2020 Broncos' Season, Roster Predictions



The Broncos are set to begin training camp tomorrow, which means (hopefully) we're close to a return to football. With no pre-season games this year, it's going to be interesting to see how teams figure out which 53 to carry. The other wrinkle is the expanded, 16-man practice squad. I'll look at Practice Squad predictions next week, but below is my fearless, pre-training camp picks for the final 53-man roster.

Quarterback: (2)
* Drew Lock
* Jeff Driskel
About: The quarterback position is one of the easier ones to predict. Lock is the man, and Driskel was brought in to be a veteran backup. I think Brett Rypien stays with the team, but not on the active roster.

Running Back: (4)
* Melvin Gordon
* Phillip Lindsay
* Royce Freeman
* Khalfani Muhammad
About: This is an interesting group. Lavante Bellamy is there, the undrafted free agent the team likes. But I think the team carries four and the last spot goes to Muhammad, who has been with the team for a few years and shown strong flashes in previous camps and pre-season outings.

Wide Receiver: (6)
* Courtland Sutton
* Jerry Jeudy
* KJ Hamler
* DaeSean Hamilton
* Tim Patrick
* Diontae Spencer
About: There are a few options here, but this set of six gives the Broncos the best set of depth and diversity, youth and experience. Hamilton and Patrick have game experience, Jeudy and Hamler are the future and Spencer provides returning experience along with Hamler's flash.

Tight End: (4)
* Noah Fant
* Nick Vannett
* Albert Okweubanum
* Andrew Beck
About: This is the hardest position group to predict. Fant is a lock, and their best receiving weapon. Vannett was a free agent signing, which feels like a lock. Beyond that I think they go with the receiving potential of Albert O. and the blocking of Beck, absent a fullback on the roster. That could leave some talented players as free agents.

Offensive Line: (9)
*Lloyd Cushenberry III
* Dalton Risner
* Graham Glasgow
* Ja'Wuan James
* Garrett Bolles
* Elijah Wilkinson
* Jake Rodgers
* Austin Schlottmann
* Netane Muti
About: The team could keep eight, but I think with the youth and injury history, they'll elect to keep nine. The projected starters are Bolles-Risner-Cushenberry-Glasgow-James, with Wilkinson competing to start and Rodgers providing depth and experience. Schlottmann is the best interior swing player, but I think the Broncos hang on to the rookie Muti, too.

Defensive Line: (6)
* Jurrell Casey
* Mike Purcell
* Shelby Harris
* Dre'Mont Jones
* DeMarcus Walker
* McTelvin Agim
About: Another young and talented group. Casey comes over from the Titans, and should start alongside Purcell and Harris, who were re-signed this off-season. Behind them is a core of recent picks in Walker, Jones and Agim who should make the roster and be solid contributors.

Linebackers: (9)
* Von Miller
* Bradley Chubb
* Todd Davis
* Alexander Johnson
* Jeremiah Attaochu
* Malik Reed
* Justin Hollins
* Josey Jewell
* Joe Jones
About: This is another tough group. The Broncos could keep 10 here and nine in the secondary, but for now I went the other way because of the youthful inexperience in the secondary. Miller, Chubb, Davis and Johnson figure to be locked in as starters, and Jones is a Special Teams whiz. The rest are strong depth pieces I think the Broncos will want to hang on to.

Defensive Backs: (10)
* A.J. Bouye
* Bryce Callahan
* Justin Simmons
* Kareem Jackson
* Davontae Harris
* De'Vante Bausby
* Isaac Yiadom
* Michael Ojemudia
* Trey Marshall
* Douglas Coleman III
About: Here's another tough group to crack without seeing game action. Bouye, Simmons and Jackson are locked in as starters. Callahan is supposed to be healthy, and should be a strong contender, too. Beyond that, Ojemudia is a player the Broncos like, while Yiadom, Bausby and Harris offer experience and flexibility. At safety, Marshall seems like a lock and I think the Broncos continue their undrafted free agent tradition with Coleman.

Special Teams: (3)
* Brandon McManus, K
* Sam Martin, P
* Wes Farnsworth, LS
About: This is an interesting group. McManus and Martin are locks, but the Broncos have two young, inexperienced players competing for the long snapper spot. I went with Farnsworth, but it's a coin flip.

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