Broncos 53-man roster prediction: Bo Nix and the QB battle is just the start (2024)

Sean Payton lives with a constant, nagging fear when training camp begins. He believes it’s a healthy one, though.

“You don’t want a player in your camp that ends up leaving and excelling somewhere else,” Payton said.

It’s what guides Payton as he works to put together a 53-man roster, a process that begins when the Denver Broncos report as a full team for training camp Tuesday and follow with their first official practice Friday. Throughout the offseason program, Payton, 60, who’s entering his second season as the coach in Denver, said he was energized by the youth on the roster that created a “different” level of competition throughout OTAs and minicamp. But how many young players will still be on the roster a little more than five weeks from now?

“We are rooting for them all and coaching them hard, coaching all of them hard, regardless of how they got here,” Payton said. “At this point, we have to go by what we see.”

Here is my first attempt at predicting what the 53-man roster will look like come early September, with a second version set to come out later in camp.

Quarterback (2)

Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham

There are two big questions for the Broncos at quarterback once training camp begins: Will Nix, the rookie first-round pick, win the starting job? Is there room on the roster for all three quarterbacks (Nix, Stidham and Zach Wilson)?

My prediction: Yes and no. Teams don’t roster three quarterbacks often, and it’s been a rarity for Payton during his career. Plus, a rule change in 2024 allows teams to elevate a practice squad quarterback unlimited times without exposing him to waivers — all other positions are limited to three elevations — which lessens the need for three active-roster quarterbacks. Wilson was behind the other two quarterbacks during the offseason program, and there might not be time for him to close the gap.

Running back (3)

Javonte Williams, Audric Estimé, Jaleel McLaughlin

The Broncos exited draft weekend in late April with two new running backs — Estimé (a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame) and Blake Watson (a priority free-agent signing out of Memphis) — quickly turning up the heat in a position group that must generally perform better this season than it did in 2023. Samaje Perine, the veteran who signed with the Broncos in free agency last season, brings valuable experience as a receiver and pass blocker, but the Broncos appear ready for new faces at the position. Payton could keep four backs on the roster, particularly if Estimé needs more time to recover from minor offseason knee surgery. Watson will have a chance to become the latest undrafted free agent to make Denver’s initial 53-man roster, but he’ll need to shine in the preseason.

Fullback (1)

Michael Burton

The Broncos moved quickly to re-sign the veteran to a one-year deal in free agency. Burton figures prominently into Denver’s plans on offense (he had 18 percent of the unit’s snaps last year) and Ben Kotwica’s special teams operation (career-high 290 snaps in that phase in 2023).

Wide receiver (6)

Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Tim Patrick

This is one of the most difficult positions to predict heading into camp. Brandon Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who carved out decent roles last season, were hard to leave off the list. Patrick, who missed the past two seasons due to injury, must show he can get through training camp healthy for the first time since 2021. Vele, the seventh-round rookie out of Utah, had a strong offseason program, but he’ll need to continue to make plays in a crowded group. Can Jalen Virgil, the speedster who shined last season before suffering a torn ACL, make enough plays in camp to warrant a spot? There is a lot of opportunity for someone in this room to take a big leap forward this season. Who will it be?

Tight end (4)

Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins

The big question for the Broncos at tight end is whether they can get more receiving production out of the position. Denver ranked dead last in tight end receiving yards (362) in 2023, unable to produce a go-to target as Dulcich dealt with hamstring injuries that wiped out most of his season. The Broncos have expressed confidence that Dulcich will be healthy to begin camp, though he didn’t see the field during OTAs or minicamp. Krull, who saw his first NFL action during the second half of 2023, is expected to step into a larger role after Payton gushed about the 26-year-old’s talent during the offseason. Another storyline to watch: Can undrafted rookie Thomas Yassmin make enough plays in the preseason to crack the roster?

Offensive line (9)

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Alex Forsyth, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Matt Peart, Quinn Bailey, Luke Wattenberg, Sam Mustipher

The key position battle on the offensive line comes at center, where Forsyth, Wattenberg and the veteran Mustipher split reps during the offseason program. Wattenberg has also played guard during his previous two seasons in the NFL, providing versatility that could keep him on the roster even if he doesn’t win the starting center job. But he or Forsyth might have to beat out rookie seventh-round pick Nick Gargiulo and veteran free-agent addition Calvin Throckmorton to make the roster.

