2015 Broncos Season — Early Roster Prediction

The Broncos wrapped up OTAs and the first mini camps this week. Now they're on a break until Training Camp begins in July, followed by the preseason in August. Right now the Broncos roster has more than 80 names on it. By the time the season begins on September 10, it'll be down to 53. It's a long road to getting to 53, and the real work won't begin until preseason.

Still, it's never too early to start guessing. That's what today is — a guess about who makes the final roster. Of course, training camp, game action, and injuries will all be a factor. But let's start imagining who will comprise the 2015 Broncos' regular season roster.

Quarterbacks:
* Four on the roster — Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Zac Dysert, and Trevor Siemian

The Broncos carried three quarterbacks on the roster last season, and I think they do the same this season. Manning is getting older, and there are questions about whether Osweiler will be with the team next season. I think if Dysert is cut, the Broncos could lose him, so they will want to keep him on the active roster. Siemian is a development project who's still coming off injury. I think he's likely to be on the practice squad.

Prediction: 3 — Manning, Osweiler, and Dysert

Running Backs:
* Six on the roster — C.J. Anderson, Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, Juwan Thompson, Kapri Bibbs, and Jeremy Stewart

This is an interesting area to predict. All six men have been on the active roster at one point or another in the past season, and many of them have had carries. Anderson, Ball, and Hillman are virtual locks for the active roster. So that leaves three fighting for one or two spots. This will be a tough call.

Prediction: 5 — Anderson, Ball, Hillman, Thompson, and Bibbs

Wide Receivers:
* 11 on the roster — Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer, Andre Caldwell, Jordan Norwood, Isaiah Burse, David Palmer, Kyle Williams, Bennie Fowler, Nathan Palmer, David Porter, and Solomon Patton

This is a loaded position with a lot of young players and some seeking another chance. Thomas, Sanders, Latimer, and Caldwell are locks. The others will be battling for one or two positions, and much of that will be based on return ability. Williams is looking to bounce back after costly fumbles in the post season with the 49ers derailed his career. Burse, now in his second year, showed flashes last season in the return game but was inconsistent. And Norwood was seemingly a lock to make the roster last year before suffering a torn ACL in the preseason.

Prediction: 5 — Thomas, Sanders, Latimer, Caldwell, and Norwood

Tight End:
* Six on the roster — Owen Daniels, Virgil Green, James Casey, Joe Don Duncan, Dominque Jones, and Marcel Jensen

Had rookie Jeff Heuerman not suffered a season-ending injury, I think this position would already be a near lock. Now, it's a little more of a guess. The Broncos, under Gary Kubiak, will likely run two tight end sets frequently. But does that mean they need to carry four or five tight ends? I'm dubious.

Prediction: 3 — Daniels, Green, and Casey

Offensive Line:
* 11 on the roster — Ty Sambrailo, Michael Schofield, Ryan Harris, Chris Clark, Ben Garland, Louis Vasquez, Shelly Smith, Andre Davis, Gino Gradkowski, Matt Paradis, and Max Garcia

With Ryan Clady out for the season, and a lot of young and inexperienced players, I think the Broncos will have to keep at least nine lineman on the roster for depth. The others, if they're young players, could be part of the team's practice squad, too.

Prediction: 9 — Sambrailo, Schofield, Harris, Clark, Vasquez, Garland, Smith, Gradkowski, and Paradis

Defensive Line:
* 10 on the roster — Derek Wolfe, Shane Ray, Malik Jackson, Antonio Smith, Vance Walker, Kenny Anunike, John Youboty, Sylvester Williams, Marvin Austin, Jr., and Darius Kilgo

Another tough unit to predict, as the Broncos transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Usually in a 3-4 only six defensive lineman are kept on the roster, but I wonder if the Broncos won't keep seven instead, especially with someone like Ray who is a hybrid defensive end, pass rushing outside linebacker. Also, will the legal woes of veteran Smith make him expendable?

Prediction: 7 — Wolfe, Ray, Jackson, Walker, Anunike, Williams, Austin, Jr.

Linebacker:
* 15 on the roster — DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Danny Trevathan, Brandon Marshall, Steven Johnson, Lamin Barrow, Lerentee McRay, Todd Davis, Shaquil Barrett, Josh Furman, Corey Nelson, Gerald Rivers, Reggie Walker, Danny Mason, and Chase Vaughn

This is a loaded group, and will likely be a place of some of the toughest cuts. The Broncos' top four starters seem set, but due to injuries that group hasn't worked together much this off-season. The Broncos also have a lot of young depth that can help fill the gaps.

Prediction: 9 — Ware, Miller, Trevathan, Marshall, Johnson, McRay, Davis, Barrow, and Nelson

Defensive Backs:
* 15 on the roster — Chris Harris, Jr., Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Kavon Webster, Tony Carter, Taurean Nixon, Lorenzo Doss, Curtis Marsh, Josh Bush, Tevrin Brandon, T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, David Bruton, Jr., Omar Bolden, and Ross Madison

This is a place where the Broncos have carried 10 players in the past, but they may not have that luxury this season. I think a number of the young players — particularly corners — could be candidates for the practice squad.

Prediction: 9 — Harris Jr., Talib, Roby, Webster, Carter, Ward, Stewart, Bruton, and Bolden

Special Teams:
* Five on the roster — Connor Barth (K), Brandon McManus (K), Britton Colquit (P), Karl Schmidt (P), and Aaron Brewer (LS)

Having two kickers on the active roster is a luxury, and I don't think the Broncos can afford it. Barth isn't great at kickoffs, but he was an incredibly accurate place kicker down the stretch. McManus struggled in his early season opportunities.

Prediction: 3 — Barth, Colquitt, and Brewer