The Denver Broncos have one preseason game remaining this Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field. That will be the final chance for some of the players sitting on the roster bubble to make an impression that leads to them being part of this year’s 53-man roster.
There are several players still vying for those precious few final roster spots, but there are also a handful of players who the team has likely already seen enough from. Though they will suit up and play in the preseason finale, they likely won’t be able to move the needle enough to change what they have already put out there.
Instead, these four players will essentially be auditioning for other teams around the league or a spot on the Broncos‘ practice squad, in my opinion.
4 Broncos projected to be left off 53-man roster
1. Hakeem Butler, WR
Due to his size, Hakeem Butler had a chance to make the roster as a sixth wide receiver. He has done almost nothing to make that a reality in preseason.
Butler has been targeted four times in the team’s first two preseason games and has yet to come down with a single catch. While that’s not entirely on him, Jarrett Stidham did throw him a good ball late in the game against Green Bay that probably would have been a touchdown had he caught it. Instead, it was a contested catch that would have been tough to complete, but a receiver of his size needs to make that play.
2. Lucas Krull, TE
Lucas Krull is another guy who has been quiet this preseason with just one catch for four yards. But it’s not his statistical performance alone that will keep him off the roster; it’s just that the Broncos don’t need him.
The team already has Evan Engram, Adam Trautman and Justin Joly basically locked into roster spots, and if a fourth toght end is kept, Nate Adkins or Dallen Bentley would be a much more likely player to be kept than Krull, who has never done anything to set himself apart.
3. Drew Sanders, OLB
The former third-round pick will likely be playing elsewhere next season. The Broncos could look at trading him, but he likely wouldn’t bring much of a return.
Injuries prevented Sanders from ever making an impact in Denver and unfortunately, it’s just too late now.
4. Miles Scott, S
The signing of Taylor Rapp is going to make one of the safeties expendable, and that could be seventh-round pick Miles Scott. Scott turned some heads in mini-camp this spring, but has had a quiet summer. The Broncos could keep Scott instead of either Devon Key or JL Skinner, but both of those players are key special teams contributors.
Scott should be a top practice squad target if he clears waivers.
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