Denver Broncos Training Camp 2026: Pre-camp 53-man roster projection

Denver Broncos training camp is here! The rookies reported last week, while the veterans will be making their way in during the day today. The Broncos were just one game away from the Super Bowl last season, and expectations, as expected, are high this season. The vast majority of the 2025 roster is returning with the addition of explosive wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and an intriguing rookie class that could contribute right away.

When it comes to the 53-man roster, most of the team seems set in stone. There are very few roster spots up for grabs, and the ones up for grabs are expected to be highly competitive. With that said, every camp has injuries, players not performing well as expected, and, of course, a few surprises, so who knows what we have in store during these coming days and weeks.

With all that said, here is my pre-training camp 53-man roster projection for the Denver Broncos.

Made the team: Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham

As of now, I am not fully buying the Sam Ehlinger for QB2 talk. I am listening to it, but I need to see it play out before firmly believing it can actually happen. Stidham has been Payton’s guy from the start; he’s making decent money, and I believe they would like to keep all three in the same roles that they had last season.

Nix is your franchise quarterback, Stidham is the veteran QB2, and Ehlinger is the QB3 who bounces on and off the roster.

Made the team: JK Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Jonah Coleman

No real surprises here with JK Dobbins being your starter, Harvey as the change-of-pace pass-catcher, and the rookie Jonah Coleman mixing in as well. How the carries and touches will be split between these three remains to be seen, but I anticipate that these will be the three backs on the 53-man roster come Week 1.

Look for Tyler Badie to push for that practice squad spot over Jaleel McLaughlin. His pass blocking is a skill and something they seem to value. Also, fullback Adam Prentice will be on the practice squad as well before being promoted to the 53-man roster after the three-promotion limit is up.

Made the team: Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, and Pat Bryant

Could there be a trade here? Perhaps. We saw it last year with Devaughn Vele, but for now, I anticipate the team rolling with all five of their receivers and using all five on Sundays. Explosive wide receiver Jaylen Waddle leads the way with veteran Courtland Sutton, while the other three will battle for the WR3 job.

I anticipate Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy will be your practice squad players. The team seems to value experience there, and it likely will take a big effort from the rest of the receivers on the team to take their spot on the practice squad.

Made the team: Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Justin Joly, Nate Adkins, and Caleb Lohner

This is where things get interesting.

Trautman and Engram are likely locked in. I don’t see them moving on from Engram unless something unforeseen happens. Joly will make the team and push for playing time(hopefully) while Adkins makes the team again as a blocking specialist.

As for Caleb Lohner, I think he will show enough promise where Payton and the team will not want to risk him hitting the waiver wire. Teams were interested in him last year, and I believe the Broncos will not risk a team putting in a claim on Lohner.

7th-round rookie Dallen Bentley will make the practice squad, but don’t sleep on him pushing Adkins for a roster spot. I am not sure how to proceed with Adkins and Bentley. Either could make the team, one or the other could make the team, or both could be on the practice squad. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Made the team: Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Kage Casey, Alex Forsyth, and Frank Crum

I remember making these pre-Payton and struggling to come up with realistic backup options. Now? The team is set at all five starting positions and has starting-caliber players as their backups. The Broncos’ offensive line talent has come a long way since Payton took over the team.

I have Palcho, rookie Kage Casey, Alex Forsyth, and Frank Crum as the Broncos’ four reserve linemen. Palcho can play guard or right tackle; Casey played left tackle in college and will be playing left guard with the Broncos; Forsyth is the backup center, while Crum is a backup left tackle. I don’t think Peart makes it over Crum, and I believe UDFA OT Tyler Miller makes the practice squad.

Made the team: Zach Allen, DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim, and Jordan Jackson

The Broncos kept 7 defensive linemen last year, and I see them going that route again this year. Allen, Jones, and Roach are your starters, while Uwazurike, Jones, and the rookie Onyedim are your backups. I kept Jackson as the 7th defensive lineman, but I am not banging the table for him to make the team. The coaches seem to like him, and he provides solid depth, so it makes sense, but we shall see.

I don’t see any real surprises happening with this positional group.

Made the team: Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Dondrea Tillman, and Drew Sanders

For now, I have Jonathon Cooper making the team. That can certainly change in the coming days and weeks, but I’ll play it on the safe side for now and anticipate him being around. He could be facing a suspension from the league, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

As for the rest, it looks as expected with one little surprise. I have Drew Sanders making the team. If, and it’s a big if, but if he can stay healthy, I believe they will give him one more shot. They invested a third-round pick on him, and he has the size and athleticism you look for. I’m thinking a special-teams role at most here, but I think he gets another shot if he can stay healthy.

Made the team: Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Jordan Turner, and Red Murdock

I wanted to put Taurean York here, but I think he’s destined for the practice squad, for now at least. I have the veterans Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad obviously making the team, with Jordan Turner and rookie Red Murdock as the backups.

Turner is currently on the NFI list, and no reason has been given at this time, so obviously his spot depends on whatever is happening there. If all is good and he’ll be back soon, I think he can push for the LB3 job with Murdock making the team as a special teams thumper.

Made the team: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, and Kris Abrams-Draine

I believe we can pencil in these five for a spot on the 53-man roster. PS2, Moss, McMillian, and Barron are locks (barring a surprise trade), and KAD seems pretty locked in as valuable depth. I don’t see anyone pushing any of these five out of a roster spot, so unless there’s a trade or injury, these will be your five cornerbacks come Week 1.

Made the team: Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, and Miles Scott

The way the roster math went down, I am limited to just four safeties. You could cut a Nate Adkins or Jordan Jackson to keep a Tycen Anderson or JL Skinner, but this is the way I have it going in this scenario.

Hufanga and Jones are your starters, while Key is your special teams ace and potentially third safety, with the rookie Miles Scott providing depth. Anderson and/or Skinner will be on the practice squad for depth if needed.

Made the team: Wil Lutz (kicker), Jeremy Crawshaw (punter), and Mitchell Fraboni (longsnapper)

Lutz and Crawshaw return as the Broncos’ kicking specialists, while the veteran Mitchell Fraboni beats out the rookie competition in Luke Basso for the longsnapper job. I’ll give the veteran the edge here, but the fact they kept an extra longsnapper for the start of camp is telling.