Kris Abrams-Draine

"The good news is that this is only the preseason. We are most definitely talkin’ ‘bout practice. I’m not overly worried about the game going sideways. The only real concern it shows is a lack of overall depth on the roster in a cohesive way that the Denver Broncos will not likely ever need to lean on.I think the hidden benefit of this game is that it is going to provide the team from every level of the roster with some much-needed focus and drive. The defense looked putrid throughout the game. The offense did well enough with the 1s, but there was nothing productive from the 2s and 3s.I’m not going to be bent, though. This is the preseason, and the Broncos weren’t doing much outside of vanilla calls throughout the game. I’ll be worried about the team if and when they look like this in the regular season (they will have many opportunities early in the season to look bad given how many quality teams they play in weeks 2 - 6).OffenseThe starting offense for the Broncos looks to be in pretty decent shape. With Bo Nix and most of the starters in, the offense drove for two scores with no real difficulty. With Harvey and Coleman having some level of running success, the drives were carried largely by the passing game.Past that, the offense couldn’t get out of its own way. Penalties, missed opportunities, and a consistent lack of sound blocking kept the Broncos from making anything else useful happen throughout the game.The good thing I walk away with about this offensive example is that we’ll see far more of the good and far less of the bad once the season starts. The offense wasn’t dialing up complicated play calls. Even the big pass to Waddle was a very normal route to the middle of the field that was created largely by the player, not by the scheme.I honestly think Davis Webb and Sean Payton are going to have a lot of fun with this offense once the regular season gets here.QuarterbacksBo Nix may not have played a lot of snaps, but it was so good to see him scanning deeper down the field consistently. There is a fable out there that he’s a short-throw quarterback, but we in Broncos Country know the truth: Nix loves pushing the ball down the field. Seeing him connect with Waddle was pretty electric. That connection is going to pay big dividends for the offense this season.Jarrett Stidham looked pretty friggin’ bad to my eyes. He barely pushed the ball downfield outside of one throw for 25 yards. He threw a total rookie pick at the end of the quarter, just staring his target down the whole time and handing the ball to the Green Bay Packers. He had a receiver winning a route on a 3rd and long and threw far short.I’m honestly disappointed that we didn’t see more of Sam Ehlinger in this game. He only threw two passes on the day, and this would have been a great opportunity to see what kind of spark he could bring as a backup quarterback. The coaches either kept him off the field to protect Stidham, or because Ehlinger just looks consistently worse in practices (if I were forced to bet, my money would be on the latter).The offense had far too many penalties that dug too many deep holes for the Broncos on a day where it was already rough sledding. Adam Prentice, Frank Crum, Alex Palczewski, and Lucas Krull all contributed holds in the game, which I’m sure Payton will be highlighting in their reviews as things that will keep players from moving up the roster from wherever they may stand.LineThe center situation is looking bad for the Broncos. Calvin Throckmorton handled most of the first half of snaps. Gavin Ortega had a bad snap that led to a fumble, which seemed to move the Broncos more into shotgun to ease up his job. Ortega got absolutely owned to give up a sack, which was very much on the offensive line, not the quarterback. My eyes are telling me the rookie needs to go back into the oven for a bit and that either Forsyth or Wattenberg need to get healthy in a hurry.The only officially listed center that dressed for this game was Lecitus Smith, who only came in for 2 snaps.Running BacksRJ Harvey is a red zone weapon. He reeled in the first touchdown of the game toward the corner of the end zone from 21 yards out. He had but one run for 5 yards on the day to go with his 2 catches before the Broncos shut him down for the game.Rookie Jonah Coleman got a few swings in the game as well, but didn’t amount to anything significant either running or receiving. He had 3 rushes for 9 measly yards and 1 catch for -2.Jaleel McLaughlin starts poorly, trying to juke a guy in the backfield when he could have kept running to minimize the loss. He led the team with 4 runs going for 15 yards and also led the team in receptions with 3 for 9 yards…be still, my heart.Late in the game, Cody Schrader did contribute some runs to rival McLaughlin with 4 runs for 15 yards as well and 1 catch for 5 yards. Even given what I’d call a good game for a guy way down the depth chart, I doubt it does much to move him up the depth chart. I think Badie’s already shown this coaching staff he’s the perfect “do it all decently” backup to keep on the roster in the regular season.ReceiversJaylen Waddle’s clutch catch on third down for 35 yards had me practically out of my seat (which is saying a lot for a preseason game). I’m so stoked to see more of Waddle in the regular season. He so easily created space for Nix to complete a pass deep downfield and then showed the stop-and-go talent that makes him a threat to house it on any play.Lil’Jordan Humphrey perfectly runs a comeback route and gets a first down early. He had another catch later in the game totalling 32 yards on 2 out of 3 targets. This is the guy a player like Cameron Ross needs to outplay. Humphrey has been a staple for the Broncos for a few years now, and this coaching staff knows he can be relied on.Rookies Dane Key and Cameron Ross accorded themselves well in this game. Key had a big catch for 35 yards. Ross made a 3rd and 11 conversion and had 2 catches on the day. I think both guys have a spot on the practice squad, if not the regular roster.Justin Joly had a good game with a nice tall grab for 5 yards and a 3rd down conversion in traffic. He used his size perfectly in traffic, which is what you want to see from your tight ends. I’m excited to see him develop with the Broncos as the season wears on.DefenseGreen Bay took this vaunted Broncos defense out back to the wood shed and tanned the Broncos’ hide from the start of the game until the end. Every level of play from the Packers had success. The passing game worked. The run game worked. The Broncos lost the turnover battle.Vance Joseph has plenty of film to work with for corrections this week. The Broncos looked mostly flat-footed far too often in coverage, giving up consistent cushions and seeming to be resigned to just being able to tackle quickly to function.Front 7The best player on the defense this game was Que Robinson. He drew a roughing the passer penalty for playing perfectly and hitting a quarterback as he was releasing the ball (someone mentioned it was for falling on the QB, but his weight was going sideways, which is what they are supposed to do). He gets home in the 3rd quarter with a big sack on 3rd down for a loss of 10 yards. He also had a tackle for loss and 2 credited quarterback hits on the day.Alex Singleton doubled up on coverage in the red zone with a guy already covered. In doing so, he vacated the middle of the field for the Packers to get an easy touchdown right behind him.Outside of Robinson, the lack of pass rush from the whole front was pretty impressive. Nik Bonitto had one good rush that I noticed, but was ineffective otherwise. Jonathan Cooper didn’t really show up even though he was on the field for 16 snaps. Justin Strnad played 17 snaps without impacting things as well. Neither Jonah Ellis nor Dondrea Tillman got home or even rushed a play as far as pass rush goes, though they both at least contributed some