ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos open the 2024 regular season Sept. 8 against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix will be behind center when the Broncos' offense lines up against the Seahawks. And all kinds of history will line up with him. Nix will be the first rookie quarterback to start in Sean Payton's 18-year tenure as an NFL head coach. Nix will also be the first Broncos rookie quarterback to start a season opener since a 23-year-old named John Elway did in 1983.
And Nix, who was the 12th overall pick of this past April's draft, will be the 13th different quarterback -- the 14th different player overall -- to start a game since the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 to close out the 2015 season.
How the rest of what Payton has called "a real young team" looks around Nix will soon come into shape. The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Broncos:
QUARTERBACK (3): Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson
It's difficult to square the idea that the Broncos would spend "weeks" (Payton's word) to put together a trade for Wilson and then not keep him in the cut to 53 players. And while most league personnel executives believe practice squad rules negate keeping three quarterbacks, the Broncos like what they've seen from Wilson and think there's enough potential there to continue his football rehab. Again, the Broncos could easily decide to keep two players here -- maybe they see what the market is for Stidham or try to get Wilson through waivers to the practice squad -- but they liked them all as camp ended.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Javonte Williams, Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin
If the quarterback count is three, then the running back depth chart might pay the price. It would be a tough call since Samaje Perine has a heavy dose of third-down and special teams duties, the Broncos have big plans for Estime and McLaughlin is the leading change-of-pace option who possesses some explosiveness.
FULLBACK (1): Michael Burton
Burton is a longtime Payton favorite, a "culture" player who fits in Payton's offensive scheme along with a hefty workload on special teams.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Tim Patrick, Troy Franklin, Josh Reynolds, Devaughn Vele
The Broncos kept six here last season -- Payton's first with the team -- and it has easily been the most competitive battle of training camp and the preseason. If this is really a meritocracy, Vele should make it. But in this scenario Brandon Johnson, who was second on the team to Sutton with four touchdown receptions (in just 19 catches), and Lil'Jordan Humphrey wouldn't make the cut.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull
The Broncos kept four tight ends last season at the cut to 53. Dulcich (hamstring) played only 32 snaps last season but looked healthy and like a potential impact player in camp.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Alex Forsyth, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Luke Wattenberg, Calvin Throckmorton, Alex Palczewski, Matt Peart
Quinn Bailey's season-ending leg injury will influence how this group looks given that Bailey's versatility made him a solution for multiple scenarios. But overall, this group is the most settled from last season, returning four starters that started at least 16 games in 2023. Payton has promised to look hard at the waiver wire after cuts league-wide, and this is one position group where the Broncos would make a claim if the right player were available.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Angelo Blackson, Eyioma Uwazurike
This is also a sturdy spot, especially with the addition of Franklin-Myers and Roach. Uwazurike was a late add in the preseason, as he was reinstated from a gambling suspension after missing the 2023 season.
LINEBACKERS (8): Alex Singleton, Cody Barton, Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, Justin Strnad, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Jonas Griffith
Drew Sanders' torn Achilles -- suffered in the offseason program -- impacts numbers here. The Broncos kept nine linebackers last season and could again if a player like Durell Nchami can survive the cut.
CORNERBACK (5): Pat Surtain II, Ja'Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Draine, Levi Wallace
Moss and Damarri Mathis got most of the work with the starters at the open right cornerback spot, as Wallace was hurt for much of camp. But Mathis was carted off in Sunday's preseason finale with a right ankle injury and could be an injured reserve candidate if his injury is deemed long-term. If that happens, the Broncos could keep an extra safety.
SAFETIES (5): Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Devon Key, Tanner McCalister
The quarterback competition continued to provide camouflage for what might be the most unsettled spot on the roster, given the decision to release Justin Simmons early in the offseason. Jones, who was signed to the biggest deal (three years, $20 million) the Broncos handed out in free agency this year, missed camp time with a hamstring injury, and the Broncos waived Caden Sterns during camp. McCalister could be the beneficiary if Mathis ends up on injured reserve.
SPECIALISTS (3): Wil Lutz, Riley Dixon, Mitchell Fraboni
Lutz, re-signed in free agency, went through the offseason program unopposed. Dixon competed with Trenton Gill, who spent two seasons with the Chicago Bears, throughout the preseason.