The Denver Broncos are set to play their final game of the preseason at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. The game will be one of the final looks that coaches get at some of these players before the 53-man roster has to be set.
The coaching staff likely knows many of the players that are going to make the roster already, but there are still some difficult decisions to be made and that makes this game against the Rams important for many players on the team.
Looking across the full current roster, these three spots figure to be the most difficult to decide in preparing that final roster.
Running back: How many will the team keep?
The answer to this question is most likely three.
The first two spots are decided as Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are going to lead this rushing attack. Undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin has been impressive this summer and in my opinion, has been too good to leave off the roster.
So where does that leave Tyler Badie? He looked like a terrific future option for the team but he has been hobbled this summer and has been upstaged by McLaughlin. He is most likely looking at a spot on the practice squad, but the Broncos will have to put him through waivers and hope that he clears that process first.
It will be interesting to see which direction the team goes in at this position. Badie did return to practice this week but if he shines too much against the Rams, that could increase the chances that another team grabs him if he is waived.
The chess match that occurs as teams set their final rosters is one full of many tough choices. This will be one of them.
Safety: Delarrin Turner-Yell vs. JL Skinner
The Broncos will likely keep five safeties on the final roster and most onlookers will agree that Justin Simmons, Caden Sterns, Kareem Jackson and P.J. Locke are going to make the roster. There could be a slim chance that the team lets the veteran Jackson go, but I wouldn't look for that.
Instead, the final spot at this position likely comes down to two young players, Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner.
Turner-Yell is entering his second season and has clearly stepped his game up this year as compared to his rookie season. He appears to be a solid option for the team on special teams and for that reason, probably has the advantage in this decision.
With Skinner, the same question that comes with Badie would have to be considered. Would he get through waivers and back to the Broncos so they could add him to the practice squad?
Skinner is raw but the talent is clearly there and in my opinion, he is a better player long-term for this team than Turner-Yell.
The Broncos could probably get him to clear waivers as many teams passed on him in the draft (he was a sixth-round pick) and those same teams likely haven't seen anything this summer that would make them snag him, but you never know.
Making the most of what's left at wide receiver
The Broncos have really been hammered with injuries at the wide receiver position this offseason as Tim Patrick was lost for the year, K.J. Hamler was waived with a health issue and Jerry Jeudy recently suffered a hamstring injury that led to him being carted off of the practice field.
That is two of the team's top three wide receivers not being at Sean Payton's disposal to start the season, so he is going to have to get creative.
Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. are going to make the team. Brandon Johnson will likely grab a spot, as will Marquez Callaway. After that, there could still be some spots open to be claimed.
At the top of that list would be Montrell Washington and Kendall Hinton. Other receivers still on the roster such as Taylor Grimes, Michael Bandy, Nick Williams, Josh Hammond and J.J. Koski are just fighting for spots on the practice squad but Washington, Hinton and Lil'Jordan Humphrey should all still be in contention for spots on the roster.
Hinton has managed to stick around the organization for years but he has not played well this summer. Washington would give the team another kick returner and he can't be ruled out because of that. Humphrey has played for Payton before and that alone could give him that final spot, so those will be three guys to watch on Saturday against the Rams.
Regardless of what happens, the Broncos will likely need to consider wide receivers that are waived around the league as there could definitely be better options there.