tackles.SecondaryRiley Moss started the game off with perfect coverage in his receiver’s hip pocket for a pass breakup. I was bummed to see him coming off the field after what looked to me to be a fumble recovery. Moss has looked like absolute fire so far in the preseason.Patrick Surtain almost gets a forced fumble. Later in the game, he got smoked on a crossing route on 4th and 1. It was pretty cool to see him lower the shoulder and absolutely blast a Packers receiver at the sideline who thought he could fight for yardage and instead found himself picking himself up off the ground asking for the plates on the truck that just ran him over.Jahdae Barron came on a corner blitz on 3rd down and blasted Tyrod Taylor and also notched a tackle for loss on the day. I did note that he was in the game for more than half of the snaps and rarely got a look his way. He gave up one pass for about 11 yards, but was on top of the other couple targets, stopping the plays for little to no gain.Kris Abrams-Draine got worked in this game. He gave up way too many passes with off coverage that was far too passive. Yes, the call may be to play off, but that doesn’t mean you should stay back and give up 5+ yards multiple times before you are close enough to make a tackle.Brent Austin is another rookie that needs more development. He had terrible coverage, giving up a 30+ yard pass.Reese Taylor didn’t want Austin to feel left out, so he also put some film out there on how not to cover on the outside.Special TeamsColby Katsis accounted pretty well for himself as a returner. He’s no Marvin Mims, but he had one kickoff return of 40 that looked excellent. Even if you take that away, he averaged 25+ yards per return on kickoffs, which isn’t too shabby, and 17 on his one punt return.I liked the effort play of Sean Fresh Jr., who ran down the big return. I’m not sure if he has a spot on the roster at corner, but plays like that are going to solidify a spot for him on the practice squad.Final ThoughtsThis is a rough game and should bring some small level of worry to Broncos fans. The effort and execution as the game wore on was honestly garbage. This wasn’t representative of the standard this team is capable of, for sure.The good thing is that we know this team is capable of far more; most of the game wasn’t our starting players, and the schemes in play on both sides of the ball were very vanilla. As the team rounds into form for their Week 1 matchup with the Chiefs, they are going to need to dial in quite a bit better if they want to start the season off with success.If you are looking for some fresh Broncos gear, consider using my affiliate link below. Rep the Broncos and support the No Bull review at the same time!"

"Things were looking up for the Broncos after their preseason opening victory over the Atlanta Falcons. All three phases of the team played well, and they handled the Falcons on the road despite missing several key starters. However, in Week 2, they would be getting back quarterback Bo Nix and star receiver Jaylen Waddle, and expectations were high in Broncos Country. While Nix and Waddle impressed early on, the rest of the team did not.The Broncos would lose 33-13 to the Packers in a game where they were dominated in all three phases of the game. A disappointing effort by the team that saw their lengthy preseason winning streak come to an end.I did this last week, and I will do it again this week. I am going to go through the Broncos’ entire 90-man roster by positional group and tell you if I believe a player’s stock is rising, falling, or remains unchanged, and give you my thoughts on their future with the team. We have one preseason game left and are a week away from roster cuts being made, so things are getting real for players on the roster bubble.QuarterbackBo Nix - Stock up: Nix was back on the field and looked just like the player we saw vs. the Bills in the playoffs. He looked confident, poised, made big plays, and most importantly, he looked healthy. He was moving around well, had a big play to Jaylen Waddle, and later threw an absolute dime to RJ Harvey for a touchdown. I saw everything I needed and still believe Nix is on the verge of a big season.Jarrett Stidham - Stock down: What was that? After a good showing vs. the Falcons, backup Jarrett Stidham had a rough outing vs. the Packers that included an ugly interception during a two-minute drill. Stiddy stared down tight end Lucas Krull down the seam, and a Packers defender jumped the route. He was lucky it didn’t end up as a pick-6. Did this impact his QB2 status? I don’t know, but it certainly was not a good showing for the veteran backup.Sam Ehlinger - Unchanged: He was the third quarterback to come in behind Nix and Stidham and did not see action until the 4th quarter. Not a great sign for him, considering he is apparently competing for the QB2 job. He only had two pass attempts, and his offensive line made it impossible for him to accomplish much of anything. We’ll see what happens in the preseason finale next week.Running BackJK Dobbins - Unchanged: The veteran back did not play, as expected, and will be your starting running back come Week 1.RJ Harvey - Stock up: Harvey looked decent as a runner, but he is going to make his impact in the passing game. He ran a wheel route down the sideline and caught a dime from quarterback Bo Nix for a touchdown. Harvey could be filling the Kamara/pass catcher role in this offense and could easily catch 50 or 60 passes this season and be an impact player.Jonah Coleman - Stock up: His stats aren’t anything to write home about, but how the Broncos are using him, or their lack of using him, is a great sign for the rookie running back. He played a total of 8 snaps, and I believe just one series (with Nix and the starters) before he was pulled from the game. The Broncos believe they don’t need to see him during the preseason shows how confident they are in his skill set.Jaleel McLaughlin - Stock down: He wasn’t bad, but the writing seems to be on the wall for the former undrafted free agent. He’s behind Harvey and Coleman on the depth chart and is unlikely to make the 53-man roster. He could be a practice squad guy, but we’ll see. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s playing for another team this upcoming season.Tyler Badie - Stock down: He’s in the same boat as McLaughlin. Unlikely to make the 53-man roster and is looking at a possible practice squad role. He was active ahead of McLaughlin a lot last season, so his odds of making the practice squad could be higher, but we’ll see.Cody Schrader - Unchanged: He’s a back of the depth chart player who eats some snaps late in a preseason game.Adam Prentice - Stock up: Davis Webb must like the fullback dive play because it has been called three times in two preseason games. Prentice will have a role on this team as a lead blocker, special teams player, and apparently, a short-yardage specialist.Wide ReceiverJaylen Waddle - Stock up: I saw everything I needed to see from Waddle in the preseason. He caught a wide-open pass in the middle of the field (great route running) and used his speed to gain some YAC. Loved it.Courtland Sutton - Stock up: He nearly made another spectacular catch on the sideline (He did, but the refs were being annoying last night) and looks to be the same big-play receiver we have seen throughout his career with the Broncos.Pat Bryant - Stock up: He did not make any plays, but he started alongside Sutton and Waddle and never left the field. He is the clear WR3 and has really elevated his stock this summer. I expected this to happen, and I am excited that it did.Marvin Mims - Unchanged: He didn’t play and is still coming back from an injury he suffered during training camp. He did dress for the game and get some work in pre-game, so he appears close, but they’re being cautious. His role is locked in, so his stock is unchanged for me.Troy Franklin - Unchanged: I said stock down last