Projecting the Broncos’ 53-man roster
By Tuesday at 2 p.m., the Broncos must have their roster cut down from 80 to 53 players.
In our final 53-man projection, the roster includes 14 players who weren’t a member of the organization at the end of last year.
This prediction has 25 players apiece on offense and defense, and three specialists. It includes six of their 10 draft picks and one undrafted rookie.
Offense (25) Quarterbacks (2)
In: Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock.
Out: Brett Rypien.
Analysis: Pretty clear cut here if the Broncos opt to go with two quarterbacks. Fangio tabbed Bridgewater on Wednesday to be his Week 1 starter and Lock as the backup. Rypien is an ideal practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.
Running backs (4)
In: Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone and Royce Freeman
Out: Damarea Crockett, Stevie Smith, Adam Prentice (FB).
Analysis: Boone’s quad injury could send him to injured reserve after the initial roster is set, which allows him to return after a minimum of three weeks. Williams, the second-round rookie from North Carolina, has been as advertised, a powerful and runthrough-arm-tackles rusher who will challenge Gordon for playing time and carries. Freeman is a valuable special teams player and running back who can play on third down because of his receiving and pass-protection abilities.
Tight ends (4)
In: Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam, Eric Saubert, Andrew Beck (TE/FB).
Out: Shaun Beyer and Austin Fort.
Analysis: Saubert has been a bright spot because he knows how to use his 253-pound frame as an in-line blocker, can also threaten teams downfield (as shown by his 21-yard catch against Seattle) and has earned praise for his special teams play. Fant (leg) was expected to miss Saturday’s preseason finale and Okwuegbunam has had a relatively quiet camp coming off last November’s ACL injury. Beck worked exclusively at tight end in camp practices so he could fine tune his technique at that position, but will be counted on to also play fullback and special teams.
Receivers (6)
In: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Tim Patrick, Diontae Spencer (KR/PR) and Trinity Benson.
Out: Tyrie Cleveland, Kendall Hinton, Seth Williams and De’mornay Pierson-el.
Analysis: The only change from late June is including Benson and removing Cleveland. Benson had two touchdown catches against Minnesota and Cleveland had no catches in the first two games. Spencer provides enough value as a return specialist to stick. An interesting subplot is Patrick, who fought knee and groin injuries during training camp and didn’t do anything memorable when he was healthy. Can he turn it on for the regular season? Overall, we disagree with the notion this is a loaded position group. Sutton is coming off an ACL injury, Hamler hasn’t proven he can be consistently available and the aforementioned Patrick has been nicked up.
Offensive linemen (9)
In: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry (C), Graham Glasgow (RG), Bobby Massie (RT), Netane Muti (G), Austin Schlottmann (G/C), Quinn Meinerz (C/G) and Calvin Anderson (RT/LT).
Out: Cam Fleming (RT), Quinn Bailey (LT) and Adam Himmelman (LT).
Analysis: No changes from late June. The center competition never started because Cushenberry was that improved and Meinerz found the sledding that difficult, particularly as a snapper. Massie has the inside track at right tackle after rotating on a daily basis against Anderson, who has value as a swing backup. We have Schlottmann on the roster to be the backup center instead of throwing Meinerz in deep waters or moving Glasgow from right guard to center.
Defense (25)
Defensive linemen (6)
In: Shelby Harris (DE), Mike Purcell (NT), Dre’mont Jones (DE), Shamar Stephen (DL), Deshawn Williams (DE) and Mctelvin Agim (DL).
Out: Jonathan Harris, Isaiah Mack and Marquiss Spencer.
Analysis: No changes from late June. Spencer, a seventh-round rookie, wasn’t able to challenge Agim for the sixth spot, partly because of an ankle injury. Agim generated buzz early in camp because of his interception and batted-down passes, but his mid-august groin injury was a road block. Williams (interception against Seattle) and Stephen are two valuable rotational players.
Outside linebackers (4)
In: Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Malik Reed and Jonathon Cooper.
Out: Derrek Tuszka and Andre Mintze.
Analysis: The Broncos kept five outside linebackers to start last year. Cooper has been one of the surprises of camp (two sacks against Seattle) considering he missed the entire offseason program following a heart procedure. Tuszka will head to the practice squad.
Inside linebackers (5)
In: Josey Jewell, Alexander Johnson, Justin Strnad, Baron Browning and Curtis Robinson. Out: Barrington Wade. Analysis: Josh Watson was cut last week, more of a nod to Robinson (or Wade) than Strnad or Browning, who were going to make the team anyway. Robinson makes the initial roster as undrafted rookie. It will be interesting to see how the Broncos utilize Strnad in sub-package situations and if Browning provides versatility as an edge rusher.
Cornerbacks (6)
In: Pat Surtain II, Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller, Bryce Callahan, Michael Ojemudia and Nate Hairston.
Physically unable to perform list: Essang Bassey and Duke Dawson.
Out: Mac Mccain III, Savion Smith, Parnell Motley and Kary Vincent.
Analysis: Bassey and Dawson are still rehabilitating ACL injuries and they will get another six weeks if they are placed on the physically unable to perform list. If Ojemudia was healthy, we could see the Broncos sticking with five corners, but he sustained a hamstring injury against Seattle and will miss the beginning of the regular season. He must be on the initial 53-man roster
to be placed on injured reserve-eligible to return. Don’t be surprised if only five corners are on the initial list and Hairston is added after clearing waivers. The top four of Darby, Fuller, Surtain and Callahan is the best quartet in the league.
Safeties (4)
In: Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke.
Out: Trey Marshall and Jamar Johnson.
Analysis: Marshall was getting second-team reps until his ankle injury while covering a kickoff at Minnesota and he hasn’t practiced since. If the Broncos like his special teams ability enough to put him on the initial 53-man roster, he could be another injured reserve-eligible to return candidate. Sterns, a fifth-round rookie, has played well in the preseason but missed two practices last week with a leg injury. Johnson, also a fifth-round rookie, never got out of the blocks during camp.
Specialists (3)
In: Brandon Mcmanus (K), Sam Martin (P) and Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS).
Analysis: Mcmanus, Martin and Bobenmoyer went through training camp unchallenged.