The Broncos’ roster is beginning to take shape.
Denver released its first preseason depth chart Tuesday in advance of the Broncos’ 7 p.m. Saturday matchup with the Vikings at Mile High. A variety of starting roles are guaranteed to change leading up to the regular season. However, we now have a blueprint of how those position battles might play out.
“It’s league mandated, so for us, it’s a starting point,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “It means nothing right now. We’ve had one scrimmage and seven practices, so we’ll get through preseason and see where we stand with the depth chart. It’s going to change probably 50 more times, hopefully, right? We don’t want to stay where we are. We’ve got major competition in a lot of areas.”
Here are eight things you need to know:
1. Sorry, Chad Kelly’s fan club, but is the No. 2 quarterback — as he should be. For all of Lynch’s faults, Kelly has yet to take one preseason snap in his NFL career. This competition will drag through the preseason.
2. No. 5 overall NFL draft pick Bradley Chubb is listed ahead of at outside linebacker — despite Ray earning more first-team reps with the base defense. No matter who starts, though, Denver is loaded with pass rushers who will rotate to keep fresh legs. Ray is currently listed behind on the depth chart.
3. The hometown hero — undrafted CU tailback Phillip Lindsay — is listed atop the depth chart at kick return. That means the high praise lofted on Lindsay from veteran defenders is shared by the coaching staff. Lindsay must display continued versatility to make the team. Should he hold on to his kick return role, Lindsay is a lock to make the roster.
4. Tight end hasn’t participated in seven workouts this fall camp. And yet, he remains atop the tight end depth chart. That shows just how inexperienced the group is behind Heuerman. The pressure remains for him to produce if he expects to make this team, though, let alone be the starter.
5. One legitimate surprise from the wide receiver corps? River Cracraft, undrafted out of Washington State, is listed ahead of Isaiah McKenzie, a fifth-rounder of out Georgia a year ago. Cracraft was added to the practice squad in December, but the coaching staff obviously sees further potential.
6. A crowded running backs room gained some clarity with the listing of at RB1. The former fourth-round pick is in Year 3 of his career and Denver’s most experienced back. But we know literally nothing about this position battle until preseason games begin. De’Angelo Henderson and Royce Freeman are also in line to possibly win the job.
7. Cornerback Brendan Langley was a 2017 third-round draft pick, and now he’s in danger or not making the roster. Langley sits well behind established starters Chris Harris Jr. and — as well as reserves Tramaine Brock and Isaac Yiadom — on the depth chart. Langley needs big-time performances in the preseason to stick around.
8. Don’t trust McKenzie to return punts? Too bad. The Broncos haven’t lost confidence in the second-year player who fumbled six times as a rookie. McKenzie remains Denver’s top option in the punt return game, barring more regrettable mistakes.
Broncos initial preseason depth chart
QB — 4 Kase Keenum; 12 Paxton Lynch; 6 Chad Kelly
RB — 23 Devontae Booker; 37 Royce Freeman; 33 De’Angelo Henderson; 36 David Williams
FB — 32
WR — 10 ; 14 Courtland Sutton; 81 Tim Patrick; 9 John Diarse
WR — 88 ; 17 DaeSean Hamilton; 15 River Cracraft; 16 Isaiah McKenzie
TE — 82 Jeff Heuerman; 80 Jake Butt; 86 Austin Traylor; 83 Matt Lacosse; 89 ; 84 Troy Fumagalli
LT — 72 Garrett Bolles; 79 Cyrus Kouandjio; 68 Elijah Wilkinson
LG — 65 Ron Leary; 76 ; 64 J.J. Dielman
C — 61 ; 70 Sam Jones; 71 Austin Schlottman
RG — 60 ; 75 Menelik Watson; 74 Jeremiah Poutasi
RT — 66 Jared Veldheer; 77 ; 73 Andres Knappe; 63 Leon Johnson
DE — 95 ; 92 Zach Kerr; 93 DeShawn Williams
NT — 94 Domata Peko Sr.; 96 Shelby Harris; 90 Kyle Peko; 91 Paul Boyette
DE — 99 ; 57 DeMarcus Walker; 98 Clinton McDonald; 97 Caushaud Lyons
SLB — 55 Bradley Chubb; 48 ; 52 Jerrol Garcia-Williams; 69 Antonio Simmons; 59 Stansly Maponga
WLB — 58 Von Miller; 56 Shane Ray; 49 Marcus Rush; 46 Jeff Holland
ILB — 51 ; 50 ; 43 Joseph Jones; 45 Bo Bower
ILB — 54 ; 47 Josey Jewell; 40 Keishawn Bierria
LCB — 29 Bradley Roby; 22 Tramaine Brock; 28 C.J. Smith; 38 Marcus Rios
RCB — 25 Chris Harris Jr.; 41 Isaac Yiadom; 27 Brendan Langley; 39 Michael Hunter
SS — 26 ; 21 Su’a Cravens; 20 Jamal Carter; 3 Trey Marshall
FS — 31 ; 34 ; 35 Dymonte Thomas; 30 Jordan Moore
PK — 8
KO — 8 Brandon McManus
P — 1 Marquette King
H — 1 Marquette King
LS — 42
KR — 2 Phillip Lindsay; 27 Brendan Langley; 15 River Cracraft; 16 Isaiah McKenzie
PR — 16 Isaiah McKenzie; 15 River Cracraft; 2 Phillip Lindsay; 17 DaeSean Hamilton
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