The Denver Broncos have their initial 53-man roster - there will be some things that change between now and Week 1 of the 2026 season, but the 53 men are set for the time being. Denver opens up the season in Kansas City against the Chiefs.
It's a major AFC West showdown, and despite it being a Week 1 game, it could have major division implications down the line. With the dust slowly starting to settle with roster cuts across the league, we took a different, fun approach to the current roster.
We've ranked all 53 players on the roster from worst to best, and we've also put them in tiers as well. Let's dive into this ranking, highlighting some of the more notable players and their standing.
Ranking all 53 Denver Broncos players from worst to best following roster cuts
The Weakest Links
53. Tyler Badie, RB
52. Alex Singleton, ILB
Maybe this is too harsh, but maybe not. Alex Singleton is borderline unplayable at this point. Outside of knowing the defense and wearing the green dot, there isn't really any value he brings to the field.
51. Sam Ehlinger, QB
50. Tycen Anderson, SAF
49. Jordan Jackson, DE
48. JL Skinner, SAF
47. Matt Peart, OT
46. Lil'Jordan Humphrey, WR
45. Adam Trautman, TE
Adam Trautman has been one of Sean Payton's 'guys' since arriving in Denver a few years ago, and he did manage to land a three-year extension from the team this offseason.
Unknowns or Rookies
44. Dallen Bentley, TE
Dallen Bentley made the 53-man roster over Justin Joly, and it was likely due to Bentley's blocking upside, which is something Joly did not have.
43. Kage Casey, OG
42. Tyler Onyedim, DE
41. Jonah Coleman, RB
Arguably the most exciting player on this list, Jonah Coleman could get a good bit of work as a rookie, as the Broncos will need a reliable runner behind J.K. Dobbins, who comes with some injury concerns.
40. Sai'vion Jones, DE
39. Karene Reid, ILB
38. Jordan Turner, ILB
Younger Players with Clear Upside
37. Que Robinson, OLB
Que Robinson and Jonah Elliss will likely get the snaps that Jonathon Cooper will miss due to his being placed on the exempt list. The Broncos clearly trust their depth at the position.
36. Pat Bryant, WR
Pat Bryant had a really nice offseason for the Broncos and does appear to be the full package at the position. He could step into that unofficial WR3 role for the team this year and could end up being a legitimate go-to target in 2027 and beyond.
35. Jonah Elliss, OLB
Both Robinson and Elliss possess exceptional speed and athleticism at the position, so I can't be the only one who is encouraged about seeing these two young players with clear upside getting a chance early in 2026.
Average At Best
34. Kris Abrams-Draine, CB
33. Alex Forsyth, C
32. Nate Adkins, TE
31. Jahdae Barron, CB
30. Jeremy Crawshaw, P
29. Eyioma Uwazurike, DE
Eyioma Uwazurike does have the potential to be a full-time starter in place of John Franklin-Myers, but he doesn't yet have extended experience in a starting role, so this is certainly someone who can take a step forward in 2026.
28. Jarrett Stidham, QB
27. Troy Franklin, WR
Troy Franklin was second to Courtland Sutton in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2025, but he seems to have fallen behind Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr in the WR depth order, which does kind of prove that there might not be much more of a ceiling with the third-year player.
26. Devon Key, SAF
25. Alex Palczewski, OG
24. Dondrea Tillman, OLB
23. RJ Harvey, RB
RJ Harvey just does not seem to have the between-the-tackles running ability that Coleman or Dobbins has, but he also appears to make up for that with some excellent receiving ability, so it does kind of even out for Harvey and profiles him as more of an average player right now.
22. Justin Strnad, ILB
21. Evan Engram, TE
Rock-Solid, Reliable Veterans
20. Ben Powers, LG
Ben Powers' restructured contract with the Broncos for 2026 comes after he dealt with two major injuries last year, but he's tough as nails and a reliable player.
19. Luke Wattenberg, C
18. Malcolm Roach, DT
17. Riley Moss, CB
Riley Moss' standing in this ranking might be too high for some players, but Moss more than held his own last year playing opposite Patrick Surtain II, the best cornerback in football.
16. Wil Lutz, K
While Wil Lutz doesn't have the leg that other kickers do, he has a high make percentage and came through in the clutch countless times for the Broncos last year.
WIL LUTZ IS CLUTCH (AGAIN).
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 17, 2025
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/jKkUgwOv07
15. DJ Jones, DT
14. Mike McGlinchey, RT
13. J.K. Dobbins, RB
Yes, he gets hurt a lot, but he's also average over five yards per carry across his career and is as reliable as they come when he's on the field. He was on pace for over 1,300 rushing yards in 2025 before his season-ending foot injury in Week 10.
12. Marvin Mims Jr, WR
11. Brandon Jones, SAF
High-end Players Close to Greatness
10. Courtland Sutton, WR
While Courtland Sutton has struggled with drops and clearly isn't a WR1, he has come up clutch on late-down situations for the Broncos and is clearly a good player.
9. Ja'Quan McMillian, CB
8. Bo Nix, QB
Bo Nix is on the doorstep of truly breaking out and being among the best at his position. With some added offensive firepower this offseason and a new play-caller, Nix's breakout might actually be rather easy to predict.
7. Jaylen Waddle, WR
Speaking of firepower, the Broncos added Jaylen Waddle this offseason in a trade to supercharge the offense with a consistent, explosive element they've been missing for years.
6. Talanoa Hufanga, SAF
Talanoa Hufanga played in every game last season and earned second-team All-Pro honors. He's simply an excellent player and has consistently been among the best safeties at the position for years.
The Best of the Best
We've hit the best of the best on the Broncos roster:
5. Nik Bonitto, OLB
With 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons, Nik Bonitto's unquestionable production has made him one of the league's best pass-rushers.
4. Zach Allen, DE
Zach Allen has led the league in quarterback hits in each of the last two seasons. He had 47 in 2025 and joins JJ Watt as the only players in NFL history with multiple seasons of at least 40 QB hits.
3. Garett Bolles, LT
Somehow, Garett Bolles is getting better with age, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2025, helping anchor the best offensive line in the NFL.
2. Quinn Meinerz, RG
Two-straight years of being a first-team All-Pro, both Bolles and Quinn Meinerz were finalists for the NFL's first Protector of the Year award in 2025.
1. Patrick Surtain II, CB
Already on a Hall of Fame pace, Patrick Surtain II could surely cement himself as the best cornerback in the history of the Broncos and was a top player at the position from his rookie season on. There really isn't a flaw in Surtain's game, as he continues to prove why he's the best defensive back in the league.
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