Projecting the Denver Broncos' 53-man roster halfway through training camp

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Ten practices into Denver Broncos Training Camp, we’re starting to see separation in position battles across the roster.

The Broncos have their second off day of camp on Sunday and coaches will meet to evaluate where these battles stand and who needs work with the starters, backups or reserves.

We’re taking this chance to do the same, but with a twist: We’re guessing who would be on the team and who wouldn’t if cut-down day was today.

With recent changes to practice squad rules, this exercised has changed. As head coach Sean Payton said last summer, teams now have a 69-man roster instead of a 53-man roster, at least in some ways.

Here’s what he means…

Each team gets to keep 53 players on their roster after cutdown day, Aug. 27.

After cutdown day, all players who didn’t make the team must pass through waivers. Any team can place a claim on a waived player, which means they would take on the remainder of that player’s contract.

Any player that goes unclaimed can sign with a team’s 16-man practice squad.

Players on the practice squad can participate in up to four games over the course of the season. If a team wants a player for a fifth game, it must promote him to the 53-man roster.

The game is no longer finding the best 53 players during training, it’s figuring out how to keep the best 69 players in the building.

Take Lil’Jordan Humphrey, for example. Humphrey was an important part of the Broncos’ plans, but the team gambled that nobody else would want him. The Broncos cut Humphrey on cutdown day, waited for him to clear waivers, and then signed him to their practice squad. Humphrey appeared in all 17 games.

While young unknown players like Reese Taylor and Thomas Incoom have had great camps for the Broncos, both were practice squad players a year ago and would probably clear waivers. But preseason games change the equation, because that tape is distributed to every NFL team.

It’s easy to cover up a hidden gem in camp. It’s harder to cover it up when the whole league is watching.

With that context out of the way, here’s where I think the roster stands, as of Sunday…

Last 3 In:
Samaje Perine
Thomas Incoom
Devaughn Vele

First 3 Out:
Tremon Smith
Durell Nchami
Lil’Jordan Humphrey

Next 3 Out:
Devon Key
Reese Taylor
Levelle Bailey

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix
Jarrett Stidham

Zach Wilson

Let me lay out the best-case scenario for the Broncos at quarterback…

Step 1: Bo Nix is awesome.

Step 2: Jarrett Stidham earns a decent contract in free agency. If he gets a deal similar to the one he has now, the Broncos would probably net a sixth-round compensatory pick. If he gets more money—maybe a deal similar to Tyrod Taylor or Jacoby Brissett—the pick would improve.

Step 3: After a year as the third-stringer, Zach Wilson re-signs with the Broncos this offseason to be the backup quarterback.

Step 4: The NFL views him as “rehabbed” next offseason—either because he shows a spark in a game or two, or because the optics of spending two years with Sean Payton are similar to Sam Darnold and Kyle Shanahan in 2023—and the Broncos get a comp pick for Wilson, too.

I love the idea of keeping Wilson around, but I don’t think he’s worth spending a roster spot on in 2024. Those spots are too valuable. Luckily, he should clear waivers.

Hopefully the Broncos can get Wilson to the practice squad and let the rehab continue.

Running Backs

Javonte Williams
Jaleel McLaughlin
Audric Estime
Samaje Perine
Michael Burton

Blake Watson
Tyler Badie

I see a competition brewing between Samaje Perine, Michael Burton and tight end Nate Adkins.

Perine holds value as the Broncos’ top third-down back. He was one of the most productive receivers out of the backfield in the NFL last season and he blends that ability with blocking better than anybody else in the room.

But Burton, a fullback, can certainly protect out of the shotgun.

And Adkins can play fullback, putting Burton on uneven footing.

The overlap in skillsets creates a battle for roster spots. The question is how many spots are available. One? Two?

I’ve got all three on the team for now, but I expect that to change during the preseason, when some of the Broncos’ unheralded young player earn roster spots.

One of those could be Blake Watson, the running back out of Memphis who earned the third-most guaranteed money of any undrafted free agent this year. He was one of two FBS running backs to catch at least 50 passes last year. He missed the first seven practices of camp and is on the outside looking in until he forces the Broncos’ hand, though.

Tight Ends

Greg Dulcich
Lucas Krull
Adam Trautman
Nate Adkins

Hunter Kampmoyer
Thomas Yassmin

The Broncos brought in three-year vet Hunter Kampmoyer this week. I think he could be insurance in case the Broncos need to make a tough decision with Adkins.

If the Broncos try to pass Adkins through to the practice squad and fail, Kampmoyer would be a solid replacement. Adkins is the team’s top blocking tight end, and it isn’t close, but Kampmoyer can hold his own in that regard.

If the Broncos are in a pinch for roster spots and decide they can’t lose Adkins, Adam Trautman could be a potential trade option. Denver would have to love what they see from Adkins, Greg Dulcich and Lucas Krull, though.

Thomas Yassmin looks very raw so far in camp, but once he settles in with his technique, he has the tools to be a solid blocker. As an International Pathway Program player, he won’t count toward the 16-man practice squad limit. He’s locked in to a practice squad spot.

Wide Receivers

Courtland Sutton
Marvin Mims Jr.
Josh Reynolds
Tim Patrick
Troy Franklin
Devaughn Vele

Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Michael Bandy
Brandon Johnson
David Sills
Jalen Virgil
Phillip Dorsett

Typically, NFL teams keep six or seven wide receivers. Last year, the Broncos began the season with four.

Of course, playing Humphrey from the practice squad was the key to this strategy.

