Denver Broncos’ 53-man roster projection

As I was putting together Horse Tracks this morning, I came across a 53-man roster projection from The Denver Post that sparked me to give it a try myself. Mostly because I disagreed with some of what Cameron Wolfe has projected in his post.

QB: Paxton Lynch, Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian (3)

This is where I break line with everyone in the media. The only way Lynch doesn’t start is if he isn’t the future face of the franchise. If a first-round pick needs a year to develop, then he probably wasn’t worth the first-round pick. Aaron Rodgers is the outlier here, so I could end up wrong on this point. Either way, I’m calling Lynch to start Week 1.

RB: C.J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman, Devontae Booker (3)

Everyone loves to hate Hillman, but he seems to find a way to show up big in shorts. Juwann Thompson may not find his way onto the active roster in 2016 and Kapri Bibbs could be back on the practice squad.

FB: Andy Janovich (1)

And this is why Thompson becomes expendable. The Broncos sixth-round pick will be afforded every opportunity to secure one of the final 53.

WR: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Jordan Taylor, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Bralon Addison (6)

The big four will be as listed, with Latimer mostly on special teams and Addison becoming that return threat the Broncos would like to see in 2016. A lions’ share of the targets will go to Thomas and Sanders, you can count on that.

TE: Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, Henry Kreiger-Coble (3)

Green will never have a better chance to become that pass catching threat he has vocally stated he wants to be. With basically two rookies behind him on the depth chart, this is his big shot.

OL: Russell Okung, Donald Stephenson, Ty Sambrailo, Matt Paradis, Max Garcia, Connor McGovern, Michael Schofield, James Ferentz, Lars Hanson (9)

I am sure everyone loves seeing Schofield’s name on the list, but as a reserve with quite a bit of game experience, he will get another chance. My personal favorite is Lars Hanson who happens to be a huge Broncomaniac. Instant favorite for me there. He could lose out to either Robert Myers Jr. or Sam Brenner though.

DL: Derek Wolfe, Vance Walker, Sylvester Williams, Jared Crick, Adam Gotsis, Darius Kilgo, Phil Taylor (7)

I pretty much agree with Wolfe on this lineup. Kenny Anunike’s chances to get healthy have all but been used up, unfortunately. There is one darkhorse candidate who I think will ultimately end up on the practice squad and that’s Shaneil Jenkins.

OLB: Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett (4)

I broke this position out to outside pass rushers and inside positions. The four guys here would easily start for any team in the NFL. The Broncos have an embarrassment of talent here.

ILB: Brandon Marshall, Corey Nelson, Todd Davis, Zaire Anderson (4)

The void left by Danny Trevathan will be a tough one to fill. Right now it is Todd Davis’ to lose and, frankly, I think Nelson will end up taking it from him.

CB: Chris Harris Jr, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss (5)

I am 100% on board with The Denver Post’s Wolfe on this lineup. The No Fly Zone is fully intact and geared up for another chance to dominate opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers.

S: T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, Justin Simmons, Will Parks, Shiloh Keo (5)

No surprises here either. The two starters will remain, while the two rookies have flashed promise. They will clearly make the team. Keo is the other. Signed off the street last year after tweeting at Wade Phillips asking for a job, Keo played admirably as multiple safety’s went down late in the season with injury.

Specialists: Brandon McManus, Riley Dixon, Nathan Theus (3)

Britton Colquitt’s salary is what will get him axed on cut day as the Broncos are looking ahead to 2017 and beyond when it comes to salary cap.

What do you say, Broncos Country? On to Horse Tracks!

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