As we near closer and closer to the official start of Denver Broncos training camp, the discussion now surrounds Denver's position battles and which specific players are destined to make the team or potentially be on their way out. With much more added talent this time around as opposed to last offseason, Broncos fans are in for a real treat over the next few months.
The additions of WR Marquez Callaway, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, CB Riley Moss, WR Marvin Mims Jr., LB Drew Sanders, CB Tremon Smith, and more will not only raise the floor of team success in 2023 but change the futures of multiple players on the roster. Therefore, many players know what is at risk and can potentially result in a few surprises at certain position groups. Here are three training camp battles you absolutely must look out for throughout late July and early August.
3 enticing Denver Broncos training camp battles of 2023
WR KJ Hamler vs WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey
The back half of Denver's WR depth chart is as stacked as it has been in quite some time and is going to be an exciting unit to watch over the course of training camp in terms of which receivers will make more plays than the others. For fourth-year WR KJ Hamler, it has been a devastating start to his career and 2023 looks to be easily the most important season of his NFL career yet. From being projected as a third-string receiver at the beginning of the 2022 season to now being considered on the "roster bubble" is quite jaw-dropping and is only due to his concerns with health.
In the last four years, Hamler has undergone four different surgeries and has struggled to stay on the field. However, when available, Hamler has shown to be a serious threat in the receiving game and especially downfield. On a few occasions in 2022, Hamler had massive gains of 30-40+ yards connecting with QB Russell Wilson and almost building chemistry at times. However, being at the bottom of the depth chart, it is going to take a historic performance at training camp in Dove Valley for Hamler to have anywhere near the opportunity he had in previous years.
As for free agent addition Lil'Jordan Humphrey, he will simply bring the needed special teams value that KJ Hamler has yet to provide. Humphrey has shown to be an incredible gunner and tackler on special teams and has also showcased his impressive ability to down punts inside the 10-yard line, thus creating beneficial field position for the defense. While Hamler could prove himself as a valuable special teamer, it is unlikely he'll match the provision of Humphrey and thus might place him at a disadvantage. However, at training camp, anything can happen and if Hamler stacks huge performances in the offense, Humphrey might find his chances of making the roster slim.
C Lloyd Cushenberry vs C Alex Forsyth
Even though the offensive line is considered as exciting as other position groups, this competition is most likely going to be one of the more headlined battles throughout training camp. With the additions of OG Ben Powers and RT Mike McGlinchey, the Broncos are seemingly one position away from solidifying their offensive line and looking like a much stronger unit than featured in 2022.
Since losing Connor McGovern in free agency in 2020, the Broncos have yet to find a reliable and consistent starter at the center position and has been a weak spot on the offensive line. Year after year, there has been below-average performance at the center of the offensive line although, head coach Sean Payton seems to believe he has his guy in former Broncos third-round pick, Lloyd Cushenberry.
Despite starting off his NFL career slowly, Cushenberry has reportedly "impressed" new offensive line coach Zach Strief and Sean Payton has previously referred to him as the starting center therefore, it appears it is his job to lose. That's where seventh-round rookie center Alex Forsyth comes into play. While it seems a bit of a stretch, many analysts and members of the Denver media believe Forsyth is in serious play to steal away the team's starting center job not only in his rookie year but by week 1.
Although Forsyth did fall very far in the draft and nearly went undrafted, the Broncos believe they found a serious gem in Forsyth but have most likely kept it a secret up to this point. If Cushenberry is really Sean Payton's acclaimed "franchise center", then it does make sense the team waited until the seventh round to draft a center. However, many draft analysts had a fifth-round grade on the 24-year-old and Dane Brugler of The Athletic had him graded as the fifth-best center in the entire center. Many analysts have spoken highly of his IQ and his film backs up everything with very well-displayed pass protection and run blocking. Cushenberry may be the starter as of now, but Forsyth most certainly has a chip on his shoulder entering training camp as he aims to shock a lot of fans.
RB Tyler Badie vs RB Tony Jones Jr.
With the top two spots seemingly locked in with RBs Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, second-year RB Tyler Badie and veteran RB Tony Jones Jr. seem to be the two players "in the hunt" for the final spot on the depth chart.
While Tony Jones Jr. doesn't bring any exciting attributes to the offense, he does bring familiarity to Denver as he previously played under Sean Payton in New Orleans during 2020 and 2021. On the other hand, young RB Tyler Badie is a sleeper candidate to make the final roster simply due to his high ceiling as a receiving back in Sean Payton's offense. Experience in an offense vs potential in an offense? Age vs youth? Which does Payton prefer?
Judging from what Payton has preferred in his running backs in the third string spot in the past, it seems Badie may be a better fit from a schematic standpoint however, will ultimately come down to their respective performances at training camp, but I can confidently say these are your front runners for the third string RB position. It would be a surprise if UDFA rookie Jaleel McLaughlin snuck in as a serious candidate however, should not be ruled out, especially after Phillip Lindsay's unexpected emergence in 2018.
Overall, it should be an exciting competition between both Jones Jr. and Badie as they are looking to earn the privilege of playing under one of the NFL's better play-callers in Sean Payton who utilizes the RB position to perfection, even with how widely undervalued the position is across the league. Offensive position battles during this year's training camp should be one for the ages.