week and don’t believe anything has really changed since then. He did have a good end to training camp, but he’s clearly behind Bryant on the depth chart and is playing on the same unit as Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who Sean Payton loves to use. I am not sure where he slots in on the depth chart and the game-day roster, but we’ll see what happens in the coming days. Also of note, he played 0 special teams snaps.Lil’Jordan Humphrey - Stock up: As long as Sean Payton is with the Broncos, Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s stock is up. He was with the second-team offense last night and made some plays. He’s either making the team or heading to the practice squad, where he will be elevated to the roster for game days for three weeks.Michael Bandy - Stock down: The Broncos also love them some Bandy, but the veteran has been sidelined with an injury, has missed several camp practices, and has yet to play in the preseason. The gap between him and some of the UDFA wide receivers could be closing.Hakeem Butler - Stock down: You’re a 6-5, 220+ wide receiver; you need to win the 50/50 balls. That did not happen, and the former UFL star player has not made an impact during the preseason. He is likely headed back to the UFL and not sticking around with the Broncos.Dane Key - Slightly up: Had a nice catch with the second-team offense, but that was all I really noticed from Key. Have to note that he was getting second-team reps, so his stock is slightly up for me.Cameron Ross - Stock up: He didn’t do too much last night, but Ross was making some noise during camp and even saw some reps with Nix at the end of camp. Does he make the team or even the practice squad? I don’t know, but it seems like his stock is up right now.Kolbe Katsis - Stock up: Katsis has return potential and has some playmaking ability. Like Ross, I am unsure if he even makes the team or the practice squad, but it seems like his stock is up right now. We have seen the team pass completely on their UDFA WR class in recent years, so I am skeptical about any of them sticking around right now.Joseph Manjack IV - Unchanged: He had a nice showing vs. the Falcons, but outside of that, he didn’t do much vs. the Packers.Kyrese Rowan - Unchanged: He’s a camp/preseason body needed due to injuries.Kyre Duplessis - Unchanged: He’s a camp/preseason body needed due to injuries.Tight EndAdam Trautman - Unchanged: His role is likely locked in as the “starter” and top in-line tight end for the Broncos this season.Evan Engram - Stock up: His stats won’t move the needle, but he saw 16 snaps with the starters (I believe all with the starters) and has been getting some in-line work. Will this continue? We shall see, but his role appears to be larger than it was last season. Just have to see if this continues into the regular season.Justin Joly - Stock down: I still think he makes the team, but he didn’t see playing time until late in the game and played behind Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins. Krull and Adkins played 13 snaps while Joly saw just 8 snaps. You can stash one or both of them on the PS and keep Joly on the 53, but his impact has not been what I hoped it would be thus far.Nate Adkins - Stock slightly up: He has been consistently on the 53-man roster the past few seasons and is now healthy. Payton seems to like him, and he can contribute to multiple areas on the team, including blocking and special teams.Lucas Krull - Stock slightly up: Krull was getting second-team work with Jarrett Stidham and seems to be ahead of Joly and others on the depth chart. I still would be surprised if he made the 53, but a practice squad spot could be likely for Krull.Dallen Bentley - Stock down: He played 6 snaps on offense and 3 on special teams. That’s it. Not a great sign for the 7th-round rookie.Caleb Lohner - Stock down: Still hurt and hasn’t practiced. The seat is getting hot.Offensive LineGarett Bolles - Unchanged: Was one of the best left tackles in the game last season and will continue to be Bo Nix’s blindside protector.Ben Powers - Unchanged: The veteran left guard is healthy and will be your Week 1 starter at LG.Luke Wattenberg - Unchanged: Still coming back from injury but will be your starting center come Week 1.Quinn Meinerz: Unchanged: All-Pro right guardMike McGlinchey: Unchanged: Veteran right tackle who has stabilized the position for the Broncos. He needs to quit with the penalties, though.Alex Palczewski - Unchanged: I am probably going to say this for most of the reserve offensive line players, but it wasn’t their best night last night. Palcho’s role hasn’t changed, and he’ll be the Broncos’ 6th offensive lineman this season.Kage Casey - Stock slightly down: I am far from an offensive line expert, but it seemed like Casey had some struggles last night. He was in at right guard, which could be a newer position for him, so maybe some growing pains.Alex Forsyth - Unchanged: Still didn’t play due to injury, but his backup center job does not seem in danger.Matt Peart - Unchanged: I didn’t really notice him good or bad, but he’s on the roster bubble.Frank Crum - Stock down: I said slightly up last week due to Sean Payton loving him some, Frank Crum, but after back-to-back weeks of poor performances, it’s stock down for me. I still think he makes the 53-man roster, though.Calvin Throckmorton - Stock up: He is unlikely to make the team and seems destined for a practice squad spot, but I am still saying stock up because he is starting at center(due to injuries). He’s not a center. He played tackle in college and transitioned to guard in the NFL, and now is playing some center in a pinch due to injuries.Gavin Ortega - Stock up: The snapping still needs some work, but again, he’s still learning to be a center. He entered camp likely as a guard who was getting some center work to becoming the second-string center due to injuries. This versatility likely helps him crack the practice squad.Reid Holskey - Unchanged: Camp/preseason body pushing for a practice squad spot.Tyler Miller - Unchanged: Big undrafted rookie could push for a spot on the practice squad.Nick Gargiulo - Unchanged: On the PUP.Lecticus Smith - Unchanged: Just signed and likely a camp body/depth.Defensive LineZach Allen - Unchanged: He’s one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFLMalcolm Roach - Stock up: Roach will likely see a larger role on defense this season and has been very productive throughout camp and during his time with the Broncos. He brings energy and attitude to the Broncos’ front seven.DJ Jones - Unchanged: He’s a veteran nose tackle and is who he is at this point in his career.Eyioma Uwazurike - Stock up: He has been unblockable all camp and has made himself a key member of the Broncos’ defensive line rotation. He worked on his body according to DC Vance Joseph and is now a pass rusher.Tyler Onyedim - Unchanged: I saw good and bad from Onyedim last night. He made some plays in the backfield, but I also noticed him on his ass a few times. The Packers were also running the ball at will vs. the Broncos’ reserve defensive line.Sai’vion Jones - Stock down: I had him as a breakout candidate, and you can barely notice him out there. I haven’t studied the film, so I could be missing something, but I had hoped he would be more of a standout game-wrecker right now, but we haven’t seen that much, if at all.Jordan Jackson - Unchanged: He’s solid back-end depth, but his role and status with the team seem unchanged.Jordan Miller - Unchanged: He’s a backup nose tackle who likely lands on the practice squad again.Kristian Williams - Unchanged: Battling for a spot on the Broncos practice squad.Edge RushersNik Bonitto - Unchanged: He’s one of the top speed rushers in the NFL and made his impact known in this game. Bonitto did not get a sack, but he was applying pressure and looked like his usual self out there.Jonathon Cooper - Slightly down: His pending legal