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Broncos roster cuts are due by Saturday afternoon. I already broke down the six big position battles in-depth, so let's get straight to the depth chart. Below that I'll go speed-round, position by position.
Broncos depth chart projection
Reminder: Player movements denoted in this depth chart represent changes from my previous depth chart, not the Broncos' official depth chart.
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Offense (24) Quarterback Peyton Manning Brock Osweiler Zac Dysert Running Back Montee Ball Ronnie Hillman Juwan Thompson Kapri Bibbs (new) Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas Wes Welker Emmanuel Sanders Andre Caldwell (up) Cody Latimer (down) Isaiah Burse Tight End Julius Thomas Jacob Tamme Virgil Green Offensive Tackle Ryan Clady Chris Clark Michael Schofield Guard Louis Vasquez Orlando Franklin Ben Garland (new) Center Manny Ramirez Will Montgomery |
Defense (26) Defensive Tackle Sylvester Williams Terrance Knighton Marvin Austin Kevin Vickerson (new) Mitch Unrein Defensive End DeMarcus Ware Malik Jackson Derek Wolfe Quanterus Smith Linebacker Von Miller Danny Trevathan Nate Irving Lerentee McCray Brandon Marshall Steven Johnson Lamin Barrow Cornerback Aqib Talib Chris Harris Jr. Bradley Roby (up) Kayvon Webster (down) Omar Bolden (down) Safety T.J. Ward Rahim Moore Quinton Carter (up) David Bruton (down) Duke Ihenacho |
Special Teams (3) K Matt Prater* K Brandon McManus* (new) P Britton Colquitt LS Aaron Brewer PR Isaiah Burse KR Isaiah Burse (new) *McManus will fill Prater's roster spot during his suspension Practice Squad (10) C Matt Paradis CB Louis Young LB Corey Nelson LB Shaquil Barrett RB C.J. Anderson (new) OT Vinston Painter WR Bernie Fowler S John Boyett DE Kenny Anunike** **Injury status unknown (elbow strain), but I'm not going to assume IR for Anunike ***Morrah not eligible for PS (via) |
Cuts from last time: DT Sione Fua, RB C.J. Anderson (practice squad), TE Gerrell Robinson (removed from practice squad). Still cut from last time: CB Tony Carter
Quarterback
Zac Dysert makes the team because John Fox has always kept three quarterbacks.
Running back
This looks shocking, but this is using my own two eyes. Juwan Thompson has a similar skillset to C.J. Anderson, and I like him better. Kapri Bibbs has exceptional vision and quickness and is a potential touchdown machine. Ronnie Hillman is still ahead of them both thanks to an impressive preseason in the pass-catching department; he was one of Peyton Manning's favorite targets this preseason.
Wide receiver
Isaiah Burse makes the team thanks to his 151 all-purpose yards Thursday. My previous ranking of Latimer ahead of Caldwell was a typographical error.
Tight end
Virgil Green makes the team by the skin of his teeth. Hope he's healthy.
Tackle
Michael Schofield didn't have a great game Thursday, but he's had better games, and he's a rookie.
Guard
I think I've watched more Ben Garland than anyone else this preseason. He's a different player from a year ago. The development has paid off. It's time. Plus, no one else on the offensive line has really pushed for a spot harder than him.
Center
Will Montgomery isn't exactly a Swiss Army knife, but he makes the Broncos' offensive line one. If any starter goes down, he comes in first.
Defensive tackle
So tough. Can't the Broncos keep 70 guys? Also, can't they line up 12 men on defense with three DTs? Worlds would be destroyed.
Sione Fua is my odd man out this time, and it came down to measurables (he's the shortest and second-lightest of the group). He deserves a roster spot more than Isaiah Burse. He deserves a roster spot more than Michael Schofield. He deserves a roster spot more than Steven Johnson, Duke Ihenacho, and Zac Dysert. But that's not always the way these rosters work, and sixth defensive tackle is a position I just can't justify. Some team will pick him up and absolutely love him.
Defensive end
More Reads
Malik Jackson still ahead of Derek Wolfe. Quanterus Smith has been looking good.
Linebacker
If Danny Trevathan wasn't currently hurt, I might have slotted one less linebacker here. Alas, depth is needed, along with special teams contributors.
Cornerback
Bradley Roby might be starting on the outside, with Chris Harris Jr. back home in the slot, before this season's over. Or maybe even Week One.
Safety
The Broncos have kept five safeties in each of the past two seasons. These five are pretty clear-cut after all. Quinton Carter jumped ahead of David Bruton and Duke Ihenacho thanks to some strong practices.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know how your depth chart differs in the comments!