3 players shooting up Broncos depth chart, 2 falling before first preseason game

The wait is finally over. The Denver Broncos play a game this week. Albeit, it's the first preseason game, but it's a game nonetheless. And the preseason is an opportunity for the fan base to get a risk-free look at the roster, at least in terms of the outcome of the game being insignificant.

Because the Broncos play a game this week, the team will undoubtedly release an "unofficial, but also official" depth chart. The first depth chart of the preseason often reflects seniority and not necessarily exactly how things may be trending in practice. It's not deliberate misdirection but teams know they are required to put those out, and they certainly don't want to give away any secrets with what they release.

With that being said, we have to read the tea leaves and follow the right breadcrumbs when it comes to what's actually happening with the Denver Broncos depth chart. Let's take a look at three players who have been soaring up the depth chart this offseason, and two players who may be falling.

3 Denver Broncos players soaring, 2 falling on the depth chart

Soaring: Caden Sterns, safety

Denver Broncos fans have been expecting Caden Sterns to "officially" be a starter for what feels like forever now. Sterns was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Broncos, but showed that he had starter potential in his rookie season. Entering year two, many people felt like Sterns would take over a starter role for the Broncos' defense, and while he was playing a substantially increased role over the first few weeks of the season, he suffered a hip injury that caused him to miss most of the year.

Now entering year three, Sterns has been taking the lion's share of reps as the starting safety alongside veteran superstar Justin Simmons, seemingly replacing Kareem Jackson in that spot.

It looks like, entering his third NFL season, Caden Sterns is finally making that leap into the starting lineup people have been hoping for.

Tumbling: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE

It felt like Albert Okwuegbunam had finished off OTAs with some positive momentum, but that has all but disappeared as we've gotten into training camp now. I haven't seen so much as a single update on how Albert O. has been looking out there at Broncos training camp, and certainly nothing much about big plays that he's making.

Does that mean he's doing a bad job? Not necessarily. Does it mean he's not doing enough to make this roster? Maybe. Especially with the additions the Broncos made at tight end over the course of the offseason, Okwuegbunam is a guy who had to make some noise in camp.

This will make the preseason especially crucial for Okwuegbunam, who now finds himself in a rather difficult spot competing with the likes of undrafted rookie Nate Adkins for depth chart positioning and maybe fighting to have the team keep four TEs in general.

Soaring: Ja'Quan McMillian, cornerback

The Denver Broncos aren't exactly "stumbling" into really good cornerback depth, but I think this position group is better than people may have thought at first glance going into the offseason. Of course, the Broncos have done their part to bring guys in. We've seen the team trade up in the NFL Draft for Riley Moss, bring back free agent Essang Bassey, and add veterans Tremon Smith and Fabian Moreau to the group.

You can never have too many good players at this position, but despite all of the additions, I don't think the Broncos are low -- by any stretch -- on second-year corner Ja'Quan McMillian.

An undrafted free agent out of East Carolina in 2022, McMillian came to the Denver Broncos as a former All-American for the Pirates who lacked the desired or ideal size to play consistently on the outside in the NFL.

McMillian got a chance to play late last season against the Chargers and looked like a stud. Entering his second NFL season now, McMillian could be a factor in the cornerback rotation as well as on special teams. He might not be in the starting lineup, but don't be surprised if he's the Broncos' top backup corner to start the season.

Soaring: Brandon Johnson, wide receiver

With the season-ending injury suffered by Tim Patrick as well as the team's decision to waive KJ Hamler, the Denver Broncos' wide receiver position and the battle at training camp has taken on a completely new complexion. The position group no longer features four or five guys solidified as roster locks, depending on what you thought about KJ Hamler's chances of making the team.

Either way, it's probably safe to say that at least one additional spot opened up where two may have previously been up for grabs, including a spot among the top three in the rotation. For the time being, it looks like second-year receiver Brandon Johnson is possibly the one staking his claim on Tim Patrick's old job.

Although he's facing competition from the likes of Marquez Callaway and others, Johnson seems to be picking up this offseason where he left off last offseason when he was one of the biggest surprise players of training camp and the preseason.

Tumbling: Jalen Virgil, wide receiver

Sticking with the wide receiver position, it feels like Jalen Virgil is tumbling down the depth chart at Denver Broncos training camp. Virgil was one of the team's biggest preseason stars a year ago, so we can't count him out with the games approaching.

But why are we not hearing more about him? With his big-time speed, Virgil should be getting extended looks as an option in the vertical passing game as well as someone the Broncos can rely on offensively with manufactured touches.

Over the last week, you would have thought you'd be hearing a lot more about Virgil with the injury to Tim Patrick but that hasn't been the case. The preseason will now be absolutely huge for him to go out and prove his value to this team.