battles and potential suspension have his stock slightly down for me. He has played well this summer, though.Jonah Elliss - Unchanged: I had his stock WAY up last week, but didn’t see much of an impact from him this week. He still has had a strong summer and looked good in the preseason opener, so I am not going to knock him for last night. He didn’t look bad, but his teammate looked better.Que Robinson - Stock up: He looked great. He’s big, explosive, and has some filthy pass rush moves. The refs did him dirty with a soft roughing the passer call, but he was making plays all over the field last night. I love his upside and believe he can have a role on this defense this upcoming season.Dondrea Tillman - Unchanged: He is who he is, which is a solid rotational edge rusher who can set the edge and apply some pressure.Drew Sanders - Stock down: Drew Sanders is hurt again. He missed all of practice this week and then the game on Friday. This is likely the final nail in the coffin for the Broncos’ former third-round pick.Dasan McCullough - Unchanged: He played 20 snaps of defense and 4 snaps of special teams, but I cannot recall a single standout thing he did. I was also a little checked out late in the game. At least he’s healthy and playing now.Johnny Walker - Unchanged: He’s pushing for a spot on the practice squad.LinebackerAlex Singleton - Unchanged: He’s the quarterback of the defense and a veteran team leader.Justin Strnad - Unchanged: This will be his first full season as a starter, and he has earned his opportunity after being a productive backup the past few seasons.Jordan Turner - Stock slightly up: He played in his first preseason game this summer and was in on the second-team defense. I am a Turner fan, but I don’t recall him making any noteworthy plays. However, playing with the second-team defense is certainly something to note as we move forward with this linebacker competition.Karene Reid - Stock up: I think he made the team. He made it out of camp last year and seems to be trending that way again this year. He’s solid, is always around the ball, has made some plays, and contributes on special teams. We’ll see, though!Red Murdock - Stock up: Led the team in tackles again, which could mean something or mean nothing. He did play 35 snaps on defense and 18 snaps on special teams, so we’ll see. He seems to be trending in the right direction, but came in after Reid and Turner.Taurean York - Unchanged: I am still a fan, but he’s clearly at the tail end of this depth chart. We’ll see if he lands on the practice squad or not.CornerbackPat Surtain II - Stock up: Best cornerback in the NFL and popped Christian Watson pretty good.Riley Moss - Stock up: Had a great start to the game and continued his strong summer, but would leave the game with a rib injury. Hopefully, just a minor issue, but he did not return to the game.Ja’Quan McMillian - Unchanged: Top slot corner in the NFL.Jahdae Barron - Unchanged: He played 50 snaps, which was the most for any defender, and came in for Moss when he went out with the injury. Outside of that, I don’t recall him making any good or bad plays. He was beat for a touchdown, but that was just a good catch and some fancy footwork. He made some open-field tackles, but also missed some. He did get a good hit on the quarterback on a blitz, which was nice to see. Nothing moved the needle one way or another for me.Kris Abrams-Draine - Unchanged: Like Barron, he had some good and bad, but nothing that moved the needle for me. Was called for DPI but also had a few nice PBUs. He’s a solid CB5, and nothing that happened last night changed his outlook.Reese Taylor - Unchanged: He’s a backup slot corner who has spent time on the Broncos practice squad in recent years and is competing for that role again. He has made some plays and seems destined for the practice squad.Brent Austin - Stock up: Austin is a name to watch. Has been making plays in camp and could be pushing for a practice squad spot. Didn’t do anything super noteworthy last night, but again, seems like someone headed for a practice squad spot. He did play 43 snaps last night on defense.Sean Fresch Jr. - Unchanged: He has special teams upside, but the production hasn’t really been there. The former UFL player is known for his return skills, but I do not think he’s making the team or practice squad.Ricardo Hallman - Unchanged: Likely just a camp/preseason body.SafetyTalanoa Hufanga - Unchanged: All-Pro safety and a leader of the Broncos defense.Brandon Jones - Slightly up: He’s healthy and an underrated part of the Broncos’ secondary.Taylor Rapp - Stock up: He was signed a few days ago, and the veteran safety with a ton of experience is likely locked in as the Broncos’ third safety.Devon Key - Slightly up: All-Pro special teamer, but can he lock down a role on defense as the third safety? The fact that the Broncos signed veteran Taylor Rapp says otherwise.JL Skinner - Stock up: I think he makes the team. He played ahead of his competition and looks the part on the field, and contributes on special teams.Tycen Anderson - Stock down: The writing seems to be on the wall here. He played behind Skinner, and the signing of Rapp all but ends his hopes of making the 53, but a practice squad spot could be up for grabs.Miles Scott - Slightly down: The 7th-round rookie hasn’t made much noise this summer and seems destined for the practice squad.Parker Robertson - Stock down: Probably just a camp/preseason bodySpecial TeamsWil Lutz - Unchanged: Remains one of the more accurate and consistent kickers in the NFLJeremy Crawshaw - Stock up: He has been booming punts all summer and seems to be putting his early-season rookie struggles behind him.Mitchell Fraboni - Stock up: He snapped the ball well.Luke Basso - Stock down: Seems like a camp body who had a botched snap vs. the Falcons"

"For our first installment of Future Broncos earlier today, we took a look at the slate of picks the Denver Broncos have for the 2027 NFL Draft. Boasting extra picks, the Broncos have the flexibility to be very active maneuvering around the draft board next April if they so choose. With this entry, we will examine some of Denver’s potential needs heading into next offseason. Note that these aren’t listed in priority order.Inside Linebacker:Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are the Broncos’ starting inside linebacker duo in 2026. Singleton signed a two-year extension earlier this offseason and Strnad inked a three-year deal. At the beginning of the 2027 season, Singleton will be 34 years old and Strnad will be 31.Denver has a handful of late-round and UDFA players from the past few years competing for depth spots this season. Jordan Turner, Karene Reid, Red Murdock, and Taurean York are the four vying to make the final 53-man roster. While it’s entirely possible one or a few of them could eventually be NFL starters, the franchise would be wise to try and add a quality prospect into the mix long-term.Let’s be honest. How comfortable would you be with any one of those guys stepping in as a starter this season? I wouldn’t be at all. Truth be told, inside linebacker is a position you don’t have to draft super early to find future starters. With a projected nine picks for next April’s draft, the Broncos should address this long-term need somewhere in the Top 125 selections.Interior Defensive Line:The state of the Broncos’ defensive line for the 2026 season is strong. However, the long-term outlook is variable and it’s always smart to add talent to the trenches.At the beginning of next season, veteran nose tackle D.J. Jones will be 32 years old and carries a cap hit of $14.6 million dollars. If the Broncos opted to designate Jones as a post-June 1st cut, they would save $13 million in cap space but incur $1.6 million in dead money over the next several seasons. They certainly don’t need to do this with them poised roll over a lot of cap space, but it is a possibility.On top of that, fourth-year player Eyioma Uwazurike is scheduled to be a free agent. I expect him to play a lot of snaps this season. It’s entirely possible that Denver could extend him. If he shows as much promise as coaches and teammates have praised him for over the course of training camp, that would be a smart decision.The team has spent back-to-back third-round selections on the defensive line with Sai’vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim. We will see if either can be a meaningful contributor this year, but finding a big-bodied defensive tackle that could eventually take over for Jones and split time with Malcolm Roach is something they should consider.Secondary:The Broncos tout the best secondary in the NFL this season. Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones are a quality safety tandem. Meanwhile, the starting trio of Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, and Ja’Quan McMillian are set to play at an elite level this season. Denver also has good cornerback depth with Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine.Though it’s important to note Jones, Moss, and McMillian are all scheduled to hit free agency at the end of the season. Hufanga and Abrams-Draine will also be free agents after the ‘27 season. A handful of other depth players at safety are just on one-year contracts as well.I do expect Denver to retain one of the three key starters mentioned earlier. However, they may need to find a player in the defensive backfield that could start right away pending on how things unfold during free agency leading up to the draft next April. Either way, adding long-term depth here is something I expect General Manager George Paton to prioritize. He has put a premium on defensive backs in his drafts over the years.Offensive Line:I’m bullish on Denver’s starting group this season and still have high hopes for Alex Palcewszki and rookie offensive lineman Kage Casey. However, Mike McGlinchey and Garett Bolles will be another year younger. It’s been a long time since Denver has prioritized drafting and developing a tackle with an early selection. Perhaps the 2027 NFL Draft will be the year that happens.Additionally, Alex Forsyth—slated to be the Broncos’ backup center—is in the final year of his rookie deal. Given the injuries Denver has had up front at the position (including starter Luke Wattenberg who has missed several games the past few seasons), finding a player at the pivot who could be developed is an option for them to consider as well.Other Potential Needs:Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is in the final year of his contract and quarterback Bo Nix will ultimately end up being rewarded with a huge contract. It’s not the most pressing need by any means, but I think Denver should give thought to finding a quarterback in the mid-rounds they think would be worth developing behind Nix.The future of the tight end position is a total wild card. We’ll have to wait and see how the group performs this season. That being said, I wouldn’t let Justin Joly, Dallen Bentley, or any other player’s presence on the roster preclude them from trying to find a long-term difference maker at the position.I’m very high on the potential of the Broncos’ receiving corps for the 2026 season. Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant are a formidable five at the position. However, Mims Jr. is set to hit free agency if the team can’t agree to a long-term extension with him. He’s an All-Pro returner and those aren’t easy to come by. At the very least, Denver may have to look for a player at the position who has serious upside on special teams.Not only that, but Courtland Sutton carries a large cap hit next season and in future years. He has been a great player for the franchise, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Broncos’ brass targets a big-bodied wideout who profiles as a true ‘X’ in Payton’s offense for the future."

"The Denver Broncos had their final training camp practice of the summer on Wednesday and are now one step closer to their Week 1 matchup vs. their divisional rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs. This training camp lacked some of the overall drama of previous Broncos Camps, but certainly was full of storylines and developments that should have all of Broncos Country excited for the weeks and months ahead.So, with all that said, here are the five things I believe we learned from Broncos Camp this year.Bo Nix is healthy and set for a big seasonBefore camp even started, we had an idea that Nix would be good to go. He was a limited participant in the mandatory minicamp practices and was seen working out prior to camp and looking good to go. However, people still had concerns and wanted to see Nix move on the practice field and practice fully.Well, they got that and more.Nix practiced fully on Day 1, and that continued throughout the entirety of training camp. He never missed a session, took every first-team rep in team drills, and simply proved he was back to 100%.As for the season ahead, I believe Nix is set for a big year. We have seen growth each and every season, and he really turned it on late in the season last year and in the playoffs vs. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. He also will have newly promoted offensive coordinator and play caller Davis Webb in his ear, calling plays this season. The two have a great relationship, and it will bring some fresh ideas, aggressive plays, and hopefully a better offense moving forward. Then, you have the addition of star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. He’s a home run threat whenever he touches the ball and will open things up for everyone on offense.This is the year Nix takes that next step, silences all the naysayers out there, and establishes himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.Pat Bryant is ready to emergeProbably the biggest winner of training camp has to be second-year wide receiver Pat Bryant. He entered camp in a battle for the WR3 spot with Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin and leaves camp as the clear winner.He was the storyline for just about every practice and became Nix’s most trusted target throughout the two weeks of camp. Veteran Courtland Sutton did not practice every day due to some load management stuff, and Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims missed a week plus of practices due to some minor injuries. So, Bryant was constantly out there, performed well, and simply ran away with the job.Head Coach Sean Payton was asked How the hell are you going to keep him off the field, Payton responded, “We’re not. We’re going to play him”.We saw this last season when it appeared Bryant took over the WR2 role opposite Courtland Sutton late last season. His role began to grow, and he was making plays on the field. Unfortunately, injuries derailed what looked to be a promising late season/postseason run for Bryant, but he carried that momentum into the offseason and now into training camp and hasn’t looked bad. This has Sean Payton excited for Bryant’s potential moving forward.