The Denver Broncos will open training camp in preparation for the 2023 season on Friday, July 28. The team will have 90 players fighting for roster spots and looking to be a part of Sean Payton's first season in Denver.
Of course, many of these spots are easy to predict as there are a handful or players who are essentially locked into a spot on the team.
Here, I am going to predict what the 53-man roster will look like when the season kicks off in Week 1.
Note: Following the recent signing of kicker Brett Maher, the team has yet to announce a subsequent release to get down to 90 players on the roster as of this writing.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Quarterback (2): Russell Wilson, Jarrett Stidham
Cuts: Ben DiNucci, Jarrett Guarantano
There is certainly a chance that the Broncos will keep three quarterbacks and initially, I had it that way. But upon revision, there are just more important holes to fill than a No. 3 quarterback and the team should be in good shape with Russell Wilson and Jarrett Stidham, who they handed a sizeable contract this offseason to be a backup.
Ben DiNucci or Jarrett Guarantano will absolutely be placed on the practice squad, assuming they clear waivers. DiNucci should be considered the easy favorite in that race as he has NFL experience and is coming off of a great spring season in the XFL.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Running back/Fullback (4): Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Tyler Badie, Michael Burton
Cuts: Tony Jones, Jr., Jaleel McLaughlin
The health of starting running back Javonte Williams will be one of the biggest questions for the team to answer this summer. If he is fully recovered from the devastating knee injury that ended his 2022 season, then the Broncos should be more than fine with what they have.
If not, a big hole could open that career backup Samaje Perine may not be ready to fill.
Tyler Badie is going to be the player to watch this summer. He has a chance to become a real weapon in this offense. Jones is there if Badie can't prove he is ready and McLaughlin may have some appeal to end up on the practice squad.
Payton has turned small running backs who can catch into effective players before, so the "size" thing can't be a major issue when evaluating these guys in this offense.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Wide Receiver (6): Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, Jr., Marquez Callaway, Jalen Virgil
Cuts: K.J. Hamler, Montrell Washington, Brandon Johnson, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Kendall Hinton, Taylor Grimes
The wide receiver position is quite difficult to evaluate and it's likely that some will take issue with this list, but here's the explanation.
The top four spots are pretty easy to decide. Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick, who is also coming back from a torn ACL, make up a formidable trio. Second-round pick Marvin Mims is also obviously going to make the team.
I do think that K.J. Hamler's time in Denver is done and Payton is not going to keep him around just because he was a high draft pick. The team will almost certainly attempt to trade him before cutting him, however. Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Callaway will make the roster as a result.
Jalen Virgil will edge out Brandon Johnson for the last spot in a battle of last season's undrafted players but that could honestly go either way. And Montrell Washington will be let go because there is just no room on this roster with all of the talent in front of him, particularly when the Broncos signed Tremon Smith, a cornerback who can take over kick return duties.
Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Tight end (4): Greg Dulcich, Chris Manhertz, Adam Trautman, Albert Okwuegbunam
Cuts: Tommy Hudson, Nate Adkins
The Broncos have an emerging young tight end in Greg Dulcich and Chris Manhertz will add to the team's plan to be a run-first offense. The trade during this past draft for Adam Trautman indicated that the team could move on from Albert Okwuegbunam, a player who has been a disappointment, but he gets one more opportunity here.
Okwuegbunam is still only 25 years old and unlike in the case of Hamler, who can't stay healthy, he is a player that just hasn't been given the opportunities with two different coaching staffs. Can Payton and his staff be the ones to unlock his true potential?
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Offensive Line (9): Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Lloyd Cushenberry, Cam Fleming, Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Isaiah Prince
Cuts: Quinn Bailey, Kyle Fuller, Christian DiLauro, Henry Byrd, Alex Palczewski, Will Sherman, Demontrey Jacobs
This is another tough group to evaluate, though the starting tackles (Garett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey) and starting guards (Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz) are basically set. The questions start with the center position.
The Broncos end up sticking with Lloyd Cushenberry here but the leash is short, which is why both Luke Wattenberg (who can also play guard) and Alex Forsyth both make the team.
Cam Fleming is a tremendous swing tackle and bringing him back was one of the most underrated moves the team made this offseason. The last spot goes to Isaiah Prince, who would just add more depth but the team may only keep eight offensive linemen.