There also figures to be a heated battle for reserve tackle spots. Undrafted rookie Frank Crum out of Wyoming and second-year player Demontrey Jacobs could be in the equation. The same goes for Alex Palczewski, who made the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp last year as an undrafted rookie out of Illinois but spent most of the season rehabbing hand and knee injuries. There is a lot for Payton and offensive line coach Zach Strief to sort out over the next month.

Defensive line (6)

John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, Angelo Blackson, Matt Henningsen

Franklin-Myers, Roach and Blackson are new additions to a defensive line the Broncos are expecting to be much more stout against the run after giving up a league-high 5 yards per carry in 2023. This group appears largely set, but keep an eye on undrafted rookies Brandon Matterson (UTSA) and Jordan Miller (SMU) in the battle for a final reserve spot.

Outside linebacker (5)

Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, Jonah Elliss, Thomas Incoom

The Broncos began 2023 with two veterans — Randy Gregory and Frank Clark — at the front of the position and soon pivoted to a youth movement that allowed Cooper (8 1/2 sacks) and Bonitto (8) to blossom in larger roles. Denver leaned further into that blueprint by drafting Elliss out of Utah in the third round, and the son of former Broncos defensive lineman Luther Elliss will have a chance to make an early impact. Drew Sanders, the third-round pick out of Arkansas in 2023, tore his Achilles during an offseason workout, but the Broncos are hopeful he can return to the field at some point this season. Can Jaylon Allen, an undrafted rookie out of Memphis, challenge for a roster spot in the meantime?

Inside linebacker (4)

Alex Singleton, Jonas Griffith, Cody Barton, Justin Strnad

Griffith, who is returning after a knee injury in training camp wiped out his 2023 season, figures to battle Barton, a free-agent signing who spent last season in Washington, for the starting spot next to Singleton. Strnad re-signed on a one-year deal to provide depth and continue his role as a core special teams player. But he might have to beat out undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey from Fresno State to make the roster. Or, depending on how the roster math shakes out, the Broncos could keep five players at this spot.

Cornerback (6)

Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis, Ja’Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine, Tremon Smith

One of the more intriguing battles of training camp will be the outside corner spot opposite Surtain. Moss, Mathis and Levi Wallace, the veteran free-agent acquisition, all had moments during the offseason program and will likely rotate with the first-team defense early in camp. The Broncos are likely to train Abrams-Draine, the fifth-round pick out of Missouri, at multiple positions during camp, potentially providing depth at the nickel spot behind McMillian. The final spot could come down to Wallace and Smith, whose significant work on special teams could give him an edge.

Safety (4)

Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke, Caden Sterns, JL Skinner

The longtime tandem of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson is gone, meaning it’s a new era at safety in Denver. The Broncos signed Jones early in free agency, reuniting him with former University of Texas teammates Locke and Sterns. The hope is the trio can bring more athleticism to the position, giving defensive coordinator Vance Joseph more blitzing options to augment Denver’s pass rush. Skinner was a sixth-round pick in 2023 and played only one defensive snap as a rookie, but the coaching staff believes the 6-foot-4, 220-pound player out of Boise State could make a big impact in Year 2. First, he’ll have to beat out Omar Brown, the undrafted rookie from Nebraska.

Specialists (3)

Wil Lutz (kicker), Riley Dixon (punter), Mitchell Fraboni (long snapper)

The Broncos will have a punting battle in camp between Dixon and Trenton Gill, who filled that role the past two seasons for the Chicago Bears but was expendable after Chicago invested a fourth-round pick in Iowa’s Tory Taylor during April’s NFL Draft. Dixon appeared to be the slightly more consistent performer during the offseason program, but training camp and preseason games will serve as the true audition.

(Top photo of Damarri Mathis: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

Nick Kosmider is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Denver Broncos. He previously covered the Denver Nuggets for The Athletic after spending five years at the Denver Post, where he covered the city’s professional sports scene. His other stops include The Arizona Republic and MLB.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKosmider