The Denver Broncos made 38 roster moves earlier this week to get down to an initial 53-man roster ahead of the 2024 season. After reviewing five surprises yesterday, we’re moving on to ten big-picture takeaways today.
1. Broncos kept 3 quarterbacks
Denver coach Sean Payton wasn’t lying last week when he said he expected to keep all three QBs — Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson — on the 53-man roster. The Broncos really like their QB situation.
“Yeah, we think highly of the quarterback room,” general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “I really liked the process. I thought the competition brought out the best in really all of the quarterbacks. All these guys support each other, they compete and they work well together. We looked at last year [and] I think almost half the league kept three quarterbacks. With the rule changes, we think that number will increase. We’re glad to have all three.”
The NFL’s trade deadline this season is Nov. 4. If other teams lose QBs during the season, Paton might get calls about Denver’s QB room.
2. All but one member of draft class made the team
Quarterback Bo Nix, pass rusher Jonah Elliss, wide receiver Troy Franklin, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, running back Audric Estime and receiver Devaughn Vele all made the active roster.
“It’s a credit to our personnel departments and our sports performance with the development of these players,” Paton said. “Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far.”
The only member of the 2024 draft class who didn’t make the 53-man roster is offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who has been sidelined due to injury.
3. UDFAs make the 53-man roster
For the 20th time in the last 21 years, Denver had at least one undrafted free agent make the active roster. It’s three players this year: running back Blake Watson, linebacker Levelle Bailey and offensive tackle Frank Crum.
“The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” Paton said. “Frank Crum, we had on a Top-30 [visit]. We had Watson on a Top-30. … Bailey, we didn’t know as much about, [but] we liked him and we liked the athletic ability.”
Crum needs more time to develop, but Watson and Bailey could become instant contributors on special teams.
4. Tim Patrick era comes to an end
After seven years with the Broncos, Patrick was released on Tuesday after the team failed to find a trade partner.
“What went into it is a number of things,” Paton explained. “We really like our depth at receiver, and we liked the depth at other positions on our team. We wanted to keep some other players at other positions. Special teams comes into play. Obviously, you have the new element at kickoff and kickoff return. There will be over 200 more plays. So it wasn’t just one thing. Tim did a lot of really good things. We wish him well and we’re going to miss him.”
5. Cody Barton wins starting ILB job
It’s no surprise because Barton appeared to be leading the competition throughout preseason, but the veteran officially won the starting job on Tuesday when the team waived Jonas Griffith. Barton is now set to start next to Alex Singleton this fall. Denver might look to add more linebacker depth through the waiver wire.
6. Some players need more time to develop
Many Broncos fans were surprised that offensive tackle Frank Crum made the 53-man roster after he struggled in preseason. He is a big, promising tackle, though, and Denver could not afford to risk having him claimed off waivers. So Crum made the active roster despite needing more time to develop.
“You’re always going to have players that aren’t quite ready — developmental players,” Payton said. “Can you get them through [the waiver wire]? Can you get them on the practice squad? Those are the discussions that you have in regards to roster management. How long is it going to take a certain player to develop? I think by midseason or do I think by the end of the season? Can we survive, if that player doesn’t play, with what we have?
“Those are all the discussions you have. The biggest guesswork we do — and it’s not just guess, we use analytics on certain positions where it clears more than others — is whether you can get a guy through. Those are the discussions we have, and there’s a lot that goes into it. A player that has potential — you don’t want to use a potential for a ready-made player. Again short- and long-term views come into play.”
7. The NFL’s new kickoff rule impacts roster
The Broncos had the NFL’s new XFL-style kickoff rule in mind when they made roster cuts on Tuesday.
“I think it always plays a role, but even more so this year,” Paton said. “[Assistant head coach Mike] Westhoff tells me [there are] 200-plus plays on special teams, and so that factors into a lot of our decisions certainly.
“The defensive backfield — we had an injury. [Damarri] Mathis was a really good [special] teamer, so how do we compensate there? It’s a big puzzle and it’s roster management. Special teams are a huge emphasis and even more so, to answer your question, with the new kickoff.”
8. Some veterans could return on practice squad
Among the final cuts for the Broncos on Tuesday were wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton. If re-signed to the practice squad, both players would be candidates to get elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1.
“Roster management,” Paton said when asked about the team’s last-minute cuts. “We’re trying to keep the best players we can for as long as we can. So you’re exactly right. There are a couple of vets who will likely be active Week 1. You probably know who they are, but certainly we already have a few guys who are already going to be on our practice squad.”
9. The offensive line depth is thin
Denver’s updated depth chart has a huge hole at backup guard, a consequence of Quinn Bailey suffering a season-ending ankle injury this summer. The Broncos also don’t have much depth at tackle: Alex Palczewski was injured for all of last season and Crum is not quite ready for regular season action. That leaves Matt Peart is a do-it-all swing backup. Don’t be surprised if Denver looks to improve the offensive line’s depth today.
10. This is not the final 53-man roster
The Broncos could make a few waiver claims today, and Paton hinted that trades are possible as well. Denver will also build a 17-player practice squad.
“[W]e’re looking at any way we can to upgrade our team on the wire tonight — or it could be a trade,” Paton said Tuesday. “Last year, we didn’t put a claim in, but we signed four new players to our practice squad [and] all four of those players ended up playing. Then we made a trade for Wil Lutz. There aren’t as many claims as you think — I think there were 24 last year — but you still can make some hay as you work the wire.”
We will be tracking any potential moves today on Broncos Wire.