He may be the shakiest player on this list.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Defensive Line (5): D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen, Tyler Lancaster
Cuts: Mike Purcell, Jonathan Harris, Jordan Jackson, Elijah Garcia, PJ Mustipher, Jordan Jackson, Haggai Ndubuisi
D.J. Jones and Zach Allen are going to anchor this defensive line, but others are going to need to step up. The team will stick with second-year players Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen and for the last spot, the veteran Tyler Lancaster ends up beating out Mike Purcell.
From the cuts list, there are some good practice squad candidates, including undrafted free agent Mustipher.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Edge Rushers (6): Baron Browning, Frank Clark, Randy Gregory, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Christopher Allen
Cuts: Aaron Patrick, Marcus Haynes, Thomas Incoom
The team is going to keep most of the edge rushers on the roster around and the first five seem pretty likely to be part of the final roster barring an injury. However, Baron Browning could begin the year on the PUP list, which would shake this up a bit.
The final spot could come down to any of these guys but Christopher Allen, a promising undrafted rookie last season who missed the entire year with an injury, gets the nod as he still looks to have much more promise than a lot of people realize.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Inside linebacker (4): Josey Jewell, Alex Singleton, Drew Sanders, Jonas Griffith
Cuts: Justin Strnad, Ray Wilborn, Seth Benson
This might be the most cut-and-dry prediction of any position group as the starters are solid and the backups behind them are as well.
Rookie Drew Sanders is a player the team could tinker with in order to get him on the field despite being behind Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell. He is a better pass-rusher than both of those guys and will be in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
Seth Benson is a player who could steal a roster spot as a depth linebacker and special teams player with a good summer. He will almost certainly be on the practice squad if not.
But if the Broncos decide not to keep nine offensive linemen, as projected here, Benson could make the team outright.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Cornerback (6): Patrick Surtain, Damarri Mathis, K'Waun Williams, Riley Moss, Tremon Smith, Essang Bassey
Cuts: Art Green, Delonte Hood, Ja'Quan McMillian, Faion Hicks
Similar to the wide receiver position, there should be some spirited competition at cornerback to make this team. In my mind, the first four (Surtain, Mathis, Williams and Moss) are all going to make this team.
Tremon Smith will make the team but more for his ability to return kicks than his play on the defensive side of the ball. Essang Bassey gets the last spot, narrowly edging out Ja'Quan McMillian and Art Green, who I think may be the best undrafted player from this year's lot.
The Broncos would likely place two of those players that were cut on the practice squad.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Safety (4): Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, JL Skinner
Cuts: Delarrin Turner-Yell, P.J. Locke, Devon Key
Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson and Caden Sterns will make the roster unless someone like Delarrin Turner-Yell is just too good to cut loose and then you could see a surprise cut in Jackson.
JL Skinner was in jeopardy of starting the season on the PUP list after tearing his pectoral muscle in preparation for the scouting combine, which caused him to fall down draft boards. But a recent report from Broncos insider Mike Klis suggests that may not happen.
Skinner looks like a huge value talent in the spot the Broncos took him so the team may not want to subject him to waivers by cutting him. P.J. Locke has been a key contributor on special teams in recent years.
The one thing to watch for this summer would be if the younger players on the roster (Turner-Yell, Skinner) are just too good to pass up. The team also wants to be much better on special teams this year and that could keep Locke around as well.
All of that taken into consideration together could lead to the team allowing the veteran Jackson, who is now 35 years old, to go.
Denver Broncos pre-training camp 53-man roster projection
Specialists (3)
Placekicker: Brett Maher
Punter: Riley Dixon
Long Snapper: Mitchell Fraboni
There isn't much to evaluate here outside of the kicking competition which is now between Brett Maher and Elliott Fry. The Broncos just brought in Maher, signaling that they weren't 100 percent satisfied with only Fry, which should surprise no one.
I have Maher winning this competition and getting the job, at least initially, but I do think Payton and the front office will be looking at the waiver wire following roster cuts by the 31 other teams to see if there is someone they like more.
The same could be said for the long snapper position, where Mitchell Fraboni is a player that the new coaching staff inherited. He took over as the team's long snapper last October.
The team also brought Riley Dixon back this offseason for his second run with the team and his position should be safe.