The Denver Broncos open training camp for the 2020 NFL season on July 28 at their practice facility in Englewood, Colorado. The Broncos finished the 2019 season 7-9, tied for second place in the AFC West. They have missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons dating back to Peyton Manning's final season in Denver. The Broncos return 18 starters from last season as well as head coach Vic Fangio and coordinators Ed Donatell (defense) and Tom McMahon (special teams). Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien
The Broncos could always use the third roster spot here at a far more crowded position, such as tight end. But there is some feeling around the league, given the uncertainty with the coronavirus, that many teams will elect to keep three quarterbacks on active rosters this time around. And Rypien has received some high marks from pro personnel executives who have taken a look at his play.
RUNNING BACK (3): Phillip Lindsay, Melvin Gordon, Royce Freeman
The potential workload for Lindsay and Gordon in Pat Shurmur's offense will certainly be one of the hot-button topics of training camp. In much of Shurmur's career as a playcaller, he has largely favored one-back sets, but it remains to be seen if he is going to find ways to have Lindsay and Gordon in the formation at the same time in some situations. Freeman projects as a depth player at the moment who will have to scratch and claw for carries. And when the Broncos traded Andy Janovich earlier this year, they pretty much showed their hand on the future of the fullback in the new playbook.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Tim Patrick, Diontae Spencer, Juwann Winfree
Winfree and Fred Brown could be battling for the last spot, and that's only if the Broncos keep seven here -- they kept six coming out of training camp last summer. But the rookies (Jeudy and Hamler) are going to play plenty and Sutton is the clear No. 1. Coach Vic Fangio has said repeatedly that Spencer projects as the team's returner and the Broncos liked Hamilton's work down the stretch last season.
TIGHT END (4): Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, Albert Okwuegbunam, Andrew Beck
The Broncos have five -- count 'em, five -- former draft picks on the depth chart, and they won't all make it. Especially since one of their free-agent signings was Vannett. Jake Butt, Jeff Heuerman and Troy Fumagalli could be fighting for one spot if the rookie Okwuegbunam shows his elite speed and red zone work in college will transfer quickly into the NFL. However, Beck gets the nod in this scenario. He has played far more on special teams than the others and can play fullback for a few snaps, if needed, as well as tight end.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Graham Glasgow, Ja'Wuan James, Elijah Wilkinson, Netane Muti, Austin Schlottmann
This group could easily go to nine if the Broncos trim a quarterback or go with one fewer wide receiver. But they emerged from camp with eight linemen last year and project to do that again. Muti had injury issues in college and could be a practice squad candidate if he has too many rough edges, but he was a popular prospect before the draft and getting him through waivers might be difficult.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Shelby Harris, Jurrell Casey, Dre'Mont Jones, McTelvin Agim, Mike Purcell, DeMarcus Walker
Jones is poised to go from bit player last season to something closer to full-time work this time around. He had 2.5 sacks in 26 snaps against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. Casey's arrival and Harris' return after re-signing in free agency should give the Broncos a solid group of starters. Agim is the wild card, but his athleticism can't be ignored and he could earn significant playing time.
LINEBACKER (9): Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Todd Davis, Alexander Johnson, Josey Jewell, Malik Reed, Justin Strnad, Derrek Tuszka, Justin Hollins
If the Broncos choose experience over youth here, Joe Jones and Jeremiah Attaochu could replace the two rookies -- Strnad and Tuszka. But the two rookies have skills that transition quickly to the league as well as skills the Broncos need. Strnad has the athleticism to match up on opposing tight ends in pass coverage and Tuszka is a highly productive pass-rush prospect.
SECONDARY (10): A.J. Bouye, Bryce Callahan, Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Davontae Harris, De'Vante Bausby, Isaac Yiadom, Duke Dawson, Trey Marshall, Michael Ojemudia
Given Jackson's versatility and the potential for Ojemudia -- at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds with 4.4 speed -- to play both in coverage as well as along the line of scrimmage if needed, the Broncos figure to be cornerback-heavy when the roster is set. Callahan's injury history -- he missed all of 2019 -- means they'll have to think about more depth.
SPECIALIST (3): Brandon McManus, Sam Martin, Wes Farnsworth
The Broncos let long-snapper Casey Kreiter, a model of consistency, leave in free agency after four seasons. The Broncos will now let Farnsworth, who was in Dolphins' camp last summer, battle it out with rookie Jacob Bobenmoyer. Martin got the second-longest contract the Broncos awarded in free agency this year -- three years -- and the hope is he cleans up what has been a trouble spot.