Could Humphrey clear waivers again? He looks to have leveled up his game so far during camp. He’s feasting on mid-range passes in the middle of the field. But I think the answer is still yes.

Could Devaughn Vele clear waivers? He’s older and less proven than Humphrey, but there’s upside that comes along with being a rookie that a team might gamble on. I think Vele would clear waivers as of now—a big preseason would change that—but I don’t think the Broncos would take the risk.

I have the Broncos cutting a handful of receivers who have had good camps, but there’s no reason not to put them on the practice squad.

Offensive Linemen

Garett Bolles
Ben Powers
Luke Wattenberg
Quinn Meinerz
Mike McGlinchey
Alex Forsyth
Calvin Throckmorton
Matt Peart
(Quinn Bailey – IR)

Alex Palczewski
Sam Mustipher
Nick Gargiulo
Demontrey Jacobs
Will Sherman
Frank Crum
Oliver Jervis

Losing Quinn Bailey to a broken fibula hurts because he provided depth at tackle and guard, as well as serving as the Broncos’ sixth lineman in jumbo sets.

With the eight-man group above, the bare minimum for an NFL line, the depth at tackle is weak. Matt Peart is the only true tackle on the bench.

Calvin Throckmorton picked up plenty of experience at tackle in college, but he’s only appeared as a guard in four NFL seasons. Luke Wattenberg might be better-equipped to kick outside in a pinch, but he’s the favorite for the starting center job, which would make that a moot point.

The stage is set for Alex Palczewski to join the roster, but he needs to step up after a slow start to camp. A year off of football as he recovered from injury is probably the cause for rust.

As it stands now, I have the Broncos trying to push Palczewski to the practice squad. If he doesn’t clear waivers and the Broncos are hit with and injury at tackle, they’ll have to go shopping for a journeyman mid-season.

Defensive Linemen

Zach Allen
DJ Jones
John Franklin-Myers
Malcolm Roach
Angelo Blackson
Matt Henningsen

Ellijah Garcia
Eyioma Uwazurike
Jordan Jackson
Jordan Miller

Elijah Garcia has had a good camp. I think the Broncos like him. I also think he can get to the practice squad.

The X-factor in this group is Eyioma Uwazurike, who could be back from a year-long gambling suspension any day. The big man is talented and could force his way onto the roster. But with his stained reputation, teams would be less likely to claim him on waivers.

Outside Linebackers

Jonathon Cooper
Baron Browning
Nik Bonitto
Jonah Elliss
Durell Nchami

Thomas Incoom
Dondrea Tillman
Ronnie Perkins
Jaylon Allen

It feels like a crime to keep Durell Nchami off this list, but I had to choose between him and Thomas Incoom. It’s a coin toss.

Both players have been crazy good in camp. They get sacks every day. Take your pick, and don’t be surprised if both make the team.

Inside Linebackers

Alex Singleton
Jonas Griffith
Cody Barton
Justin Strnad
(Drew Sanders – IR)

Levelle Bailey
Andre Smith

Levelle Bailey has had a great camp. The undrafted rookie out of Fresno State has been all over the field, whether he’s defending passes or blitzing. On Friday, he had back-to-back plays where he strung a run out to the sideline for no gain and then blitzed and sacked the quarterback on the next snap.

But we knew Bailey was an athlete. What we didn’t know is whether his 225-pound frame can hold up in the NFL. Without seeing him try to tackle running backs to the ground, the evaluation on Bailey is tough.

If Bailey doesn’t miss a tackle in the preseason and holds his own against NFL linemen, I don’t see how the Broncos could keep him off the team.

Cornerbacks

Pat Surtain II
Ja’Quan McMillian
Riley Moss
Levi Wallace
Damarri Mathis
Kris Abrams-Draine

Tremon Smith
Reese Taylor
Art Green
Quinton Newsome
Tanner McCalister

The Broncos have a logjam at cornerback, and I see three potential solutions…

1. Carry seven on the roster and make cuts elsewhere.
2. Trade Damarri Mathis.
3. Try to push Tremon Smith to the practice squad.

Here’s why I chose option three.

Smith’s contract is complicated, but if he plays every game for a team this year he’ll get $2.5 million. Is anybody claiming that expense on waivers?

Honestly, I think the answer might be yes. Smith is one of the five or six best special teams players in the league, and special teams will matter more than ever in 2024.

But I’m taking the risk here because the Broncos have so many bodies at the position. Even practice squadders like Art Green have the tools to be great on special teams. As of now, I’m gambling.

Keep an eye on Reese Taylor. It would be a stretch to say he’s having a camp reminiscent of 2023 Ja’Quan McMillian in the slot, but he’s doing a lot of things really well. He’s physical. He’s quick. He might make the team.

Safeties

Brandon Jones
PJ Locke
Caden Sterns
JL Skinner
(Delarrin Turner-Yell – IR)

Devon Key
Omar Brown
Keidron Smith

Like Reese Taylor, Devon Key is having a great training camp. He’s taking advantage of the extra opportunities granted to him because of the various absences during camp.

I have JL Skinner edging out Key for this roster spot, but the battle is tight. Maybe the Broncos will keep both.

Special Teams

Wil Lutz
Riley Dixon
Mitchell Fraboni

Trenton Gill

There isn’t clear separation in the punter race. Both have had good kicks. I’m going with the incumbent until the challenger takes a clear lead.

Click here to see our initial roster projection from before training camp.

Want to keep up with training camp? Read our notes from every practice. Click here to see what happened on Saturday.