The Broncos more or less have their team for 2025.
Sure, there could be another free-agent addition here or there.
Yes, Denver did some bottom-of-the-roster churning coming out of its rookie minicamp.
But with most of the off-field offseason now in the rearview mirror, the number of impact additions in Denver figures to be very small between now and the start of training camp.
Sean Payton’s had his group back in town for the offseason program since late last month and now the rookie class — seven draft picks and a sizable crop of free agents — are in the fold, too.
The next phase of the offseason begins Tuesday with the first of two weeks of voluntary organized team activities. The Broncos have had high-percentage attendance in recent years and should have the same this spring.
One thing Payton always makes clear: Once the action starts on the field, results are what matter.
“I give the (rookies) the same message each year,” Payton said earlier this month. “Once you arrive, that’s part of us procuring the talent. But once you arrive here, how you arrived here isn’t important to us. You’re here..
“Then if the player is working out, participating, then we will watch this tape and talk about each player, ‘What’s it look like?’ That’s from the last tryout player we signed to the first-round draft pick.”
There is also, however, a starting point. So with that in mind, here’s a loose attempt at a depth chart by position as the Broncos move one step closer to the start of training camp.
Newcomers this offseason are in italics.
Quarterback
Starter: Bo Nix
Backup: Jarrett Stidham
This year’s development project: Sam Ehlingher
Current status: Stable
Stable might be a boring word, but the Broncos won’t take it for granted at the game’s most important position after so many years of searching. Of course, just because the room has stability — Payton wants continuity, fighting to keep quarterbacks coach Davis Webb and re-signing Stidham to help foster it — doesn’t mean there aren’t big stakes. Much of what the Broncos want to accomplish will be dictated by how much of a jump Nix can take in his second pro season.
Stidham resisted the career backup label during last summer’s camp battle, but it suits him well, and the Broncos clearly value what he brings to the room. Payton showed a willingness to keep three on the 53-man roster, and the rules make it relatively easy to do so, meaning Ehlinger’s got a real chance to break camp on the roster.
Running back
Starter: RJ Harvey
Rotation candidates: Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Blake Watson
Payton regular: Fullback Mike Burton
Current status: Intriguing camp battle brewing
Harvey gets top billing in this exercise, but it obviously won’t be that simple. Every coach uses multiple backs, and Payton’s no exception. If you were devising a running back room from this group on paper, it’d be easy to draw it up this way: Harvey and Estime as the lightning and thunder duo, and then McLaughlin or Badie as a change of pace.
Harvey’s going to play and probably will play a lot. Payton sounded during rookie minicamp like he was ready to give the second-round pick as much as he can handle.
Estime’s got thump that the rest of the group doesn’t possess, so he’s a natural partner if he can protect the ball.
That would leave the other three to battle for complementary roles and special teams work. Of course, it could unfold differently, too. An interesting summer ahead.
Jonah Elliss (52) of the Denver Broncos comes in for a sack on Kirk Cousins (18) of the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Audric Estime (23) of the Denver Broncos punches in a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the Broncos' 38-0 win at Empower Field at Mile High on Jan. 5. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Wide receiver
Starters: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr.
Likely in the rotation: Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Pat Bryant
Wild card: A.T. Perry
Also: Trent Sherfield, Michael Bandy and a host of undrafted rookies
Current status: Pretty straightforward, unless…
Payton has been bullish on his receiving corps dating back to last year. That didn’t stop Denver from adding Bryant in the third round last month, however.
It’s far too early to start projecting whether the Broncos keep five receivers, six or some other number. Health and production will help determine all that through training camp.
On the surface, though, Denver does appear to have a tough room to crack. Perry is a promising young player who didn’t get a look on Sundays last year, but has ability. Sherfield was signed to be a special-teams ace, and he can hold down some reps on offense if needed, too.
