The Denver Broncos have certainly left some breadcrumbs for us to follow as it relates to how they might end up building their 53-man roster when it comes time for the start of the 2023 regular season. After the team's first preseason game against Arizona, we can certainly roll with some hot takes and make roster determinations and projections for every position group.
Although nothing is set in stone at this point, you have to think the team has a decent idea of which players will ultimately make this team, at least for the most part. We're going to do our best to project which 53 the Broncos will keep as of right now, and which players could end up being surprising (or maybe not so surprising) cuts.
Denver Broncos 53-man roster predictions, post-Cardinals loss
Quarterback: 3 (3/53)
Russell Wilson
Jarrett Stidham
Ben DiNucci
I'm not sure the Broncos are going to cut DiNucci with how highly the team thinks of him. He did some nice things in the game against the Cardinals, and we should see more extensive snaps from him throughout the rest of the preseason. At this point, Jarrett Stidham probably should be watching his back. A number of people have told me that Stidham has not had a great camp and that DiNucci seems to routinely outplay him in practices.
Take that for what it's worth at this point, but it's something to keep on the radar.
Specialists: 3, (6/53)
Some kicker
Riley Dixon (P)
Mitchell Fraboni (LS)
The Broncos' current kicker competition is between Elliott Fry and Brett Maher. The two kickers sort of embarrassed the fan base on Friday night when they each missed their first two attempts before Fry nailed a 55-yard kick just before halftime. Maher rebounded by making an extra point, but then had his next kick blocked.
It wasn't a good showing for the kickers, but for those clamoring to have Brandon McManus back, let's be reminded of the fact that he missed three kicks inside of 40 yards last year along with two missed extra points. Not to mention, his accuracy from 50-plus has been spotty in recent years. The Broncos needed a new kicker, but they probably should have set themselves up better to find one in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Now, they are going to have to scour the waiver wire and hope kickers become available. I don't know if the team's kicker is currently on the roster.
Running backs: 4 (10/53)
Javonte Williams
Samaje Perine
Tyler Badie/free agent
Michael Burton (FB)
Let's talk about a couple of things at this particular position group.
First, the RB3 competition. This currently seems to be a race between Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin with Tony Jones Jr. sort of just there. Badie got the first reps for the Broncos against Arizona after Samaje Perine and he looked alright. Jaleel McLaughlin came in and did enough to probably be "3b" if you consider Badie "3a" at this point, but certainly he's a more enticing fourth option than Tony Jones Jr.
I'm not sold the Broncos will go into the season with just the backs they have on their roster. Free agents (notable ones) like Ezekiel Elliott are still out there. Kareem Hunt is still out there. Players will get waived by other teams and the pro scouting department is going to have to do its thing. I don't know if the third RB is on the team and I think you could get guys like Badie and McLaughlin to the practice squad given what we've seen so far. That's subject to change.
Second, Michael Burton at the fullback position should be looking over his shoulder at rookie free agent Nate Adkins. Adkins is listed as a tight end but he can play all over the formation. I don't think the Broncos would hesitate to cut Burton and keep Adkins if Burton isn't able to help pick up some of the pass protection issues the team faced in the first preseason game. Making sure defenders don't hit Russell Wilson is part of the reason Burton has any value to this team at all.
Wide receiver: 6 (16/53)
Jerry Jeudy
Courtland Sutton
Brandon Johnson
Marvin Mims
Marquez Callaway
Lil'Jordan Humphrey/Jalen Virgil/Montrell Washington***
I'm not trying to take the easy way out on this one. I truthfully can't decide between Humphrey, Virgil, and Washington for that sixth spot. Heck, I don't think you can really count anyone out for that spot at this point. The Broncos' wide receiver group was shaken up majorly when Tim Patrick went down for the year. That opened up the WR3 position which, for the time being, seems to be filled by Brandon Johnson.
Johnson, however, is now nursing another ankle injury. This one is not as severe as the one that knocked him out last preseason, but it's knocked him out nonetheless. But he seemed to be pretty deliberately listed as the 3rd receiver on the team in the Broncos' initial depth chart release.
Marvin Mims is making the team, but he's also been nursing a hamstring since the beginning of camp, which leads me to believe there could be a decent chance of Montrell Washington making the final roster. Washington has been steadily making plays in training camp. he looked good as the punt returner against Arizona. I might lean in his direction for that sixth receiver spot at this point but Jalen Virgil also brings value offensively and may play more special teams.
But Lil'Jordan Humphrey knows this offense and has the body type to be an effective blocker for the Broncos as they seek to run the ball down other teams' throats. He's also got nice value as a receiver.
What will this decision boil down to? Or will the Broncos maybe choose to keep two of the guys mentioned and let go of Marquez Callaway? Will they scour the waiver wire or trade market here?
I think I have more questions than answers at this point.
Tight end: 4 (20/53)
Adam Trautman
Greg Dulcich
Chris Manhertz
Nate Adkins
I really wanted Albert Okwuegbunam to make this roster, but I don't think it's going to happen. The one guy that's really hard to leave off as of right now is rookie Nate Adkins. We might see him make the team as a fourth TE/FB when all is said and done.
But I feel confident that these three guys are making it and we'll have to wait and see if the Broncos do shuffling elsewhere on the roster to accommodate a player like Adkins. He was really good in the preseason opener and has turned heads at camp.
