The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Free agency is mostly in the rearview. Where do we see the Denver Broncos' roster as of right now? Heading into the meat of the offseason program, where the Broncos will begin "Phase 2" at some point in the near future, projecting the roster is bordering on a futile exercise, but it's worth taking a look at anyway considering most of the major moves are done.
There are only 53 spots available and the Broncos have a pretty full roster at this point in time. There are certainly going to be tweaks made between now and the start of the regular season, but where would we project things if the season started today? Let's jump right to it.
Denver Broncos post-NFL Draft 53-man roster prediction
Specialists: 3 - 3/53
- Brandon McManus, K
- Riley Dixon, P
- Mitchell Fraboni, LS
Barring any additional moves made, it looks like the Broncos are content with these specialists entering the offseason program. They signed Riley Dixon in free agency, and once again did not bring in any competition for Brandon McManus, which seems like an odd decision after a down year. Perhaps they believe they have the players in these slots and simply needed the right coaches in Ben Kotwica and Mike Westhoff.
Quarterbacks: 2 - 5/53
- Russell Wilson
- Jarrett Stidham
The Broncos have their QB duo in Russell Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. The question now becomes -- does Jarrett Guarantano make it as the third QB? Or will it be someone else? Will Brett Rypien (still a free agent) be brought back into the fold?
I personally would like the Broncos to keep three quarterbacks given what we've seen go down in Denver and elsewhere in the league throughout the year, and an additional fourth QB on the practice squad, but we'll see what Sean Payton wants.
As far as the top end of this position group, the focus will be on Russell Wilson bouncing back as well as some close monitoring of Jarrett Stidham, a pickup in free agency that is not to be taken lightly. It seems like Sean Payton really likes him a lot.
Denver Broncos roster predictions post-NFL Draft
Running Back: 4 - 9/53
- Javonte Williams
- Samaje Perine
- Tony Jones Jr
- Michael Burton (FB)
I think the number of players at running back is somewhat of a gimme at this point (four total, including the fullback) but which players? That is the big question right now. The Broncos have a major question mark at the top of the depth chart right now with Javonte Williams still recovering from a major injury suffered early last season.
There is some hope and optimism that he will be able to play this year, but to think he will be at full strength and ready to roll by week one? I think that would be a bit ridiculous to assume, but the Broncos and their medical staff certainly know more than I do. With that being said, the Broncos should be on the lookout for some additional help in free agency at the running back position, but time will tell if they agree with that.
As of right now, Samaje Perine is slated to receive the bulk of the offseason work as the team's RB1, and that puts the Broncos in a very interesting position. This is a team that wants to pound the ball on the ground, and Perine hasn't had 100 carries in a single season since his rookie year with Washington back in 2017.
The Broncos brought in Tony Jones Jr. in free agency, and he'll be competing with the likes of Tyler Badie, Damarea Crockett, Tyreik McAllister, and rookie free agents Emanuel Wilson and Jaleel McLaughlin for a backup spot.
Michael Burton came over from Kansas City in free agency, and I don't think the Broncos signed him just for the fun of it. He will play fullback and a key role on special teams, effectively replacing Andrew Beck (Texans) on the roster.
Denver Broncos 53-man roster predictions post-NFL Draft
Wide receiver: 7 - 16/53
- Jerry Jeudy
- Courtland Sutton
- Tim Patrick
- Marquez Callaway
- Marvin Mims
- KJ Hamler/Jalen Virgil
- Lil'Jordan Humphrey (TE hybrid)
Here's a bit of controversy early on. First things first, let's get one thing out of the way: Barring a trade, I think the top five at this position of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marquez Callaway, and Marvin Mims are relatively set in stone. The last time Callaway was with Sean Payton (2021) he had a breakout season with 46 receptions for 698 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging over 15 yards per reception.
As a WR4, he's really nice and inexpensive depth. The question is, will all of the top three guys be around when training camp and preseason play are done? The Broncos were apparently pretty close to dealing Courtland Sutton to the Baltimore Ravens at one point, we'll see if any of those rumors get fired up again as the season gets closer.
At any rate, I like that the Broncos held onto their receivers for the time being. The 2024 NFL Draft is much better overall than the 2023 class on paper, and adding picks next year is the move if they're going to deal a receiver. Not to mention, it makes much more sense for Sean Payton to get a look at these guys on the field together and see for himself over the course of the offseason whether he wants to trade someone. Let their on-field work determine it, not just a roster numbers game or your 2024 NFL Draft war chest.
