Regardless of talent, regardless of pedigree, Sean Payton writes his rookies last in ink.
The Broncos dropped their first depth chart on Wednesday ahead of this week’s preseason game with San Francisco, and, predictably, every single rookie on the roster was slotted last at their position group. There are no takeaways to be made there. Bo Nix was , after all, and current RB6 RJ Harvey isn’t actually the sixth-lowest on Payton’s backfield totem pole.
Still, there are a number of interesting takeaways from Wednesday’s groupings — namely at wide receiver. Second-year receiver Troy Franklin has put together a stellar camp, but he’s still listed as a second-team WR behind Marvin Mims Jr., who’ll have a shot at a true breakout in his third season in Denver.
“The depth of our receiver room is something that isn’t talked about enough, and I think itap a really strong thing for us going into the season,” Mims said last week.
Second-year RB Audric Estime, meanwhile, is still stuck behind Jaleel McLaughlin in the backfield. On defense, inside linebacker convert Drew Sanders, who’s rehabbing a torn tendon in his foot, is listed as a third-team ILB behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.
Here’s the full layout of the Broncos’ first depth chart of 2025:
OFFENSE
ϵ:Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger
:J.K. Dobbins, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, Blake Watson, RJ Harvey
:Michael Burton
¸:Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, Trent Sherfield Sr., Pat Bryant, Courtney Jackson
WR: Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Michael Bandy, Joaquin Davis, Jerjuan Newton, Kyrese Rowan
շ:Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, Caleb Lohner, Caden Prieskorn
:Garett Bolles, Matt Peart, Frank Crum, Marques Cox
:Ben Powers, Calvin Throckmorton, Will Sherman
:Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Joe Michalski
:Quinn Meinerz, Nick Gargiulo, Clay Webb
:Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Xavier Truss
Defense
ٷ:Zach Allen, Jordan Jackson, Matt Henningsen
ٷ:John Franklin-Myers, Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones, Kristian Williams
:D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Jordan Miller
:Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Andrew Farmer II
:Nik Bonitto, Dondrea Tillman, Garrett Nelson, Que Robinson
:Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Drew Sanders, Karene Reid
:Dre Greenlaw, Levelle Bailey, Garret Wallow, Jordan Turner, J.B. Brown
:Pat Surtain II, Damarri Mathis, Quinton Newsome
:Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Draine, Jaden Robinson, Joshua Pickett
N:Ja’Quan McMillian, Reese Taylor, Jahdae Barron
:Talanoa Hufanga, P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Delarrin Turner-Yell
:Brandon Jones, Devon Key, Keidron Smith, Sam Franklin Jr.
Special teams
:Wil Lutz
:Jeremy Crawshaw
L:Mitchell Fraboni
:Marvin Mims Jr., Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Courtney Jackson
ʸ:Marvin Mims Jr., Michael Bandy, Courtney Jackson
