DENVER, Colo. — The preseason is over, and cut day is right around the corner.

The Denver Broncos beat the Arizona Cardinals 38-12 on Sunday, but the big news is that a handful of young players made strong cases to remain on the team. The Broncos currently have 91 players on their roster. They must reduce that number to 53 by Tuesday afternoon.

Of the 38 players the Broncos will cut, 16 will be allowed to join the team’s practice squad. They can add a 17th player to the International Player Pathway slot on the practice squad. The only candidate is Australian tight end Thomas Yassmin.

Of the 16 practice squad players, up to six can be veterans with at least two years of NFL experience. Practice squad players can play in up to four games before they must be elevated to the 53-man roster.

The Broncos can sign whoever they want to their practice squad, but inexperienced players will have to clear waivers first. That means any team in the NFL has the opportunity to claim the player’s contract before he hits free agency.

Vested veterans are the exception. If a player has four credited seasons—essentially, he’s played at least six games in at least four seasons—he won’t need to clear waivers. Instead, he will become a free agent immediately upon being released and can sign with any team (or practice squad) he chooses. This will be important.

Here’s how I see the bubble shaking out…

Last 3 In:
Jordan Jackson
Keidron Smith
Levelle Bailey

First 3 Out:
Jonas Griffith
Samaje Perine
Lil’Jordan Humphrey

Next 3 Out:
Tremon Smith
Tyler Badie
Jalen Virgil

Jonas Griffith is my biggest surprise cut. He’s the most painful loss. I’ll explain more in the linebackers section.

I have the Broncos releasing Samaje Perine, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Tremon Smith… but with a catch. All three are vested veterans, so they won’t need to clear waivers to sign with the Broncos’ practice squad. The Broncos can offer them their current salaries to stick on the practice squad.

Keeping all three in the building might be a stretch since only two can be activated each week. I wouldn’t be surprised if Perine remains on the active roster and one of the players from the “last three in” section is released.

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix
Jarrett Stidham
Zach Wilson

Sean Payton: “We feel comfortable with those three quarterbacks. I think I have told you already, but I see the three of them making it.”

We’ll take the coach at his word and keep all three quarterbacks on the roster.

Running Backs

Javonte Williams
Jaleel McLaughlin
Audric Estime
Michael Burton

Samaje Perine
Tyler Badie
Blake Watson

Call me crazy, but I think Tyler Badie has looked the best of any Broncos running back this preseason. But the three halfbacks on the roster are locks to make the team, and I see the Broncos going heavier at tight end and wide receiver. Badie provides great depth from the practice squad.

Perine is a great safety blanket for a young quarterback, thanks to experience as a blocker and receiver that is unmatched in the running backs room. He knows how to find space. The Broncos make a deal to get him to the practice squad, which saves a roster spot.

Tight Ends

Greg Dulcich
Adam Trautman
Nate Adkins
Lucas Krull

Hunter Kampmoyer
Thomas Yassmin

Greg Dulcich is the best receiver. Nate Adkins is the best blocker. Adam Trautman is the best blend of the two.

Lucas Krull has an intriguing skillset, but he hasn’t found a way to turn the tools into production. He’s an upside play worth keeping on the roster, though. He’s the best insurance for an injury-prone Dulcich.

Wide Receivers

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

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

I can’t see the Broncos moving on from any of the six receivers listed above. Maybe a surprise trade comes through, but all six have something exciting to offer, whether it’s talent and potential or current ability.

The group of cuts have plenty to offer, too. Humphrey was an important part of the Broncos’ offense last year and seems to have taken a step forward this offseason. Jalen Virgil is a great special teamer who has flashed on offense. Brandon Johnson made a couple of big plays in the final preseason game, which would make moving on from him a tough decision.

Offensive Linemen

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

Matt Peart
Demontrey Jacobs
Will Sherman
Sam Mustipher
Frank Crum
Nick Gargiulo
Oliver Jervis

The Broncos’ depth up front is rough. I can’t justify keeping more than eight linemen on the roster.

Alex Palczewski is a promising tackle prospect, but he struggled on Sunday. He’s probably the best backup tackle.

Alex Forsyth struggled on Sunday and was called for penalties in each of the first two games. He’s still the best backup center, though.

Calvin Throckmorton is the backup guard, and he’s earned that job.

If the Broncos keep a ninth lineman, Matt Peart would be the heavy favorite. He’s a former top-100 draft pick with the talent to be a starter, but he’s still a work in progress. The Broncos can try to get him to the practice squad, where he’d serve as the backup left tackle. Demontrey Jacobs had a promising preseason and will be the backup left tackle if Peart isn’t in the building.

Defensive Linemen

Zach Allen
DJ Jones
John Franklin-Myers
Malcolm Roach
Angelo Blackson
Jordan Jackson

Matt Henningsen
Ellijah Garcia
Eyioma Uwazurike
Jordan Miller

The top four are absolute locks. Angelo Blackson is probably a lock, too.