“No. I’m excited, I’m happy because you kind of saw the beginning of it last year, but like any young player, maybe you didn’t see it as consistently as you’re seeing now. He’s a confident player with strong hands. That ability to be on the ground and not alter your feet or your foot path, I think really serves him well. Then like anything, you have a good practice, then you have two, and then pretty soon there are a couple stories, and then there’s five stories and then all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘Hey…’ You guys have seen these guys grow right before our eyes, and it’s happened, I’m sure, more than a number of times. It’s good to see.”Bryant figures to have a big role in the Broncos offense simply because he can do it all. He can play inside/outside; he is known for his blocking, strong, reliable hands, makes plays in the middle of the field and red zone, can run after the catch, and as defensive coordinator Vance Joseph noted, he’s the complete package.”He’s the guy in that room — he blocks, he catches the ball in traffic, he can track the ball vertically, he’s great in the red zone. He’s the complete package. He’s got great size and he loves to play. He’s the same player every day.”Bryant’s emergence isn’t a knock on Marvin Mims or Troy Franklin either. Mims was having an equally strong start to camp before he suffered a soft tissue injury and still figures to have a role in this offense. Troy Franklin also made some plays and had a strong finish to camp, so he will figure into the mix as well, but Bryant is still the clear winner from this group.Jaylen Waddle is going to be a difference-makerThe Broncos’ big offseason addition was making a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins for star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. He gives the team a much-needed explosive playmaker who completely changes the identity of their offense, and so far, he has lived up to those expectations.Even though Waddle missed a week-plus of training camp practices due to a minor soft tissue injury, his impact on the team and the offense was evident when he was out there. He’s the fastest player on the field, runs great routes, stops and starts quickly, and is able to separate no matter who is covering him, including former Defensive Player of the Year and CB1 in the NFL, Pat Surtain II.During Wednesday’s final training camp practice, Waddle, who returned to the field this week after his injury, made arguably the play of camp. He beat and burned Surtain, who had him in one-on-one coverage DEEP for a 60-yard touchdown grab. He had a step or two on the All-Pro corner and showed off his elite speed and playmaking ability.If Waddle can do this to Pat Surtain II, the best cornerback in the NFL with a Hall of Fame-caliber career, he can do it to anyone, at any time.After practice, Surtain II told reporters that Waddle is very difficult to cover, and that it’s tough, but that it’s fun to compete against a player like Waddle.“It’s very difficult as a [defensive back]. It makes you think for sure. It makes you think [about] what route he could be running and it doesn’t make him one-dimensional when he’s able to stop and start like that. It’s definitely tough, but it’s fun to compete against that.”Waddle’s impact on this offense should be immense. Not only for what he can do as a player, but also for how he should open up things around him. Waddle is an explosive playmaker who can take a simple slant 70 yards to the house if he is able to get free or just run past you on a go route and make a big play down the field. That type of playmaking ability is going to keep defenses honest and open things up for Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Evan Engram, and the rest of the Broncos’ playmakers.Sutton is typically getting a team’s best corner, but now he can use his size, strength, and elite go-up-and-get-it ability to make plays against a team’s second or third-best corner. Same goes for Bryant, who should have opportunities open up outside or inside and get plenty of one-on-one looks. The middle of the field and the flats should open up for the backs and tight ends due to the safeties having to play deep. Add all that in with the talent, play calling, run game, and quarterback play, and this Denver Broncos offense could be a fun watch this upcoming season.Jonah Coleman is going to have an impact in his rookie yearTraining Camp is not where running backs typically excel because they’re not getting tackled to the ground and you need live action to truly evaluate a runner, but rookie Jonah Coleman did everything he needed to do to impress the Broncos coaching staff.The rookie fourth-rounder turned heads all of camp and continued that into the preseason, where, after four carries, the team pulled him because they had seen enough.Coleman earned praise all summer, but after his showing in the preseason, the hype really picked up. He only had four carries, but showed excellent vision, short-area burst, power, and contact balance, and truly looked like a future starting running back.“Yes, he had good balance, a real good elusive runner for his size. I would say good short-area quickness and good balance, and the other night we had a few good examples of that.”I said this before, but I believe Coleman will have a role on offense in Week 1. He’s too good and likely has earned himself some split time with starter JK Dobbins. Second-year back RJ Harvey will settle in as your change of pace/third down/pass catching specialist while Dobbins and Coleman split time as runners or simply go with the hot-hand approach.Regardless, Coleman will factor into the run game from the start. The talent is there, and the way they are talking about him, he’s going to get carries. The question is, how are they going to feed all three backs and make the three-headed monster rotation work?Defense remains strongThis shouldn’t be a surprise, but the Broncos defense remains strong. They are bringing back the vast majority of their starters, but do have to replace John Franklin-Myers, who left during free agency and signed with the Titans. However, it seems like they are not going to miss a beat and, frankly, could be an even deeper unit than they were a season ago.I say this because we have seen growth from Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, and will continue to see development from Tyler Onyedim and Sai’vion Jones. Roach has been a consistent disruptor all of camp and brings some fire and intensity to the defensive line. Eyni Uwazurike appears to have taken a real step up, improved his body, and simply has been unblockable throughout camp. Getting a 6-6, 320-pound monster in the middle of your defense is a great thing to have. Then you have the rookie Onyedim and second-year player Sai’vion Jones, who will continue to grow and develop. The Broncos are deep in the interior, and we haven’t even mentioned All-Pro Zach Allen or veteran nose tackle DJ Jones.Then on the edge, Nik Bonitto remains one of the top speed rushers off the edge. Jonathon Cooper has some legal issues to deal with, but he looked damn good in the preseason opener, and Jonah Elliss is having a breakout camp. Oh, and they have Que Robinson, who continues to flash, and Dondrea Tillman, who has made big plays for the team in back-to-back seasons. This might be the best and deepest edge rushing unit in the NFL.Now, we look at the secondary, and it continues to be strong. Surtain II had smothering coverage throughout camp; Riley Moss may have had the best camp out of anyone not named Pat Bryant, and McMillian has been consistently very good. On top of that, 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron showed real promise in the preseason opener, had a pick-six touchdown, and nearly had a second INT, while Kris Abrams-Draine might be the best CB5 in football.If you want to talk about some areas of weakness, we can maybe look at the linebacker depth, but rookie Red Murdock looked pretty damn good in the preseason opener. Karene Reid had a nice diving PBU that led to the Barron pick-6, and UDFA Taurean York was all over the field making plays. It might be an inexperienced group, but it appears they have some real talent at linebacker behind starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.As for the safety depth, it hasn’t been outstanding, and they did work out veteran safety Taylor Rapp, but they remain strong at the top. Talanoa Hufanga is a defensive leader who plays with his hair on fire and is an All-Pro-caliber player, while Brandon Jones is healthy and maybe the most underrated player on the Broncos’ defense.On paper, this defense is strong, deep, and has multiple young players stepping up, making it even better than before."