So, can Bryant or Perry be a wild card? Among the more solidified options, can Mims carry his late-season surge into 2025 and become a real, consistent game-changer? The Broncos would welcome that, a Year 2 breakout from Franklin, or both.
Tight end
Joker: Evan Engram
Ol’ reliable: Adam Trautman
Fighting for spots and reps: Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, Cole Fotheringham, Caleb Lohner
Current status: Sneaky overhaul potential
Engram figures to be a staple of the Broncos offense and a fast favorite for Nix. He may not approach his 2023 total of 143 targets, but if he finished first or second on the team this fall, nobody would blink.
Beyond that, though, this group is wide open. Trautman doesn’t wow in any department, but Payton has full trust in him, and he’s been the voice of the room the past two years. Adkins is the next-most likely to make it among the returning guys due to his versatility.
Still, an outside chance exists that perhaps only one returning player makes the initial 53. Two feels more likely — Trautman and either Adkins or Krull — but isn’t a guarantee. Fotheringham is a good blocker, and Lohner is a lottery ticket.
The thing with Engram: He not only brings juice to the passing game, but he might also cause Payton to reimagine how the rest of the room fills in around him.
Offensive line
Starters: LT Garett Bolles, LG Ben Powers, C Luke Wattenberg, RG Quinn Meinerz, RT Mike McGlinchey
Returning reserves: Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, Alex Forsyth, Calvin Throckmorton
Young guys: Frank Crum, Nick Gargiulo, Xavier Truss, Clay Webb
Current status: Talented, deep and open to a surprise or two
The Broncos boasted one of the NFL’s best quintets last year, and they return the entire group as well as every reserve who took an offensive snap. Basically, it’s not going to be easy for any non-starter to crack the roster. Peart can play left tackle, filled jumbo TE duties last year and got a two-year deal this offseason, while Palczewski and Forsyth appeared to be the next two options last fall.
Tackle depth around the league is in rough shape. The only player the Broncos lost on waivers at last year’s roster cutdown was tackle Demontrey Jacobs, and they didn’t think they could get Crum through despite his rawness. That will play a factor in eventual decisions. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see if Truss or Webb can push for a spot on the 53.
Jonah Elliss (52) of the Denver Broncos comes in for a sack on Kirk Cousins (18) of the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Alex Forsyth of the Denver Broncos prepares to snap the ball during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Empower Field at Mile High on Oct. 27. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Defensive line
Starters: Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers
Early down regular: Malcolm Roach
Rotation candidates: Sai’Vion Jones, Jordan Jackson, Eyioma Uwazurike
Bubble/practice squad candidates: Matt Henningsen, Jordan Miller, Kristian Williams
Current status: Band’s back together
Every contributor from last year’s disruptive group is back for 2025. It’s a stacked room that adds Jones as a high-upside third-round pick. Questions abound beyond this fall — Allen, at least, is likely to get an extension at some point, but Franklin-Myers and Roach are also entering the final years of their contracts — but that’s not of immediate concern for defensive line coach Jamar Cain and his guys.
One of the best qualities a defense can have in the NFL is the ability to rush with four and pressure quarterbacks. Allen and JFM lead the charge up front in making that possible.
The Broncos set this group up to run it back when they re-signed D.J. Jones on the eve of free agency and should have one of the most potent rotations in football.
Outside linebacker
Starters: Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper
Next up: Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman
Special teams/bubble watch: Que Robinson, Andrew Farmer, Johnny Walker Jr.
Current status: Looking for another leap
Bonitto had a breakout season and Cooper got a lucrative extension at the trade deadline last year, giving the Broncos as much certainty as they’ve had on the edge since the Von Miller/Bradley Chubb days. The key to taking another step forward this fall is Tillman and Elliss growing in each of their second NFL seasons.
On paper, if that quartet is healthy, there likely aren’t many defensive snaps to go around. But Robinson, a fourth-round pick, and Walker (undrafted but signed to a nice guarantee) will have a chance to crack the roster as rookies if they can be core special teamers. Remember, undrafted guys getting guaranteed money doesn’t mean they’ll make the 53, necessarily, but it does mean they’ve got a clear path to the practice squad at the least.