I think Jordan Jackson won the final roster spot with his two-sack performance on Sunday. Matt Henningsen (proven production), Eyioma Uwazurike (pure potential) and Elijah Garcia (a blend of the two) would be upset picks to make the team.

Outside Linebackers

Jonathon Cooper
Baron Browning
Nik Bonitto
Jonah Elliss
(Ronnie Perkins – IR)

Dondrea Tillman
Thomas Incoom
Durell Nchami

All three of the players I’m cutting have made cases to make the team. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them does. Dondrea Tillman would be the favorite.

Inside Linebackers

Alex Singleton
Cody Barton
Justin Strnad
Levelle Bailey
(Drew Sanders – IR)

Jonas Griffith
Andre Smith
Alec Mock

Griffith was the most difficult decision. I’m not convinced it’s the right one.

Here’s why I pulled the trigger…

Alex Singleton is the clear leader of the group. He had Sunday off.

Cody Barton and Justin Strnad were the first pairing on the field. Then Barton left the field and Griffith took his place.

In other words, the pecking order appears to be…

1. Singleton
2. Barton
3. Strnad
4. Grifftih

Based on the 20 or so practices and three preseason games I’ve seen, I’d say that’s probably a fair ranking. The margins between the three at the bottom are very, very slim, though.

I had all three making the team until Levelle Bailey‘s 94-yard pick-six.

Bailey, an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, is a great athlete. He’s had a great camp. He’s had a great preseason. He executed everything that was asked of him, but he didn’t make any splash plays. I thought the Broncos could slip him to the practice squad.

After the interception, I don’t think the Broncos can take that risk. Every team in the NFL will see the interception and then look back through his preseason tape. They’ll like what they see. All it takes is one team to pull the trigger.

Bailey is an exciting young player. If the flashes prove to be legit, he could be a piece of the Broncos’ defense for the next decade. That’s unlikely, but the Broncos have to love what they’ve seen so far.

I like Griffith, too. He’s had big moments. His fluidity and athleticism at his size make him especially intriguing. But, if I was coaching the Broncos, I’d give Barton and Strnad opportunities to see the field first. Barton is a proven, safe option. Strnad’s flashes have been bigger and more frequent than Griffith’s.

If push comes to shove, and on Tuesday it will, I’ll choose Bailey’s longterm potential over Griffith’s

Cornerbacks

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

Tremon Smith
Reese Taylor
Art Green
Quinton Newsome
Tanner McCalister
Kaleb Hayes

Maybe Levi Wallace is on the block. Injuries kept him off the field for most of camp. But last year Fabian Moreau needed to steady the ship at cornerback after the young guys struggled, and I think that experience will weigh on the coaching staff’s minds. They’ll keep Wallace as a safety blanket.

The other question is whether Damarri Mathis will be ready to play after an ankle injury on Sunday. He could be an injured reserve candidate, depending on the severity.

As noted above, I see Smith providing special teams value from the practice squad. He’s a great gunner. He’s a great jammer. Given the changes to kickoff rules, Smith’s return skills will finally be needed in Denver.

Safeties

Brandon Jones
PJ Locke
Devon Key
JL Skinner
Keidron Smith
(Delarrin Turner-Yell – IR)

Omar Brown

Keidron Smith has to make the roster, right? He has two interceptions and a forced fumble to go along with an otherwise very solid preseason performance. Sean Payton would kick himself if he let Smith walk after all of these flashes, and Smith winds up starting in the NFL elsewhere.

Devon Key has served as the No. 3 safety in the preseason, in front of Smith and JL Skinner.

And they can’t move on from Skinner, right?

I can’t wrap my mind around the Broncos keeping all five safeties, but I have a tough time moving on from any of them, too. Plus, 10 of the 23 players claimed off of waivers after cutdown day last year were defensive backs. Protecting them is a smart strategy.

Special Teams

Wil Lutz
Riley Dixon
Mitchell Fraboni

Trenton Gill

The 35-yard punt that didn’t make it inside the 20 in Week 2 doomed Trenton Gill‘s chances. His best is better than Riley Dixon‘s, but the duds can’t happen.

Practice Squad

The Broncos will probably add some players from other teams to their practice squad, but I’ve got it shaking out like this…

• CB Tremon Smith
• WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
• RB Samaje Perine
• WR Jalen Virgil
• WR Brandon Johnson
• RB Tyler Badie
• OT Matt Peart
• OT Trey Jacobs
• OG Will Sherman
• OLB Dondrea Tillman
• OLB Thomas Incoom
• DL Elijah Garcia
• DL Eyioma Uwazurike
• DL Matt Henningsen
• CB Reese Taylor
• CB Art Green
• TE Thomas Yassmin