"The Broncos have completed all but a handful of their training camp practices and have started the preseason with a dominant 27-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. So, the push towards the regular season is in full swing, and it is a good time to take a look at which players on the Broncos’ 90-man roster are rising and fading as we get closer to Week 1.I am going to go through the Broncos’ entire 90-man roster by positional group and tell you if I believe a player’s stock is rising, falling, or remains unchanged, and give you my thoughts on their future with the team.QuarterbackBo Nix - Stock up: Bo is back and healthy and looks good as new. His ankle looks fully healed from offseason surgery, and he has been moving around and running well at Broncos Camp. Everything is trending up for the Broncos’ starting quarterback, who will make his preseason debut this week.Jarrett Stidham - Stock up, slightly: There was talk that Stidham would be competing with Sam Ehlinger for the Broncos’ backup quarterback job. The two have been splitting second-team reps, but on Friday Night, Stiddy had a statement performance that may have all but ended the backup quarterback competition talk.Sam Ehlinger - Stock down, slightly: Heading into the game, he was in the QB2 conversation, but after Stidham’s performance, I believe that talk is all but dead. Ehlinger played alright, but was with the third-team offense, so it was hard to compare. He may get a shot with the second team this Friday, but simply due to Stidham’s performance, Ehlinger’s stock is down slightly.Running BackJK Dobbins - Unchanged: Sure, the veteran back is dealing with what seems like a minor soft tissue injury, but nothing has really changed here for Dobbins. He likely won’t play much, if at all, during the preseason, and he simply needs to be 100% for Week 1 vs. the Chiefs.RJ Harvey - Stock down/up: Harvey’s stock as a running back is down. His vision isn’t great, and he looks like the Broncos third best back behind Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman. However, Harvey’s stock as a pass catcher/weapon in space is up. I think he will be a pass-catching threat for the Broncos, who will get some carries, but most of his damage will be done in space.Jonah Coleman - Stock up: Coleman has been as advertised. A well-rounded back with great vision, power, soft hands, and can pass block. We saw his running ability on display vs. the Falcons, and I would not be surprised if Coleman starts the season as the Broncos’ RB2. Split time with Dobbins as the main ball carrier, while Harvey is your third down/pass catching specialist.Jaleel McLaughlin - Stock down: The number one thing you cannot do as a ball carrier is fumble, and that’s exactly what McLaughlin did vs. the Falcons. Otherwise, he looked like the back we have seen for the past few seasons. He’s on the roster bubble, and a fumble could put him in the doghouse and potentially on the hot seat for a roster spot.Tyler Badie - Unchanged: He kinda is who he is. He doesn’t offer a ton as a runner or pass catcher, but he earned the trust of the Broncos coaches and quarterback Bo Nix for his ability to pass block. That trust and skill could land him a spot on the practice squad this season.Cody Schrader - Unchanged: I liked how Schrader ran the ball, but he was playing behind the third-string OL, so it was a tough evaluation. Realistically, he’s competing for a spot on the practice squad, and I didn’t see much to warrant his stock to rise or drop after Friday’s game.Adam Prentice - Stock up: The Broncos fullback was used in key short-yardage situations and at the one-yard line, where he ran it in for a touchdown. He’s a favorite of the coaching staff and will be part of this team and this offense this upcoming season.Wide ReceiverCourtland Sutton - Stock up: Load management seems to be paying off for the veteran wide receiver. He caught a 40-yard bomb in the first drive from Stidham and then made a highlight-reel one-handed catch and looked to be in midseason form.Jaylen Waddle - Stock up: He has been sidelined for about a week with a soft tissue injury, but the Broncos star receiver has shown enough before the injury for me to say stock up. He was practically unguardable during camp and showcased his speed and explosiveness throughout, and will be a big part of the Broncos’ success this upcoming season.Pat Bryant - Stock WAY up: Pat Bryant has been the story of camp thus far. The second-year wide receiver has been making plays throughout camp, has earned praise from the coaches and his teammates, and was featured early on vs. the Falcons. He has run away with the WR3 job and could be a productive member of this offense this upcoming season.Marvin Mims Jr. - Unchanged: I don’t believe we will see his role change much this upcoming season. He will be an All-Pro-caliber returner while getting snaps as an occasional deep threat/space player on offense. They can get creative with Mims, and I am excited to see how Davis Webb utilizes him.Troy Franklin - Stock down: It has to be down, right? Bryant seems to have taken the WR3 role, Mims has proven to be a better deep/speed threat throughout his career, and Franklin really hasn’t done much to move the needle thus far this summer. He did have a nice catch vs. the Falcons, but I have a hard time figuring out his exact role on this team outside of being a depth player.Lil’Jordan Humphrey - Stock up: As long as Sean Payton is coaching this team, LJH’s stock will be up. He is a reliable backup who gives you snaps at wide receiver, blocks well, and plays special teams. He may not make the 53-man roster, but he has a better shot at being active on game days than Troy Franklin right now.Michael Bandy - Slightly up: The Broncos like the Bandy man. He has been sidelined a little bit, but he has served as veteran depth the past few seasons, and until someone can surpass him, I think he will have the same role this season.Hakeem Butler - Stock slightly down: The former UFL standout has not made the impression that I anticipated and was mostly quiet vs. the Falcons. He will need to show more moving forward if he wants to make the practice squad.Dane Key - Unchanged: Likely was a long shot to make the team from the beginning and hasn’t really done much to help himself thus far, it seems.Cam Ross - Slightly up: Ross saw some return work on special teams and had a chunk play on an end around. He showed some potential and has a shot to make the practice squad.Kolbe Katsis - Slightly up: He made some plays during camp but didn’t do much vs. the Falcons. He has some speed and return ability, so I am going slightly up, but I had hoped for a little bit more.Joseph Manjack IV: Stock up: Manjack was second on the team in receiving yards with 3 catches for 40 yards and showed good chemistry with third-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger. If he can block and play special teams, he could make a push for a spot on the practice squad.Kyrese Rowan - Unchanged: He’s a camp/preseason body needed due to injuries.Kyre Duplessis - Unchanged: He’s a camp/preseason body needed due to injuries.Tight EndAdam Trautman - Stock up: He’s a Sean Payton guy and the Broncos’ starting tight end, so his stock is and always will be up until proven otherwise.Evan Engram - Unchanged: You could go slightly up here, but I don’t think much has changed with Engram. He will be their main pass catcher at the position, but the upside seems to remain fairly limited.Justin Joly - Stock slightly down: I haven’t seen or heard many updates on Justin Joly throughout camp, and he didn’t do much in the preseason opener, so he’s slightly down for me. I still like his upside, but admittedly hoped I would have seen more from him by now.Nate Adkins - Unchanged: He is who he is at this point in his career. He’s a blocking specialist who does all the dirty work. He hasn’t stood out much at all during camp and has been dealing with an injury. I think he’s a safe bet for a spot on the practice squad.Lucas Krull - Unchanged: Like Adkins, he is who he is at this point in his career. I don’t think he’ll make the 53, but he is a potential practice squad player.Dallen Bentley - Slightly down: Like Joly, there haven’t been many updates at all on Bentley, and he didn’t do anything of note during the Falcons game. So, slightly down for me purely because I was hoping we would see more from him by now.Caleb Lohner - Way down: He has yet to practice, and any hopes of a breakout seem dead at this point. He will need to return to camp this week if he wants any shot at making the 53-man roster.Offensive LineGarett Bolles - Unchanged: He was one of the better left tackles in the NFL last season, and that hasn’t changed.Ben Powers - Slightly