After a pectoral injury this offseason, I don't know that we're going to see KJ Hamler on the field at all in training camp or the preseason. Could this lead to him being a surprise cut? Maybe. If I were the Broncos, I would keep him at least on the PUP. Let's say he is healthy enough to play, though -- I would certainly try to keep him around. If Hamler has to start the year on the PUP list, then I think we're going to see Jalen Virgil as the next guy up. Of all the guys at the back end of this position, he's arguably the most dynamic and most talented, and he brings with him a rookie season full of special teams reps to build on.
Then you have the subject of Lil'Jordan Humphrey. He's a known commodity to this coaching staff and he can frankly do a lot of similar things the Broncos would be asking of Albert Okwuegbunam, a pass-catching specialist at the TE position. Although the Broncos don't really have great depth at tight end on this overall roster, I think we could see Albert O. as a possible camp cut or trade candidate. If they aren't going to use him, hopefully they can get something from another team in a trade. But I wouldn't be surprised if a 53-man roster spot came down to Humphrey and Okwuegbunam.
Denver Broncos post-NFL Draft roster predictions
Offensive Line: 9 - 25/53
- Garett Bolles, OT
- Mike McGlinchey, OT
- Ben Powers, OG
- Quinn Meinerz, OG
- Lloyd Cushenberry, C
- Kyle Fuller, IOL
- Isaiah Prince, OT
- Luke Wattenberg
- Alex Forsyth, IOL
As of right now, I don't think there's a really straightforward situation for the Broncos at the offensive tackle position, at least that we can really know at this point of the offseason. The team added Isaiah Prince as a futures contract player and he has some experience in the past. He might be the top option to be the swing tackle this coming season currently on the roster, unless one of the Broncos' new UDFAs turns out to be something.
The wild card option as a swing tackle could end up being Luke Wattenberg, who played some tackle in college and has the frame (and athleticism) to play that position at the NFL level as well. We will have to see what new OL coach Zach Strief thinks about the idea/possibility.
The interior offensive line got an upgrade in free agency from the addition of Ben Powers, but people are pretty annoyed that the Broncos didn't do more to upgrade the center position. There is still time to do that, of course, whether they want to sign veteran Ben Jones, trade for former Saints first-round pick Cesar Ruiz, or something else. At any rate, it does feel like the Broncos put some confidence behind Lloyd Cushenberry III, something nobody really saw coming. If that's the case, hopefully we see the "why" behind it rather quickly.
Denver Broncos 53-man roster predictions post-NFL Draft
Tight End: 3 - 28/53
- Greg Dulcich
- Adam Trautman
- Chris Manhertz
Although there are some question marks with the health of Greg Dulcich after his rookie year in the NFL, I actually quite like this tight end group the team has assembled. Going into the 2023 NFL draft, there were rumors about the Broncos perhaps prioritizing tight end with their top pick, but the guys that were realistically on their radar simply didn't fall to their top pick at no. 67 overall, or even within reasonable trade-up distance. The team couldn't really mortgage a ton of capital to move up for Luke Schoonmaker or Luke Musgrave, so the compromise was a guy with a nearly identical athletic and physical profile: Adam Trautman.
The former third-round pick in New Orleans gets a change of scenery and comes to Denver where the Broncos now have the holy trinity of tight ends. They have a guy who is clearly a receiver first in Dulcich. They have another guy in Chris Manhertz who is essentially an extension of the offensive line with 24 receptions but 104 career games played. And now they have a guy in Trautman, who might be slightly limited in terms of his overall potential but is going to eat up snaps with his ability to block and be a receiver.
I think a lot of people are giving Albert Okwuegbunam the same "every year is a breakout year" treatment that Virgil Green once got in Denver (if you know, you know), but it might be time for both sides to move on. Okwuegbunam has been the subject of plenty of criticism since he came into the league, and while he has physical talent, he just hasn't been able to put anything together consistently.
To reiterate, while I don't think Lil'Jordan Humphrey is a traditional "tight end" I think you have a guy who is a big slot, flex type of player who has done plenty of catching and blocking in a limited sample size at the NFL level.
Denver Broncos post-draft roster predictions
Defensive line: 5 - 33/53
- DJ Jones
- Zach Allen
- Mike Purcell
- Eyioma Uwazurike
- Matt Henningsen
Admittedly, I'm not sure you want to go into an NFL season with just five defensive linemen on your active roster, but then again, the Broncos have had six for the last handful of years and one of them was consistently listed as a healthy scratch weekly.
The group here starts with two of the biggest acquisitions the team has made in free agency over the last couple of seasons. DJ Jones and Zach Allen have come over from the 49ers and Cardinals, respectively, to give the Broncos a really solid top-end duo on the defensive front.
