2014 Broncos Season, Roster Predictions


Three preseason games are in the books, and the Broncos have made their first round of roster cuts. The roster currently sits at 77 players. Two more will be cut before Tuesday, then the Broncos will have to cut 22 players from the active roster to get down to 53 following Thursday's final exhibition game. The starting positions are (mostly) set, but here's my guess at some of the players who will make the active roster and could be part of the practice squad.

Quarterback:
* Peyton Manning
* Brock Osweiler

I like Zac Dysert, and so do the Broncos. They kept three quarterbacks last season, but it feels like the team is going to need extra roster spots.

Running Back:
* Montee Ball
* Ronnie Hillman
* CJ Anderson
* Juwan Thompson

The top three here appear set. With Ball out, Hillman and Anderson split first team reps, and all three played in the first half with Manning Saturday night. Thompson has been the best of the rest, showing a lot of burst. I think he'd be a good addition to the Broncos' final roster.

Receiver:
* Demaryius Thomas
* Wes Welker
* Emmanuel Sanders
* Cody Latimer
* Andre Caldwell

These five are locks, but the question is whether there is another receiver kept here. I think Jordan Norwood was a lock to make the team, but he tore his ACL and is lost for the year. The Broncos need a returner that's not Welker or Sanders. Isaiah Burse, the rookie out of Fresno State, showed flashes returning punts on Saturday, and could have an outside shot. For now, I'm keeping him off. I think the Broncos could look at people who've been cut, like Jacoby Ford, and potentially add someone here focused on returns, especially given Welker's concussion on Saturday.

Tight End:
* Julius Thomas
* Jacob Tamme
* Virgil Green

This position appears set, and has been for a while.

Offensive Line:
* Ryan Clady
* Louis Vasquez
* Manny Ramirez
* Orlando Franklin
* Chris Clark
* Will Montgomery
* Michael Schofield
* Vinston Painter
* Ben Garland

Some people have predicted the Broncos keeping 10 here, or keeping Paul Cornick over Ben Garland. I like the way Garland has played, and he's a guard. With Schofield and Painter being listed as tackles, as is Cornick, I think the Broncos keep Garland over Cornick if they only keep nine. And I think they might only keep nine.

Defensive Line:
* DeMarcus Ware
* Terrance Knighton
* Derek Wolfe
* Sylvester Williams
* Quanterus Smith
* Kevin Vickerson
* Marvin Austin
* Malik Jackson
* Mitch Unrein

The starting four are set — Ware, Wolfe, Knighton, and Williams — while the other five have have been solid contributors. I think this provides depth and rotation options for the Broncos up front. Hopefully this will be the year Williams pays off his first round draft pick status.

Linebackers:
* Von Miller
* Danny Trevathan
* Nate Irving
* Brandon Marshall
* Steven Johnson
* Lerentee McCray
* Lamin Barrow

This is another group that seems pretty set. Miller, Trevathan, and Irving appear locked in as starters. McCray played a lot behind Miller, and Marshall appears to be the starter while Trevathan is out with the broken bone in his knee. Johnson has been one of the most impressive reserves this preseason, and the Broncos like the rookie Barrow. I think this is a good, talented group.

Cornerbacks:
* Aqib Talib
* Chris Harris, Jr.
* Bradley Roby
* Kayvon Webster
* Tony Carter
* Omar Bolden

Keeping six cornerbacks is a luxury, but the Broncos have some good players and some injury concerns. Harris is penciled in as the starter but hasn't played in a game coming off the ACL injury, and Webster has been banged up, too. Talib is solid, Roby has been great, and Carter and Bolden have shown flashes. This is a good group.

Safeties:
* T.J. Ward
* Rahim Moore
* David Bruton
* Duke Ihenacho
* Quinton Carter

The Broncos like Carter, though he hasn't been great in the pre-season. Bruton is a special teams stand out, and a captain, so he'll be kept. Ihenacho was a key player last season and started in the Super Bowl. I find it hard to believe the Broncos will cut him, so I say they keep five here and start the season with 11 defensive backs, just like last season.

Special Teams:
* Matt Prater, Kicker (Mitch Ewald)
* Britton Colquit, Punter
* Aaron Brewer, Long Snapper

This group would be easily set, but for Prater's looming suspension. I think he starts the season on the suspended list, so the Broncos need a kicker. They've had Mitch Ewald all camp, but he's been somewhat shaky. The Broncos could keep him, or they could go searching. I think Thursdays game will let us know about Ewald.

Practice Squad:
* Zac Dysert
* Kapri Bibbs
* Isaiah Burse
* Paul Cornick
* Brennan Clay

Getting on the Practice Squad requires clearing waivers, and it's possible these five don't, or Cornick is kept on the active roster. There are 10 spots, so more people will make it on the Practice Squad. But I think the Broncos want to keep Bibbs, Burse, and Dysert on the team, if possible.

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