The Denver Broncos released their first official yet unofficial depth chart of the 2023 preseason on Wednesday, which was obviously met with a ton of interesting discussion. It's "official" from the standpoint that it comes directly from the team. It's "unofficial" from the standpoint of -- everything is subject to change, possibly in major ways.
Regardless of whether you should or shouldn't really read into the initial depth chart that comes out, we're going to do our best to follow the breadcrumbs of the offseason, training camp, things that have been said after practices, and observations that have been made throughout the team's first 13 days of training camp. Which players are "winners and losers" from the initial depth chart release?
Let's take a look at a handful of players whose placement on the depth chart stood out for one reason or another.
3 winners, 4 losers from Denver Broncos initial depth chart
Winner: Adam Trautman, tight end
When the depth chart initially came out, it might be fair to say that Adam Trautman being listed as TE1 for the Broncos was the biggest surprise out of anything. Trautman emerges as a huge winner of this initial depth chart release because of the fact that everyone assumed Greg Dulcich was far and away the TE1 of this team.
Now, it needs to be noted that these labels don't exactly mean much as of right now. Dulcich might be listed as TE2 on the depth chart, but he could end up leading the team in snaps at the position over the course of the season. You certainly expect him to be more involved in the passing game than Trautman. Here's what Sean Payton had to say about it:
"The one thing that is interesting about this tight end group is that there are some clear roles that you can see. Strengths and weaknesses that these players have. [TE] Adam [Trautman] is the one guy out here who does a good, solid job at blocking and he gives you some flexibility within the route tree. [TE] Chris Manhertz is someone who obviously we are comfortable throwing to, and yet, he is really good at blocking the D-gap. Then [TE Greg] Dulcich is someone who can really threaten [you]. You have these different traits for different [players]...Sean Payton, via Broncos PR
...I could have put the slash there, but you guys know it better. Those tight ends are all playing. I think it becomes easier for you all when you start looking at the play totals and you see how much they are being relied upon.”"
Regardless of the play totals, I think being listed atop the depth chart is good news for Adam Trautman. The Broncos acquired him in a trade during Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft and he's obviously going to be a very important part of this team, not just a back-end of the roster player.
Depth Chart 'Loser': Greg Dulcich, tight end
Adam Trautman is a "winner" with the initial depth chart release, so I think we've got to consider Dulcich at least somewhat of a "loser" considering he was very much expected to be the clear TE1 this season. Dulcich has had somewhat of a quiet training camp after a really great OTAs where Sean Payton talked about how Dulcich could end up being the "joker" in his offense, a passing game mismatch who can be moved all around the formation.
That can still happen, but Dulcich being listed as the TE2 indicates -- at least to me -- that he's currently not the most well-rounded player and that there's still work to be done. I'm not trying to read too much into that, or anything -- I still expect him to play a major role.
The reality is, the tight ends have been rotating with every offensive unit throughout camp. Dulcich has caught passes from Russell Wilson, Jarrett Stidham, and even Ben DiNucci. The Broncos are rotating guys and Sean Payton will use them all.
Depth chart "winner": Jonathan Harris, defensive line
Many Denver Broncos fans were hoping for a "Harris" to be in the team's starting lineup along the defensive line this season. I think the majority of those fans were hoping for "Shelby" Harris, however. Shelby Harris just signed with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, ending all hope for a reunion in the Mile High City.
With that being said, it is Jonathan Harris who is being penciled in as the initial starting defensive end opposite of Zach Allen. Harris has been growing and developing in Denver for a handful of years at this point. He just turned 27 earlier this month, and he's been with the Broncos since 2019. He was with the team all throughout the Vic Fangio era. He stuck around with Ejiro Evero.
He could now be finally breaking through as a full-time player for the team. We'll see what ultimately happens, but Sean Payton said that Harris has "opened some eyes" at camp so far and to me, he's a fascinating winner of the initial depth chart release.
Depth Chart "loser": Tremon Smith, CB/KR
I'm not sure how much we really need to read into this one at this point. Maybe we just need to see Tremon Smith make an impact out there on the field before rushing to any judgments. He's listed with the third-string defense at the cornerback position, and we didn't even necessarily expect him to go out there and be anything but an emergency option at that position.
What's surprising about Smith's depth chart placement has little to do with his placement at cornerback and everything to do with the fact that he's not listed -- at all -- as a kickoff returner. There's no official depth chart for gunners on special teams, and Smith figures to be involved there, but the Broncos gave him a two-year deal with $2.5 million guaranteed and we've heard nothing about him in camp, he's listed behind an injured rookie (Riley Moss) on the depth chart, and he's not even listed at kick returner.
Depth chart "winner": Brandon Johnson, wide receiver
The wide receiver position for the Denver Broncos is obviously in somewhat of a state of transition or "next man up" if you will. The team waived KJ Hamler and has to deal with another season-ending injury to veteran Tim Patrick (Achilles). I don't think anyone quite knew what to assume regarding which player would replace Tim Patrick, but it's safe to say that Brandon Johnson stepping into that role was a surprise to most, if not everyone.
Johnson was a training camp/preseason story in 2022 as a rookie free agent. He would have made the Broncos' final roster if it weren't for an ankle injury that knocked him out in the preseason finale. Johnson is currently dealing with another ankle issue but he's also listed behind Courtland Sutton as the no. 3 receiver on the Broncos' depth chart.
That's pretty high for the Broncos to put someone just arbitrarily, especially when they could have gone the seniority route with someone like Marquez Callaway, who has experience in this offense. I think Johnson's placement was deliberate and he's a big winner from the depth chart release.
Depth chart "loser": Montrell Washington, wide receiver/returner
From the sounds of things, Montrell Washington has had a pretty outstanding training camp up to this point. The second-year player out of Samford has been making plays both as a receiver and returner, and we're all excited to see him play in the preseason.
But he's buried on the initial depth chart. He's at the very back end of the wide receiver rotation as of right now, clearly behind guys like Kendall Hinton, Marquez Callaway, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, and Jalen Virgil. Washington's placement on the initial depth chart screams, "This guy is going to have to have a big preseason."
He's also listed behind rookie Marvin Mims as the Broncos' top kick and punt returner right now. It's safe to say that Montrell Washington will have to make a lot more plays in the preseason to earn a spot on this Denver Broncos team.
Depth chart "loser": Albert Okwuegbunam, tight end
Arguably the biggest "loser" of the initial depth chart release was Albert Okwuegbunam. As much as we've been rooting for the guy, a change of scenery may be the only way out of this rut that he seems to be in. Okwuegbunam was listed as the 5th tight end on the depth chart, behind rookie free agent Nate Adkins.
Other than being benched for no reason last year, this might be a low point for Okwuegbunam in his time with the Denver Broncos. He's obviously going to have to go out and prove that he still has value to the other 31 teams in the NFL because right now, his placement on the Denver Broncos' roster seems non-existent.
Could a big preseason change that? Perhaps, but this placement on the depth chart definitely reflects that Okwuegbunam is on the outside looking in.