordan Humphrey, WR
There is something about big wide receivers and players named Lil'Jordan Humphrey that Sean Payton simply can't quit. Even if Humphrey isn't someone who catches more than two passes a game, he does bring some value as a blocker, and his size is always going to be a mismatch for opposing defensive backs.
Nothing is stopping the Broncos from keeping six wide receivers, with Humphrey sliding into that de-facto sixth spot. With pretty much everyone else in the room already guaranteed a spot (Troy Franklin?), Humphrey will need to show a little bit in the final preseason game.
It is important to note, though, that Humphrey potentially making the roster doesn't mean he's in line to play 30 snaps a game, and he wasn't on the team's initial roster in 2025, either. He's far from a guarantee to make the roster but does have a bottom-of-the-depth-chart skillset that Payton may covet. Outside of Courtland Sutton, there isn't another WR in the room who has overwhelming size, so that could be a factor here.
JL Skinner, SAF
The Broncos signed veteran safety Taylor Rapp, and they likely did it because the backups just weren't showing enough. With that said, someone like JL Skinner, while not necessarily a defense player, is someone who has shown to be extremely valuable on special teams.
The team's safety room now likely features Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, and Rapp, with that fifth spot likely being decided by Skinner, Tycen Anderson, and Miles Scott. If Skinner can continue to show his value on special teams against the Vikings and at least make a play or two if he sees defensive snaps, there would be no reason not to keep him on the roster as the fifth safety.
Sure, whether Skinner makes the roster or not isn't necessarily a huge debate, but it's still a position on the roster that will need filled, and Skinner has the a chance to do that.
Sam Ehlinger, QB
Payton does seem to think that the QB2 job is up for grabs, as he didn't shutdown the idea of that room being settled after the team's preseason loss against Green Bay. And with Jarrett Stidham's latest preseason performance, you almost wonder if there is a chance for third-stringer Sam Ehlinger to earn that QB2 spot.
Ehlinger's athleticism and creativity is more in line with what Bo Nix is good at. Stidham just doesn't have the off-schedule ability that Nix and Ehlinger have, and while this is only one factor, what happens if Stidham again struggles in the preseason, and Ehlinger is efficient?
It would have to at least begin the conversation, but since we're this late into the offseason and the QB2 spot is still not settled, I'd feel comfortable saying that if Ehlinger outplays Stidham against the Minnesota Vikings, the Broncos would have that final confirmation that the Texas product has earned the job.
This might be a stretch, but at this point in the offseason, both Stidham and Ehlinger are honestly on even footing in terms of performance, both in the preseason and during practice.
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