Offensive Line: 9 (29/53)
Garett Bolles
Mike McGlinchey
Ben Powers
Quinn Meinerz
Lloyd Cushenberry
Cam Fleming
Luke Wattenberg
Isaiah Prince
Alex Palczewski
For the first time in a while, I'm projecting nine offensive linemen on the final 53-man roster. Sean Payton has typically kept eight, but with a few exceptions.
The reason for this right now is that I just don't know where the team is going to go with its backup tackle spots. Cam Fleming could very well be needed to start at left tackle based on what we saw from Garett Bolles in the preseason opener. Not to mention, Mike McGlinchey is out injured right now and even though he's expected back in Week 1, the Broncos have clearly been warned that they might need the extra bodies at tackle.
Luke Wattenberg looks like the top backup center at this point, and he can also play guard. Fleming can play guard as well.
Isaiah Prince was the "starting" right tackle in place of McGlinchey, and you have to think the Broncos are really giving him a fair shot with Cam Fleming listed as the clear and obvious backup tackle in both spots on the initial depth chart release. Behind Prince is rookie Alex Palczewski, a rookie free agent out of Illinois who apparently has really impressed the Broncos so far. At least, according to former Broncos OT Ryan Harris, who spoke with someone on the team who told him that (which he stated during the game on the broadcast).
Could the Broncos keep only eight? Yes. Could they keep a completely different group than this? Absolutely. This position group will be shuffled plenty as we approach the regular season.
Defensive line: 5 (34/53)
Zach Allen
DJ Jones
Jonathan Harris
Matt Henningsen
Mike Purcell
This looks to be one of the weakest areas of the roster right now. The Broncos may not have the type of quality depth required going into a regular season at defensive line. As of the time of this writing, Mike Purcell is on the Non-Football Injury list, but part of the reason he's on that list and not the PUP is (we assume) because he should be able to come back relatively soon.
DJ Jones had to leave the preseason game vs. Arizona due to a concussion. Zach Allen is the only other player with real experience on the defensive line.
Matt Henningsen played a solid game against the Cardinals and the Broncos seem to have a decent amount of faith in Jonathan Harris, who is penciled in as the starter on the current depth chart, but this position group can't afford to lose literally anyone else. I would be shocked if the Broncos were not in the market for help here, whether via trade or waivers. They have the 5th spot in the waiver claim order, which sounds good on paper, but in reality, most truly good players that hit waivers aren't making it past the top two or three teams.
But you never know.
The point is, the Broncos may need more talent or experience on the defensive line to have a strong unit for the coming season. It will take more games like we saw from Elijah Garcia (with two sacks) against Arizona to really even pencil in unknown players at this position group.
EDGE players: 4 (38/53)
Frank Clark
Randy Gregory
Jonathon Cooper
Nik Bonitto
The Broncos also have Baron Browning on the PUP at this position group, but the latest word is that Baron won't be ready to go until sometime in October after an arthroscopic knee procedure. Even if/when Browning comes back from that, this has been a position of tremendous volatility for the Broncos in recent years. They have had some of the best EDGE play in the league from guys like Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, and then they've had guys like Anthony Chickillo and Jonathan Kongbo taking actual NFL snaps.
Given the fact that injuries have been such an issue, I won't be shocked if the Broncos are looking for more players here as well, or maybe they like some of the guys they have in-house more than we know. The one player I really struggled to keep off this list was Aaron Patrick, a special teams ace who is coming back from injury. But he didn't play against the Cardinals and that seems concerning for a guy whose roster spot doesn't feel truly guaranteed.
Inside Linebacker: 4 (42/53)
Alex Singleton
Josey Jewell
Drew Sanders
Justin Strnad
The season-ending injury suffered by Jonas Griffith has paved the way for Justin Strnad to make this roster, or perhaps an undrafted player like Seth Benson out of Iowa. Benson looked good in the team's preseason opener and if he can prove he's regular season ready on special teams, you never know.
But for now, this seems like a solid group. And it feels like the Broncos could keep just four EDGE players on the roster thanks to the presence of rookie Drew Sanders, who can float between positions if need be.
Defensive backs: 11 (53/53)
Cornerbacks
Pat Surtain II
Damarri Mathis
K'Waun Williams
Ja'Quan McMillian
Riley Moss
Essang Bassey
Fabian Moreau
This would include a "surprise" cut of Tremon Smith, whose preseason involvement seems to indicate one of two things: Either the Broncos feel like he needs as many reps at corner as he can truly get, or he's on the roster bubble. The fact that the team brought in Fabian Moreau might be telling of the team's true intentions with Tremon Smith.
Riley Moss will be carried on the initial roster but could go to temporary IR after rosters are turned in, and we could see Smith simply cut as a procedural move before being brought back since the Broncos are already paying him over $2 million to be on the team.
Safety
Justin Simmons
Caden Sterns
PJ Locke
Delarrin Turner-Yell
The recent injury to Justin Simmons might complicate this, but it feels like the writing could be on the wall with veteran Kareem Jackson. The Broncos re-signed K-Jack this offseason but he appears to be running behind Caden Sterns as far as the depth chart is concerned. Even though the Broncos list them as "slash" starters, I think K-Jack could be a surprise cut.
Especially if Delarrin Turner-Yell continues to impress on special teams and in the defensive reps he's given. The Broncos have Turner-Yell on three more years of team control and might not want to compromise that by subjecting him to waivers.