Denver Broncos 53-man prediction: UDFA makes waves, camp darling doesn’t make the cut, and defensive veteran says goodbye
Our prediction of the 53-man roster.
The Denver Broncos have high hopes after shocking the world and clinching a playoff berth during Bo Nix’s rookie season. With the last preseason contest behind us, it’s time for the front office to gather and put together the final pieces of the team’s 53-man roster. After the win against the Saints, the picture is becoming clearer.
With plenty of talent across the board to make waves in the 2025 season, let’s dive in with our predictions on what the final roster is going to look like. Now that the preseason is over, the hard work begins. This isn’t in order on the depth chart, just the players who we felt are in or out.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
In: Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham
Out: Sam Ehlinger
The skinny: The Denver Broncos have their franchise quarterback and perhaps one of the best backups in the entire NFL, if camp and preseason are any indication. Stidham has been dominating as the backup. While Ehlinger has been a solid addition and flashed during the final preseason game, keeping only two quarterbacks makes the most sense here.
Running back/Fullback (5)
In: J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey*, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Adam Prentice (FB)
Out: Audric Estime, Blake Watson**, Michael Burton (FB)
The skinny: The Broncos are going to have a heavy one-two punch of Dobbins and Harvey in the backfield. From there, it’s a toss-up. McLaughlin, Badie, and Watson have all flashed. However, there’s gotta be an odd man out. I see the team cutting Estime and Watson with the hopes that Watson will clear waivers and then join the team on their practice squad. Burton, being a veteran, will be released on cutdown day and then drive back up to the facility to join the team immediately after to join the team on their practice squad. Payton said that the goal is to ensure Denver has versatile personnel ready for the season opener, perhaps a veteran handshake deal where one or both Prentice or Burton leave the facility and drive right back after cutdown day. If Prentice is available Week 1, he’ll play, but expect Burton to be back with the club.
Wide receiver (6)
In: Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., Pat Bryant*, Trent Sherfield, Courtney Jackson**
Out: Michael Bandy, Kyrese Rowan**, Jerjuan Newton**, A.T. Perry, and Joaquin Davis**
The skinny: The Denver Broncos parted ways with rising star DeVaughn Vele, which obviously shakes up this receiving core. However, the team still has a clear-cut top five that will make the roster. It all comes down to that final spot if the team elects to keep six. It’s a good problem to have, as Payton has plenty of depth with other young guys stepping up in big moments leading up to the regular season. While Franklin and Bryant have been shining, don’t sleep on Courtney Jackson. The undrafted rookie has shown he can do it all, receiving, returning punts, and carrying the rock. The team could elect to try and bring him back via waivers, but that runs the risk of another team scooping him up. The same goes for Bandy; it was a toss-up between the two. Bandy has also excelled: We have the team adding him to the practice squad in this scenario. Rowan had a touchdown late against the Saints with a handful of catches, a tough decision for sure.
Tight end (3)
In: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull
Out: Caleb Lohner*, Caden Prieskorn**
IR-DFR: Nate Adkins
The skinny: With the new IR rules allowing teams to designate a player to return, and they don’t count toward the 53, I could see Payton putting Adkins on that list. Once Adkins returns, the team would most likely waive another one of these players. Lohner, being a seventh-round pick with plenty of upside but clearly very raw in terms of NFL prospects, joins back on the practice squad after clearing waivers; the camp darling doesn’t crack the 53. It was between Krull and Prieskorn heading into the final preseason game, and with Krull shining, he got the last spot.
Offensive line (9)
In: Garrett Bolles, Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Luke Wattenberg, Mike McGlinchey, Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, Alex Forsyth, Calvin Throckmorton
Out: Will Sherman, Xavier Truss**, Joe Michalski**, Clay Webb**, Frank Crum, Marques Cox**
The skinny: It’s a risk for Peyton and the organization to let Crum hit waivers. However, this is how we see the offensive line play out. No real surprises here with some key depth and one of the best units across the NFL. With Nick Gargiulo going down, it’s a toss-up if the front office elects to keep another interior offensive lineman for depth, but this is how we have that room shaking out. Ideally, Crum clears waivers and returns to the Broncos’ practice squad along with Sherman, Webb, and Truss if they were all able to clear as well.
Defensive line (6)
In: Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Malcom Roach, Sai’Vion Jones*, Jordan Jackson
Out: Enyi Uwazurike, Kristian Williams**, Jordan Miller, Michael Dwumfour
The skinny: Uwazurike is the odd man out here, as there’s most likely only room for either him or Jackson on the roster. Jackson shone during the joint practice against the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the offseason, with Uwazurike being more of a bust than a boom after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. This is one of Denver’s strongest units, while Jackson gets the slight edge, we look for Uwazurike to make the practice squad if he doesn’t get scooped up. However, with his size and athleticism, his days in Denver might be over.
Linebacker (4)
IN: Alex Singleton, Dre Greenlaw, Justin Strnad, Levelle Bailey
OUT: Jordan Turner**, Karene Reid**, Garret Wallow
IR-DTR: Drew Sanders
The skinny: We suspect Sanders will be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he won’t count against the 53-man roster. When Sanders returns, one will need to be cut or released to make room for him on the active roster. It doesn’t have to be from this position group, but there’s still more work to be done for Payton and the organization. I have Strnad with the edge over Turner and Reid, despite the undrafted rookies shining.
Edge defender (5)
IN: Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, Que Robinson*
OUT: Andrew Farmer, Garrett Nelson
The skinny: This unit combined for over 30 sacks last season, not a ton of surprises here with the fourth-round rookie in Robinson rounding out this unit. Farmer has shown flashes throughout the preseason, so he could find another home or maybe come back on the practice squad.
Cornerback (5)
In: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron*, Kris Abrams-Draine
Out: Damarri Mathis, Jaden Robinson**, Reese Taylor, Quinton Newsome, Micah Abraham, Joshua Pickett**
The skinny: One of the most stacked units on the team. Even down to their CB4 and CB5, this defense has something special. With an already crowded secondary and the Broncos would save over $3 million in cutting Mathis, perhaps finding a trade partner would do the trick. Nevertheless, we have Mathis on the outside looking in.
Safety (5)
In: Talanoa Hufanga, P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Brandon Jones, Devon Key
Out: Delarrin Turner-Yell, Keidron Smith, Sam Franklin Jr.
The skinny: Franklin was the odd man out here. His prowess on special teams is impressive. If he were to clear waivers, expect the Broncos to stash him on the practice squad. Skinner’s role on special teams has us keeping him in the fold here. Playing 79 percent of special teams snaps in games he played during 2024 gives him the edge.
Specialists (3)
In: Will Lutz, Jeremy Crawshaw*, Mitchell Fraboni
Out: N/A
The skinny: No real surprises here. Lutz to take kicks, Crawshaw was drafted as the punter, and Fraboni will be in charge of long snapping.
Final Word
The current 53-man roster will see some more adjustments as some of the players previously mentioned will be returning to the team, forcing the organization to make some cuts along the way. For now, this is how we have the 2025 roster shaking out.
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