2018 Broncos' Season, Roster Projections Pre-Season Week 2


With one more game in the books, roster projections are moving closer to reality. There are still 90 guys on the roster, but by September 1 it will be down to 53. But who will those 53 be? As I will each week of the pre-season, I will attempt to project the Broncos' final squad.

Quarterback (2): Case Keenum and Chad Kelly. This is a change, and a big one. I think the Broncos will likely only keep two quarterbacks, and neither will be Paxton Lynch. Lynch slipped from second to third on the depth chart and still stank up the joint on Saturday. He's regressed and isn't a good fit for the Broncos. It's time to move on.

Runningback (4): Devontae Booker, Royce Freeman, Phillip Lindsay, DeAngelo Henderson. This quartet feels pretty locked in. I haven't seen enough from David Williams to think he'd jump Henderson. Lindsay was the best player on the field Saturday, and feels like a lock. Booker looked solid, and Freeman has a good future and should be the goalline back.

Fullback (1): Andy Janovich. This is as much about Janovich the special teams ace as it is about the Broncos needing a fullback.

Wide Receiver (6): Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick, Isaiah McKenzie. A small change here, but possibly big changes coming later. DT, Sanders, Sutton and Hamilton are locks. The last two spots are the roll of the dice. Patrick was impressive Saturday, and has been impressive in camp, so I have him in right now. McKenzie has flashed strongly at times as a return man, but his fumble as a receiver was costly. For now I have him over River Cracraft, but this will be an area where some tough decisions will have to be made. With his injury, it seems like Jordan Taylor is out, and Carlos Henderson is suspended and never reported, I think his time with the Broncos is over.

Tight End (3): Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt, Matt LaCosse. I feel pretty firm the Broncos will keep three here because they have so many other needs. Heuerman looked like a starter Saturday, and Butt is the future. That leaves one spot. Austin Traylor is a great blocker, and that could win the day, but I've liked what I've seen from Matt LaCosse, so right now I'm giving him the spot. I think Troy Fumagali seems like a Practice Squad guy.

Offensive Line (9): Garrett Bolles, Ronald Leary, Matt Paradis, Connor McGovern, Jared Veldheer, Billy Turner, Menelik Watson, Max Garcia, Sam Jones. This is perhaps the hardest group to read right now. Not the starters for once, who seem set, but what the team will do beyond that. They could keep just eight, or perhaps nine. And who are the reserves. Garcia could easily be a casualty, and Watson, too. Turner seemed like a lock but struggled some Saturday. And Jones is a rookie they like for the future. I don't feel good about this unit projection yet.

Defensive Line (6): Derek Wolfe, Domata Peko, Sr., Adam Gotsis, Shelby Harris, DeMarcus Walker, Zach Kerr. I'm starting to come around to the idea the Broncos will keep just six here. The top five seem relatively set, but it's a question about who would be the sixth. Right now I'm giving the nod to Kerr, but Clinton McDonald and others have made their case. They have two more games to impress.

Linebackers (10): Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Shane Ray, Shaq Barrett, Jeff Holland, Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Zaire Anderson, Josey Jewell, Keishawn Bierria. I've upped the total here because I think linebacker is a crucial spot for this defense, and for Special Teams. And I think there's a lot of guys here the Broncos don't want to lose. In addition, having surplus outside linebackers actually provides pass rushing depth to the defensive line.

Secondary (9): Chris Harris, Jr., Bradley Roby, Tramaine Brock, Issac Yiadom, Brendan Langley, Darian Stewart, Justin Simmons, Will Parks, Su'a Cravens. This is a tough area to handicap, too. It's possible the Broncos keep 10 players here, as they have in the past. It's also possible it's four corners and five safeties. But, for now, I'm going with this alignment. I think the Broncos like Yiadom and Langley for the future, and will hold them. The safeties seem set as it's hard to imagine any of these four leaving the Broncos. Injuries may play a role in this unit on September 1.

Special Teams (3): Brandon McManus, Marquette King, Casey Kreiter. This is the most boring unit for Denver. It hasn't changed and won't this pre-season.

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