Jonah Elliss (52) of the Denver Broncos comes in for a sack on Kirk Cousins (18) of the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Jonah Elliss of the Denver Broncos comes in for a sack on Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Nov. 17. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Inside linebacker
Starters: Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton
Trusted reserve: Justin Strnad
What is he? Drew Sanders
Young guys trying to make it: Levelle Bailey, JB Brown, Jordan Turner, Karene Reid
Current status: Hurting at the moment, but come September…
Singleton is seven months post-ACL surgery, and Greenlaw injured his quad earlier in the offseason, so it remains to be seen whether they’ll play much together before training camp. Either way, they can be a dynamic pairing in the middle of the field — Greenlaw with sideline-to-sideline range and three-down coverage ability and Singleton as a tackling machine — when and if they’re both healthy.
Strnad played the most defense of his career last year after Singleton went down and is a special-teams weapon. Sanders is the wild card. Can he become a trusted middle-of-the-field player? Is he a situational pass-rusher? His second pro season was marred by a torn Achilles tendon last spring. Now he’s got a chance to learn from several veterans and make a push. If an undrafted free agent is going to make this roster, one of Brown, Turner or Reid would be a decent bet.
Cornerback
Outside starters: Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss
Nickel: Ja’Quan McMillian vs. Jahdae Barron
Under the radar: Kris Abrams-Draine
Potential cap casualty: Damarri Mathis
Also: Reese Taylor, Quinton Newsome, Jaden Robinson and Joshua Pickett
Current status: Best in the business?
There are many Broncos defensive players who will say they think they’ve got the best set of corners in the NFL. Surtain is the reigning defensive player of the year, and Moss put together a terrific season until a knee injury hampered him down the stretch. Now add in what might be the single best battle of training camp: Barron, the No. 20 overall pick, vs. McMillian for the starting nickel job.
Barron, of course, has the versatility to play other spots as well and could end up doing so. Either way, though, the first-rounder spices up what was already a quality group.
Don’t forget about Abrams-Draine, who performed well when thrown into the fire late in his rookie season. Mathis is talented and ably filled a role — albeit a small one — last year. But he also counts $3.6 million against the cap in the final year of his rookie deal. Corners are hard to find, so he could make it, but he’ll have to battle his way to the roster.
Safety
Starters: Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga
Critical depth: P.J. Locke
Mess of depth/ST candidates: Sam Franklin Jr., JL Skinner, Devon Key, Keidron Smith, Tanner McCalister, Delarrin Turner-Yell
Current status: Really good, but a bit thin
Jones blossomed last year, his first with the Broncos under the guidance of defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and secondary coach Jim Leonhard. Now the Broncos add Hufanga, who’s had injury issues but was an All-Pro in 2022. If they stay healthy, they’ve got a chance to be a dynamic starting duo. Locke adds quality veteran depth, though he’ll have to hold off younger players like Skinner.
We’ll see how new special team coordinator Darren Rizzi prioritizes body types, but any of the six guys behind the top trio can be high-quality, core-four type of players in the third phase.
Specialists
Starters: Wil Lutz (PK), Jeremy Crawshaw (P) and Mitchell Fraboni (LS)
Offseason depth: Zach Triner (LS)
Current status: Seemingly settled
Can a long snapper get Wally Pipp’d? Probably not, especially considering Fraboni got $1.7 million in guarantees from Denver this offseason. But he’s out for most of the offseason with an injury, meaning Triner gets a shot to impress.
Lutz has been one of the league’s most consistent place kickers the past two years, and the Broncos considered Crawshaw the best punter in this year’s draft.
Wil Lutz (3) of the Denver Broncos kicks off to the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Wil Lutz of the Denver Broncos kicks off to the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Jan. 5. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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