Preseason has wrapped up for the Denver Broncos and the team must now make 27 roster moves to get down to a 53-man roster before Tuesday’s deadline.
Here is our final 53-man roster prediction for Denver ahead of the team’s looming cuts.
Quarterback: 2
QB1: Russell Wilson
QB2: Josh Johnson
We have Johnson edging out Brett Rypien for the backup quarterback job, and Denver might even consider claiming a QB off waivers. Whether it’s Johnson or Rypien on the initial 53, whoever loses the backup QB job will be a great candidate for the practice squad.
Running back: 3
RB1: Javonte Williams
RB2: Melvin Gordon
RB3: Mike Boone
Boone looked good in preseason and he should be a candidate to get a few more snaps on offense this season. Devine Ozigbo and JaQuan Hardy will both be candidates for the practice squad
TE/FB: 4
TE1: Albert Okwuegbunam
TE2: Eric Tomlinson
TE3/FB: Andrew Beck
TE4: Greg Dulcich
Denver might ultimately decide to carry five tight ends, which would create a spot for Eric Saubert. For now, Tomlinson’s projected to make it over Saubert as the team’s top blocking tight end.
WR: 6*
WR1: Courtland Sutton, [Brandon Johnson]*
WR2: Jerry Jeudy, Seth Williams
Slot: KJ Hamler, Montrell Washington
Special teams: Tyrie Cleveland
Cleveland missed all of preseason with a throat injury, so he’s certainly not a lock, but his special teams contributions are notable. Johnson should be on the initial 53-man roster, but he’ll be a candidate to move to injured reserve the next day.
Jalen Virgil and Kendall Hinton would be top candidates for the practice squad if they clear waivers. Hinton might also be a trade candidate.
Offensive line: 8*
LT: Garett Bolles, Calvin Anderson
LG: Dalton Risner, Graham Glasgow
C: Lloyd Cushenberry III, Luke Wattenberg
RG: Quinn Meinerz, [Netane Muti]*
RT: Billy Turner, [Tom Compton]*
Compton will spend at least the first four weeks of the season on the reserve/PUP list, and Muti might be a candidate for injured reserve after the initial roster is set.
Defensive line: 6
DE: Dre’Mont Jones, McTelvin Agim
NT: D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell
DE: DeShawn Williams, Eyioma Uwazurike
If those are the six defensive linemen the Broncos choose for the active roster, Matt Henningsen and Jonathan Harris would be top candidates for the practice squad should they clear waivers.
Outside linebacker: 7
Starter: Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory
Rotation: Baron Browning, Malik Reed, Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper
Special teams: Aaron Patrick
The Broncos are very deep at edge rusher, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Reed or Cooper are trade candidates. If he doesn’t make the 53-man roster, Cooper would be a top practice squad target.
Inside linebacker: 3*
ILB1: Josey Jewell
ILB2: Jonas Griffith
ILB3: Alex Singleton
Our prediction has the Broncos carrying three ILBs on the initial roster with the assumption that Denver will claim a linebacker off waivers from another team. Justin Strnad and Kana’i Mauga should be candidates for the practice squad.
Cornerback: 6*
CB1: Pat Surtain, [Michael Ojemudia]*
Slot: K’Waun Williams, Damarri Mathis
CB2: Ronald Darby, Bless Austin, Faion Hicks
After making the initial roster, Ojemudia will likely be a candidate to go on injured reserve the next day. Essang Bassey should be a target for the practice squad if he doesn’t make the active roster.
Safety: 5
FS: Justin Simmons, Caden Sterns
SS: Kareem Jackson, P.J. Locke
Special teams: Delarrin Turner-Yell
The Broncos are loaded with excellent depth at safety. J.R. Reed might be a trade candidate or a potential option for the practice squad.
Specialists: 3
K: Brandon McManus
P: Corliss Waitman
LS: Jacob Bobenmoyer
McManus is the only lock among Denver’s specialists. Sam Martin has been competing with Waitman this summer, and whoever loses that competition will likely be a trade candidate. Bobenmoyer made a costly mistake in the team’s preseason finale by running a downed punt into the end zone for a touchback, and the team worked out nine long snappers during the summer. Bobenmoyer’s spot might be in jeopardy if the Broncos like any long snappers who become available during roster cuts.
