2015 Broncos Roster Predictions: Full 53-man roster projection

We have hit the one week mark for Denver Broncos Training Camp this year. We are beginning to see some players step up while others have their stock dropping a bit. So let us take a look at how I believe the 53 man roster will shake out with everything we know now.

Here's how I thought the depth chart would look before Training Camp began --> Link

Offense(25):

Quarterback(3): Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian [3]

Thoughts:

Peyton Manning is your starter and Brock is your backup, we already know this. The question here is will they keep a third quarterback, and if they do who will that be?

Looking at Gary Kubiak's head coaching history, the last time he went with only two quarterbacks was back in 2008 when he only kept Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels. Since then he has always had three quarterbacks, so I believe he will continue that trend.

I went with Siemian for two reasons. He has reportedly looked better than Dysert in Training Camp, and I think Kubiak wants to work with the rookie.

Running back(4): C.J. Anderson, Montee Ball, Juwan Thompson, and Ronnie Hillman [7]

Thoughts:

I have the Broncos keeping four running back. I just cannot see them releasing Ronnie Hillman. He's still young, offers you something that none of the other three backs can, and showed last season he can be an effective runner.

The only way I see Hillman leaving the Broncos is if they trade him, which I think is an option. Injuries will happen during the preseason and camp so team's could come calling. Now an injury to Anderson, Ball, or Thompson could change this.

With all this said, my gut tells me we're keeping three running backs. What do you guys/ladies think?

Fullback/Tight End(2): James Casey, and Joe Don Duncan [9]

Thoughts:

Casey will be an important person for the Broncos this year. He'll be that underneath option and red zone target for Manning. Looking forward to seeing him in this offense.

I have Joe Don making the team. He can do so many things for the Broncos and that alone should give him a roster spot. He can block, he can catch, he can play special teams, he can play fullback or tight end. Coaches love versatility and Joe Don is just one big mean dude.

Wide receiver(5): Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer, Jordan Norwood, and Jordan Taylor [14]

Thoughts:

Thomas, Sanders, and Latimer are locked in as your top three receivers in this offense, we know that. The fourth, fifth and possibly sixth spots are wide open.

I think Norwood's spot is pretty much locked in. He can produce as a receiver and be an effective returner. He had the roster made before his injury last season. He's having a solid camp, and if he can stay healthy he has the roster made.

Now the final spot is wide open. I have Jordan Taylor making it, but he could easily be replaced by a few other receivers. Veteran Andre Caldwell is in play as well as Bennie Fowler, Solomon Patton, and Nathan Palmer. It will be a fun battle to watch in the coming weeks.

Tight ends(2): Virgil Green and Owen Daniels [16]

Thoughts:

Only two tight ends? James Casey and Joe Don will also contribute at tight end as well, so they will have four total capable tight ends on the roster.

No real surprises here. Green will be the blocker and look to contribute in the passing game. Look for Daniels to be Manning's security blanket this season. Like Stokley, Tamme, Welker, and others in the past I expect Daniels to be a big time player for the Broncos, especially on key third downs.

Offensive tackle(4): Ty Sambrailo, Ryan Harris, Michael Schofield, and Chris Clark [20]

Thoughts:

Ty, Harris, Schofield are locks in my mind. Ty starts at LT,  Harris at RT, and Schofield plays the swing. So where do Clark come into play? I think they may keep him to backup Ty at left tackle.

Harris could play LT in a pinch, but no one wants that. Schofield has been getting some work at LT, but Kubiak has said they are settling him in on the right side. So can he really can't be trusted to protect Manning's blindside? This leaves Clark who is the only one with recent left tackle playing experience.

Now the problem with going four OT's means you're a little thin on the inside.

Guards(3): Louis Vasquez, Max Garcia, and Shelley Smith [23]

Thoughts:

Vasquez is your starter at right guard, and it looks like Garcia is the man at left guard. This leaves Shelley Smith, Ben Garland, and Andre Davis fighting for one final spot.

I know this will upset some(again), but I picked Smith because of his experience over Garland and Davis. If you're going with a rookie at left guard I believe the coaches will lean towards going with the more experienced veteran over a guy who has only played offensive line for a handful of years and a undrafted rookie.

Now how each player performs during the preseason will decide their fate. I'm not really thrilled with either of the three options to be honest. Smith has proven to be kinda bad, Garland hasn't lived up to the hype, and Davis probably is a practice squad candidate.

Center(2): Matt Paradis and Gino Gradkowski [25]

Thoughts:

No real surprises here. Looks like Paradis might be the starter, and Gradkowski will provide veteran depth behind him. I'd look for UDFA Dillon Day to make the practice squad.

Defense(25):

Defensive end(4): Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe(Suspended), Kenny Anunike, Antonio Smith, and Vance Walker [29]

Thoughts:

No surprises here. Jackson, Anunike, Smith, and Walker will be your guys. Wolfe's suspension makes them a little thin at the position, but it allows a guy like Kenny Anunike to get some playing time.

Nose tackle(3): Sylvester Williams, Marvin Austin Jr., Darius Kilgo [32]

Thoughts:

Williams has been having a solid performance during camp and has locked down the starting job. With Marvin Austin sitting out the majority of camp, Darius Kilgo has been getting more reps and been doing well from everything I have heard.

The Wolfe suspension helps Kilgo make the team. He has been getting reps all over the defensive line, so look for him to make the 53 man roster.

Outside linebacker(4): Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray, and Lerentee McCray [36]

Thoughts.

Von, Ware, and Ray are locks, we know this. After that, it gets a little bit tougher. Lerentee McCray has been sitting out with an injury so that could put his roster spot in danger. Shaq Barrett has been taking McCray's reps so he could take his roster spot.

If inside linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan were healthy, I would keep both Barrett and McCray, but their injury concerns make them carry 5 inside linebackers on the active roster.

Inside linebacker(5): Brandon Marshall, Danny Trevathan, Todd Davis, Corey Nelson and Steven Johnson [41]

Thoughts:

As I said above the injury concerns to Marshall(foot) and Trevathan(knee), the Broncos could be forced to carry an extra inside linebacker early on to protect themselves.

Todd Davis and Steven Johnson have been getting first team reps so I think they make the roster. The fifth roster spot was a tough one. Nelson has been getting reps ahead of Lammin Barrow so I am rolling with him as the extra linebacker.

Preseason will be key for this group of players.

Cornerbacks(5): Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, and Lorenzo Doss [46]

Thoughts:

This is probably the easiest group to figure out. Harris, Talib, and Roby are locks, and I believe Webster and Doss are near locks.

Doss being a rookie, I think they will keep the ballhawk on the roster which makes this a tough group to crack.

Safety(4): T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, David Bruton, and Omar Bolden

Thoughts:

The Broncos secondary is pretty much set in stone I think. Ward and Stewart are your starters, and Bruton and Bolden are your backups.

I don't think Bruton's or Bolden's roster spot is in danger because of what they do on special teams.

Specialist(3): Connor Barth, Britton Colquitt, and Aaron Brewer

Thoughts:

McManus isn't taking Barth's spot and the youtube kicker never challenged Colquitt's spot so this is a pretty easy to group to figure out.

Seeing how Barth does on kickoffs will be interesting.