The Denver Broncos took care of business and were a perfect 3-0 during their preseason games. In two weeks, the Broncos will host their first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans. Before that happens, roster cuts loom large as the Broncos’ brass begins to finalize best 53-man roster for 2025. Listed below are five thoughts I have leading up to the flurry of news coming relative to those decisions.
This is the most complete roster we have seen in ages
After years of losing seasons and the failed Russell Wilson trade, the Broncos were in a rough spot. Lacking premium picks and having their salary cap significantly inhibited by dead money, there wasn’t much optimism that things were going to turn around quickly.
But somehow, someway, Head Coach Sean Payton, General Manager George Paton, and the rest of the Broncos’ brass have figured out a way to build a quality roster. Whether it be veteran trades, free agent additions, or hitting on picks in the draft, the decision makers in Denver have rampantly turned the tides of fortune for the franchise in short order.
Only time will tell how the Broncos’ fare during the 2025 season. Yet it’s hard not to be optimistic on their potential. The offense has a lot of promise, and the defense could be the best in the National Football League. Count me in as one of many across Broncos Country who haven’t been this excited about the team’s direction in a long time.
Sorting out who stays and who goes in the backfield
Veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey will be Denver’s running back duo for the 2025 season. Behind them, third-year pro Jaleel McLaughlin will provide experienced depth at the position. After that, it’s a guessing game on who may be the team’s fourth running back—if they opt to keep that many.
As I authored yesterday, that decision likely comes down to second-year pro Audric Estime and veteran Tyler Badie. At the age of 21, Estime is still the youngest player on the team and has a knack generating yards after contact. With Badie, 25, you have a player that offers value as a returner and has shown good receiving ability.
I’m likely in the minority of the fan base, but I’d like to see Estime continue to get a chance to develop. With Harvey and McLaughlin, you already have two backs that excel getting to the outside as zone runners. In the event Dobbins misses time with injury, having a bigger back who can help downhill in the running game would be important. Your mileage may vary, but I believe Badie would have an easier shot clearing waivers and making it to their 16-man practice squad than Estime.
For roster flexibility, Denver should keep just 5 receivers on the active roster
When the Broncos traded Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints, that was a clear vote of confidence they are bullish on the potential of the other players on the roster.
Veteran Courtland Sutton is poised to be the team’s top target in the passing game, but the trio of Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant are hopeful they can emerge as significant players in the Broncos’ aerial attack. The fifth wide receiver? That’s free agent addition Trent Sherfield Sr. who will be a special teams ace and get offensive reps as well.
While I’ve been impressed with several of the Broncos’ UDFA receivers—most notably Courtney Jackson—I’m not sure it’s necessary to carry a sixth receiver on the active roster. It’s highly unlikely that player would be a game day active. Moreover, I believe there are several other positions where depth and game day availability will be more important. I’ve seen a handful of roster projections with a sixth receiver but respectfully disagree on having that many on the final 53-man roster.
The toughest roster decisions will be on defense
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s first year back with the Broncos in 2023 didn’t inspire much confidence. However, that quickly changed after the defense’s incredible turnaround last season—including a league and franchise best 63 sacks.
This past offseason, Denver added several high-profile free agents and utilized early round selections on defense to make them even more formidable than last year’s squad. While fans aren’t convinced they will be as good as the 2015 unit, they certainly have star talent and depth across the board. With that in mind, I believe the toughest cuts are going to be on the defensive side of the ball.
This year’s outside linebacker group will have one more spot allocated compared to ‘24 due to the emergence of rookie Que Robinson. Denver is a significantly strong five deep at EDGE. On the defensive line, both Eyioma Uwazurike and Jordan Jackson made the final roster in ‘24. However, there is no way both stick unless the Broncos keep seven defensive linemen. I don’t see that happening.
Denver carried 11 defensive backs last season. This offseason, they added Talanoa Hufanga and Jadhae Barron to the secondary. Overall, I think they will wind up carrying 10 defensive backs. That means a few players from last year’s squad won’t be here. If there is an area on the team where another trade could happen, I think the secondary might be it.
Denver should highly consider adding a punter via the waiver wire
The Broncos made Florida prospect Jeremy Crashaw the only punter selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Reports throughout rookie minicamp, OTAs, and training camp have been overwhelmingly positive for Crashaw. Alas, his on-the-field performance—albeit a small sample size—has been underwhelming.
There are a lot of factors more important than the punting, yet it’s still a critical part of the game. The field position battle is a weekly struggle. Short fields are advantageous for the opposition but would be a significant hindrance to the Broncos’ pursuit of defensive dominance.
Can the Broncos bank on Crawshaw being able to improve in short order? I’m not so certain. I don’t know who will be available, but it might be wise to consider adding someone from the outside in order to solidify their special team’s unit.
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