Mike Purcell is coming off of a bounce-back season for the Broncos, and is entering the final year of his deal with the team. If he's able to stay healthy, he's a proven commodity at this point who knows how to clog lanes at the line of scrimmage.
Behind those three guys, however, the Broncos' defensive line is a question mark. Purcell and Jones may not be in the starting lineup together, and one of the starting defensive end spots on this team seems likely to go to one of Matt Henningsen or Eyioma Uwazurike, both Day 3 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Uwazurike came to Denver pretty highly touted out of Iowa State, and a lot of people had third-round grades on him before he lasted into the early portion of round four for the Broncos. We saw glimpses of him as a rookie, but frankly, we saw quite a bit more of the sixth-round pick Matt Henningsen.
Henningsen was in the rotation from Week 1 to the end of the season and his ability to crack the rotation as a sixth-rounder didn't come as a surprise given his reputation coming out of Wisconsin as one of the hardest workers on the team. Believe it or not, Pro Football Journal actually named Henningsen a 2nd-team All-Rookie selection in 2022.
We know the defensive line is going to play in waves, but don't be surprised if the top four on this group in snaps this coming season are: Jones, Allen, Henningsen, and Uwazurike. The Broncos seem to be putting quite a bit of faith in the young guys.
Denver Broncos post-draft roster predictions: Defensive backs
Cornerback: 6 - 39/53
- Pat Surtain II
- Damarri Mathis
- K'Waun Williams
- Riley Moss
- Tremon Smith
- Ja'Quan McMillian
The Broncos have one of the NFL's best cornerbacks in Pat Surtain II, which means whoever is playing on the opposite side of the field is going to generate a lot of action in 2023. With teams likely avoiding throwing Surtain's way as much as possible (again) in 2023, the odds-on favorite to get that role right now is Damarri Mathis.
Mathis had a tremendous rookie season overall after a rocky start, and GM George Paton said this offseason that the team views him as a starter long-term.
The one player that I think will be nipping at Mathis' heels is newcomer Riley Moss, the rookie out of Iowa. The Broncos obviously paid a hefty price to get Moss in the building, so don't be surprised if he ends up making a huge impact and even cracking the starting lineup.
The slot position will once again be manned by K'Waun Williams, but who will be his backup between Essang Bassey and Ja'Quan McMillian? As of right now, I'm going with the promising young McMillian, a former All-American at East Carolina.
Free agent signing Tremon Smith is considered a top-tier special teams player and fills out the depth of this group.
Safety: 5 - 44/53
- Justin Simmons
- Caden Sterns
- PJ Locke
- Delarrin Turner-Yell
- JL Skinner
I don't know if there's a more straightforward group on the roster currently than this one. Although it is going to be a fun position to watch play out because Caden Sterns would be a first-time starter, the only thing that would really complicate this position from a 53-man roster projection standpoint is if Kareem Jackson comes back.
Would you then swap him out for Delarrin Turner-Yell? JL Skinner? I think you could make those small adjustments for for the time being, I like this setup for Denver in terms of these guys contributing not only defensive but for Locke, DTY, and Skinner, heavily on special teams as well.
Denver Broncos post-draft roster predictions: Edge and Linebacker
Edge rushers: 5 - 49/53
- Randy Gregory
- Baron Browning
- Nik Bonitto
- Jonathon Cooper
- Jake Martin
Other than safety, this group might have the most established top-five on the roster. I think the Broncos could look to another veteran to raise the floor of this group, but this group of five illustrates exactly why the team didn't need to spend a third-round pick on another wild card at the position.
There's a reason why the top guys at this position don't last past day one, even some with minor concerns. This is a premium position and the most well-rounded players get drafted high. The Broncos need to see if they can get a return on the Randy Gregory investment, and they should be excited about what they saw from Baron Browning in his first year as a full-time edge.
Nik Bonitto had a tough go in his rookie year, but he was a rookie. Let's see what year two brings.
Jake Martin and Jonathon Cooper provide you very solid depth off the edge as well as the ability to contribute in your core four special teams units.
Linebacker: 4 - 53/53
- Josey Jewell
- Alex Singleton
- Jonas Griffith
- Drew Sanders
The Broncos have one of the most underrated linebacker duos in the league in Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton. Seeing those two together for another season is going to be a lot of fun, especially considering the fact that Singleton has now signed a three-year, big-money contract to come back to the team.
Jonas Griffith was projected to be the team's big breakout defensive player last season before injuries ruined that, and I don't think his talent has gone anywhere.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Broncos added Drew Sanders, who will play immediately on special teams and also give the Broncos a versatile weapon at the position who can float as a pass rusher.