2019 Broncos' Season, Final Roster Projections


The Broncos wrapped up the pre-season last night and final cuts are due by Saturday at 2 p.m. MST. The Broncos got a jump on it releasing a few folks early last week, and a bigger group Friday. Below is my prediction about the initial Final 53-man roster.

A couple of notes:
* There are some injured folks who will likely hit IR, but if they want to return in season, they have to make the initial 53 first.
* I think the Broncos will look at those on waivers and make a few moves in a couple areas that are weak.
* An additional 10 folks can go on the Practice Squad, where I think Brett Rypien, Fred Brown Trinity Benson, and possibly Jake Butt will end up. It's harder to predict that group, but we should have a good idea by Sunday.

With that, here's the prediction.

QBs: (3)
* Joe Flacco
* Drew Lock
* Kevin Hogan*
About: This is where the asterisk begins. Hogan will likely make the first wave of cuts as the Broncos know Lock is injured and will be unavailable for Week 1. However, I don't think Hogan is sufficient as a backup, and I think the Broncos may well look at who is released and make a change. We saw that last year with Paxton Lynch, who made the first roster only to be released a day later when Hogan was claimed.

Running Backs: (5)
* Phillip Lindsay
* Royce Freeman
* Devontae Booker
* Theo Riddick*
* Andy Janovich
About: Another asterisk, this time for Riddick. I think he'll make the roster because he has to before going on IR. His broken shoulder will likely keep him out for some time. In his place, it's possible the Broncos bring back George Aston to play FB for a few weeks since Janovich is also injured and expected to miss some time.

Wide Receivers: (6)
* Emmanuel Sanders
* Courtland Sutton
* DaeSean Hamilton
* Tim Patrick
* Juwann Winfree
* River Cracraft*
About: Another position, another asterisk, and this time for Cracraft the punt returner. They will want the return man to be a receiver, too. Cracraft caught six for 41 Thursday, and he had flashed in the 2018 pre-season. I think he'll likely make it to start, but I think the Broncos would like to see someone else possibly in the return game and will take a long look at Waivers. I like Winfree, and I think he did enough and would be tough to get through to the Practice Squad, but it is hard to think of Fred Brown not making it. I thought he was really great. I hope he lands on the Practice Squad.

Tight End: (3)
* Jeff Heuerman
* Noah Fant
* Troy Fumagali
About: I think the Broncos would have loved to have Jake Butt here, but his injury just makes it too many unavailable players for an active roster. Fumagali looked strong the past two weeks, and Heuerman and Fant are roster locks.

Offensive Line: (8)
* Garrett Bolles
* Ron Leary
* Connor McGovern
* Dalton Risner
* Ju'Wuan James
* Elijah Wilkinson
* Austin Schlottman
* Sam Jones
About: This is another tough group. I had some hope for Don Barclay, who was released Friday, and Jake Rodgers, who I just don't think will make the cut. The starting five are locked, Schlottman can play guard and center, and Wilkinson is a swing tackle. I think the last one that makes it here is Jones.

Defensive Line: (6)
* Derek Wolfe
* Shelby Harris
* Adam Gotsis
* Dre'Mont Jones
* Mike Purcell
* DeMarcus Walker
About: I didn't think Walker was gonna make this roster, then the Broncos let Kerr go. That told me that Walker did enough to earn his spot, and he has looked better. I also made a switch thinking Purcell played his way into the final spot over DeShawn Williams.

Linebackers: (10)
* Von Miller
* Bradley Chubb
* Malik Reed
* Justin Hollins
* Todd Davis
* Josey Jewell
* Joe Jones
* Jamal Carter
* Keishawn Bierria
* Josh Watson
About: This is a position group where the Broncos need to keep extras due to injury and Special Teams. With Jones injured and missing time, and the status of Davis uncertain, I am guessing the Broncos keep 10 here as they did last year. I think one of those is Carter, the safety moving to linebacker, and I like Bierria for Special Teams and depth and for the final spot I went Watson over Johnson, though it could go either way. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Broncos grab up a cut player, perhaps even Brandon Marshall.

Defensive Backs: (9)
* Chris Harris, Jr.
* Bryce Callahan
* Isaac Yiadom
* De'Vante Bausby
* Duke Dawson
* Kareem Jackson
* Justin Simmons
* Will Parks
* Trey Marshall
About: A few things got cleared up with this group today as the Broncos traded for Dawson, rounding out the cornerback group, and cut Su'a Cravens, adding clarity to the safety group. Jackson, Simmons and Parks were always locks, but the fourth was in question. It's still a bit of a question, but with Carter moving to linebacker and Cravens cut, I think Marshall gets the nod over Shamarko Thomas.

Special Teams: (3)
* Brandon McManus
* Colby Wadman
* Casey Kreiter
About: This group is the easiest to pick, and has been seemingly set since the beginning.

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