The Denver Broncos should have one of the NFL's most formidable rosters this coming season, capable of getting to and winning the Super Bowl.
After Bo Nix went down with a broken ankle toward the end of a thrilling win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs last year, all the wind was taken out of the sails at Empower Field. The Broncos went on to lose in depressing fashion in the AFC Championship Game, and fans can't wait to see the team back on the field.
The Broncos have a deep and talented roster with few weaknesses. But every year, there are players, generally on the roster bubble, who make training camp and preseason games interesting. These are players who may not be immediately thought of when talk of the upcoming season gets going, but they are players who could make a profound impact by the time things are said and done.
Teams get 53 players, but it often takes many more than that to win it all. Here is a player from each position group who could be a wild card for the team in 2026.
Quarterback: Sam Ehlinger
If you have been reading any of the offseason reports to this point, you know that the Broncos have a battle for the backup quarterback spot this summer and Sam Ehlinger has a real chance at beating out Jarrett Stidham for that job.
Ehlinger was exciting for the team in preseason last year and turned down other opportunities to be on other teams' 53-man rosters in order to stay on Denver's practice squad.
Running back: Jaleel McLaughlin
After going undrafted in 2023, Jaleel McLaughlin has spent the past three seasons in Denver and has proven to be a nice little sparkplug off the bench. But after the team used a fourth-round pick on Jonah Coleman to add him to a group that already included J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, McLaughlin may find it tough to make this year's squad.
McLaughlin lost snaps to Tyler Badie last season due to not being great in pass protection and not playing special teams. He'll need a strong summer to stick around.
Wide receiver: Hakeem Butler
The Broncos didn't need another wide receiver, but as soon as the UFL season wrapped up, they signed former fourth-round pick Hakeem Butler. At 6-foot-5, Butler provides a huge potential red-zone target for Nix.
Tight end: Caleb Lohner
Caleb Lohner is probably the biggest wild card on the entire roster.
A minor setback for Caleb Lohner, who was having an impressive offseason.
Good news is he's expected to be back for training camp. https://t.co/Fyiq3xwnPL
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) June 7, 2026
Fifth-round pick Justin Joly is going to make the team, but the real question with this group will be whether Lohner, a former basketball player, can crack the 53-man roster.
Offensive line: Tyler Miller
The Broncos have a solid group along the offensive line and there is proven depth behind the starters. However, undrafted free agent Tyler Miller has the tools to add to that depth and be another terrific rotational player for the team.
Defensive line: Sai'vion Jones
A third-round pick last year (one the Broncos traded up to get), will be one of the main options the team turns to in order to replace John Franklin-Myers, easily the team's biggest offseason departure.
We saw next to nothing from Jones as a rookie. Can he earn playing time over the likes of Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike?
Outside linebacker: Drew Sanders
It's now or never for the former third-round pick. The Broncos are moving Drew Sanders back to the outside this season, trying to salvage anything they can out of his disappointing career to this point.
Inside linebackers: Red Murdock
The Broncos have drawn praise for selecting Red Murdock with the final pick of this year's draft, and he has a good chance to be a factor at inside linebacker, the position most consider to be the biggest weakness on the team.
Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton are going to be the team's first options, but a strong preseason could put Murdock as the top player behind them.
Cornerback: Brent Austin
The Broncos have a great core at cornerback and will only be looking to back that up with quality depth. Former California corner Brent Austin is one of the more intriguing undrafted players in this year's crop and could make a push for the 53-man roster.
Safety: Miles Scott
The Broncos need to develop depth behind starters Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones after top reserve, P.J. Locke, left in free agency.
HOT READ: Broncos final offseason move should be extending 28-year-old safety, says ESPN
Miles Scott was chosen out of Illinois in the seventh round and could find himself in a key position to contribute if he can prove that he can be a factor on special teams. As a former wide receiver, the ball skills are there. If he can make big hits and be a consistent tackler, he may have come to the right place to develop his skills fully.
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