When teams are forced to cut their rosters from 90 players down to 53, it will leave 37 players from each franchise scrambling to find a way to continue their playing careers. It will also set off a flurry of reactionary moves by all of the teams in the league.
For the Broncos, there are players that look to be on the outside looking in when this roster is officially constructed, but not necessarily players that can't still play in the NFL. These are players the team needs to be shopping around in an effort to return some sort of compensation.
Each of the players on this list will fetch nothing more than a late-round pick, but that is better than just dumping them into the scrap heap. The Broncos, after trading away many drafts picks in the last couple of years, could certainly use more of those as well.
For these three players, if their time in Denver indeed comes to an end, they should see if they can get something from another team who may not want to take their shot at claiming them through the waivers process.
Players Broncos should try to trade before roster cuts: Montrell Washington
Despite all of the injury issues the Broncos have had at the wide receiver position this offseason, there just doesn't seem to be room for second-year receiver Montrell Washington.
The Broncos have Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton and this year's team seems to favor the bigger targets such as Brandon Johnson and ex-Saints players Marquez Callaway and perhaps even Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
Rookie Marvin Mims Jr. is guaranteed a spot on the roster so there is not much left for Washington, last year's fifth-round pick. Of course, he could still show out in the team's final preseason game, though that could also be as much of an audition for other teams as anything else.
The Broncos could find a team looking for another wide receiver, much like they did a couple of summers ago when they traded Trinity Benson to the Detroit Lions. A team that could also use Washington as a kick returner, giving them more reason to acquire him.
If the Broncos do cut Washington, there is a solid chance he would be claimed on waivers by another team. Then he would just be gone. Under this route, the team would at least get some sort of day three draft pick back in return.
Players Broncos should try to trade before roster cuts: Albert Okwuegbunam
It should be a surprise to no one that Albert Okwuegbunam lands on this list because he is not going to make this team. The coaching staff seems to prefer basically every tight end on the roster ahead of him.
But he still could bring something to another team as he came out of college as a highly-touted player, it just hasn't worked out in Denver.
He is still just 25 years old and has the combination of size and quickness that another team in the league could take advantage of. There are plenty of teams that don't even have a solid starter in place at the tight end position where Albert O. could settle into.
The Broncos are going to have Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich and Chris Manhertz on the roster. Undrafted free agent Nate Adkins will be on the practice squad in a worst-case scenario for him. There's just no spot for Okwuegbunam and his time in orange and blue has clearly run out.
The Broncos wouldn't get more than probably a seventh-round pick for him in return but offering him to a team such as the Tennessee Titans or Washington Commanders, for example, could net that return.
Players Broncos should try to trade before roster cuts: Tyler Badie
This one is kind of dicey, because the Broncos would probably like to stash Tyler Badie somewhere after poaching him off the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens last season, but he also may become a victim of the numbers game.
Badie came into the summer looking like the clear-cut No. 3 running back on the depth chart behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. But undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin cannot be denied at this point.
McLaughlin has looked terrific during the preseason while Badie has been a bit banged up and hasn't done much of anything. There is no doubt that Badie has some untapped talent, but as is the case with many players every season, the team that has them on the roster may just not have the time to realize it.
In my opinion, if Badie were to get cut, he is going to get scooped up off waivers, meaning the team could not slide him to the practice squad. So if the intention is indeed to move on, the Broncos should look for another suitor that has the room for the depth.
If not, the team could choose to keep four running backs as there is not great depth behind Badie with Tony Jones Jr. and Dwayne Washington the only other backs on the roster.
Badie will be one of the more interesting names to watch as the Broncos knock their roster down to 53 players.