up: There was some talk and whispers that he could be competing for his job or a trade candidate, but it seems like he’s set as the Broncos’ starting left guard.Luke Wattenberg - Unchanged: He has been sidelined for over a week due to an injury, but he’s known as one of the smarter centers in the NFL, and his status hasn’t changed at all.Quinn Meinerz - Unchanged: He’s one of the best guards in the NFL.Mike McGlinchey - Unchanged: Veteran right tackle who has stabilized the position, which was a longtime point of weakness for the Broncos.Alex Palczewski - Slightly up: Versatile backup who has started games at left guard and right tackle during his career. He signed an extension and will be the Broncos’ 6th offensive lineman this season.Kage Casey - Stock up: The rookie guard has been stellar in one-on-ones throughout camp and played well from what I saw vs. the Falcons.Alex Forsyth - Unchanged: He’s the Broncos’ backup center.Matt Peart - Unchanged: He’s competing for the Broncos’ swing tackle role and is on the roster bubble.Frank Crum - Slightly up: Sean Payton loves him some, Frank Crum. The athletic tackle likely makes the 53-man roster again.Calvin Throckmorton - Stock up: He got the start at center vs. the Falcons and gives the Broncos a versatile depth piece if needed. He’s a lock for a spot on the practice squad.Gavin Ortega - Slightly up: I am not sure how he played, but he didn’t botch any snaps and seems like a player who makes the practice squad.Reid Holskey - Unchanged: Camp/preseason body pushing for a practice squad spot.Tyler Miller - Unchanged: Big undrafted rookie could push for a spot on the practice squad.Nick Gargiulo - Unchanged: On the PUP.Lecticus Smith - Unchanged: Just signed and likely a camp body/depth.Defensive LineZach Allen - Unchanged: He’s one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFLMalcolm Roach - Stock up: Roach will likely see a larger role on defense this season and has been very productive throughout camp and during his time with the Broncos. He brings energy and attitude to the Broncos’ front seven.DJ Jones - Unchanged: He’s a veteran nose tackle and is who he is at this point in his career.Eyioma Uwazurike - Stock up: He has been unblockable all camp and has made himself a key member of the Broncos’ defensive line rotation. He works on his body according to DC Vance Joseph and is now a pass rusher.Tyler Onyedim - Stock slightly up: He made some noise throughout camp, but I did not notice him too much vs. the Falcons. He’s still a rookie, but a little bit behind his competition right now, it seems.Sai’vion Jones - Stock down: Hate to say it, but I had high hopes for Sai’vion Jones, and it doesn’t seem like he has lived up to them thus far. Vance Joseph said he simply wasn’t strong enough last season and really hasn’t stood out during camp or the preseason thus far. He still has time, but I was hoping for more of a breakout from Jones this summer.Jordan Jackson - Unchanged: He’s solid back-end depth, but his role and status with the team seem unchanged.Tyler Miller - Unchanged: He’s a backup nose tackle who likely lands on the practice squad again.Kristian Williams - Unchanged: Battling for a spot on the Broncos practice squad.Edge RushersNik Bonitto - Unchanged: One of the best pure speed rushers in the NFL off the edge.Jonathon Cooper - Stock down: It’s only down due to a potential suspension coming his way. Otherwise, he has done well in camp and looked quick and frankly dominant vs. the Falcons. We’ll see what happens with him and his pending legal issues.Jonah Elliss - Stock WAY up: Outside of Pat Bryant, Elliss has been the winner of training camp for the Broncos. He has been getting after the passer throughout and showcased that vs. the Falcons. He was constantly applying pressure and looked like someone who could get several sacks this season.Que Robinson - Stock up: I had hoped for a bigger breakout, but Que Robinson has been good. He has the size, length, athleticism, and speed you look for and gives the Broncos yet another talented pass rusher off the edge.Dondrea Tillman - Unchanged: The interception specialist is solid depth for the Broncos and likely doesn’t see his role change much this season.Drew Sanders - Slightly up: He’s healthy, so that alone is a stock up. He also had a sack vs. the Falcons, which is always good to see. However, he’s not in line for a roster spot due to the Broncos’ depth at the position and is playing for a spot on the practice squad or elsewhere this season. So, it’s only slightly up for me.Dasan McCullough - Stock down: He has been sidelined for most of camp, which really hurts his chances of sticking around. Still a candidate for the practice squad, but we shall see if he can get healthy.Johnny Walker - Unchanged: He’s pushing for a spot on the practice squad.LinebackerAlex Singleton - Unchanged: He’s the quarterback of the defense and a veteran team leader.Justin Strnad - Stock slightly up: This will be his first full season as a starter, and he has earned his opportunity after being a productive backup the past few seasons.Jordan Turner - Stock slightly down: Started camp on the NFI and was just recently activated off it. He is a strong contender for a spot on the 53-man roster, but has missed some valuable time and now games.Karene Reid - Stock up: He made the 53-man roster last year and seems to be trending that way this season. He is a special teams standout and had a nice diving PBU that led to a pick-6 touchdown by cornerback Jahdae Barron.Red Murdock - Stock up: Murdock led the team in tackles and just seems like a player who is going to make the 53-man roster. He was a turnover machine in college, and I believe they want his skill set on special teams, but I liked what I saw from him as a linebacker.Taurean York - Stock slightly up: I liked what I saw from him in limited action vs. the Falcons, but he’s behind his competition. He seems like a likely practice squad player for the Broncos.Levelle Bailey - Stock down: Suffered a broken leg and will be sidelined for a significant amount of time.CornerbackPat Surtain II - Stock up: Best cornerback in the NFLRiley Moss - Stock up: He’s having a strong camp and had an interception vs. the Falcons. A strong start to his contract year.Ja’Quan McMillian - Unchanged: Top slot corner in the NFL.Jahdae Barron - Stock up: He needed that performance vs. the Falcons. Played well, had a couple PBUs, made some nice tackles and plays vs. the run, and had the Pick 6 touchdown (and could have had another INT). The former 1st-round pick has been the topic of conversation, and he changed the narrative a bit with that performance.Kris Abrams-Draine - Stock up: Is probably the best 4th or 5th corner in the NFL. Solid depth player who performs well when asked to start.Reese Taylor - Unchanged: He’s a backup slot corner who has spent time on the Broncos practice squad in recent years and is competing for that role again.Brent Austin - Stock up: Austin is a name to watch. Has been making plays in camp and could be pushing for a practice squad spot.Sean Fresch Jr. - Stock slightly up: The former UFL corner/returner was the Broncos punt returner on Friday Night, so that gives him a slight boost in my non-scientific formula. The more you can do, and do well, will help you stick around.Ricardo Hallman - Unchanged: Likely just a camp/preseason body.SafetyTalanoa Hufanga - Unchanged: All-Pro safety and a leader of the Broncos defense.Brandon Jones - Slightly up: He’s healthy and an underrated part of the Broncos’ secondary.Devon Key - Slightly up: All-Pro special teamer, but can he lock down a role on defense as the third safety? The fact that the Broncos worked out veteran Taylor Rapp says otherwise.JL Skinner - Slightly up: I thought he played well vs. the Falcons, and man, he looks like a linebacker out there. Big hitter, good plays on defense, and standing out on special teams will earn him a 53-man roster spot.Tycen Anderson - Slightly down: I haven’t heard much about him throughout camp, and he didn’t stand out to me during the game, so he’s slightly down for me. He’s a special teams ace, so we’ll see what Rizzi thinks during final cuts.Miles Scott - Slightly down: The 7th-round rookie hasn’t made much noise this summer and seems destined for the practice squad.Parker Robertson - Stock down: I say down because if the Broncos sign a veteran safety like Taylor Rapp, his roster spot is in danger.Special TeamsWil Lutz - Unchanged: Remains one of the more accurate and consistent kickers in the NFLJeremy Crawshaw - Stock up: He has been booming punts all summer and seems to be putting his early-season rookie struggles behind him.Mitchell Fraboni - Stock up: He snapped the ball well.Luke Basso - Stock down: Had a botched snap."