Sixteen players who weren’t with the organization last year, including eight rookies, highlight the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster, which general manager George Paton filed to the NFL office Tuesday afternoon.
The make-up of the roster is defense-heavy (27, compared to 23 for the offense) and light on offensive linemen (eight).
Next up for Paton and coach Vic Fangio is the waiver process. The Broncos select ninth and can begin to add players on Wednesday, but must cut from the current roster to make room.
“We’re always looking,” Paton said. “We’ll have a pulse of the league and everything that is going on, but I do like this football team. I thought we had a nice preseason. I like the trek we’re on. We’re excited for the regular season. I thought it was really important to win games in the preseason (3-0). Winning is contagious and these guys want to win, they like to win and I think they’re feeling it.”
The Broncos open the regular season Sept. 12 at the New York Giants.
The rundown of activity on Monday-Tuesday:
- The Broncos traded receiver Trinity Benson and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for fifth- and seventh-round choices in ’22 and they acquired inside linebacker Jonas Griffith and a ’22 seventh-round pick from San Francisco for sixth- and seventh-round picks in ’22 and ’23, respectively.
- Paton said running back Mike Boone (quad) and cornerback Michael Ojemudia (hamstring) will be placed on injured reserve/eligible to return. They must sit out the first three games.
- Cornerbacks Essang Bassey and Duke Dawson, recovering from ACL tears sustained last December, remain on the physically unable to perform list, meaning they are out at least six more weeks.
- The Broncos released three veterans: Offensive tackle Cam Fleming, cornerback Nate Hairston and defensive lineman Shamar Stephen. Those players aren’t subject to waivers and Paton said Fleming and Stephen will “return definitely,” to the roster, presumably when Boone and Ojemudia are placed on injured reserve.
- Twenty-two players were waived: Quarterback Brett Rypien, guard/center Austin Schlottmann, safety Trey Marshall, fullback Adam Prentice, outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka, inside linebackers Curtis Robinson and Barrington Wade, offensive tackles Quinn Bailey and Drew Himmelman, tight ends Shaun Beyer and Austin Fort, running backs Damarea Crockett and Stevie Scott III, defensive linemen Isaiah Mack and Marquiss Spencer, cornerbacks Mac McCain III, Parnell Motley and Saivion Smith, and receivers Tyrie Cleveland, Kendall Hinton, De’Mornay Pierson-El and Seth Williams.
“Every position, to a certain degree, was difficult (to cut down),” Fangio said.
If there are surprises on the initial roster, they are defensive lineman Jonathan Harris, who got the nod over Spencer (seventh-round rookie), and three rookies — outside linebacker Andre Mintze, safety Jamar Johnson and cornerback Kary Vincent.
The Broncos opted to keep Mintze as a fifth edge rusher/special teams contributor instead of using that spot at another position group.
“The game wasn’t too big for him (from) the first day he showed up,” Paton said. “He can set the edge in the run game, he’s gotten better as a pass rusher and the thing that really stuck out (was) when he played special teams. A big guy (6-foot-3/246 pounds) who can run down the field on special teams — you can’t have enough of those guys.”
Johnson missed the first chunk of camp on the COVID-19/reserve list, but as a fifth-round rookie, had too much potential to risk passing through waivers.
“He was behind; the COVID impacts everybody a little bit differently and he still has a long ways to go, but he’s progressing,” Fangio said of Johnson.
Vincent, who was also in and out of practice during camp, will be the fifth cornerback after Ojemudia is put on injured reserve.
“Vincent needs to improve on (special) teams, but he’s a really talented cover corner,” Paton said.
At least immediately, the Broncos feel confident with their health at receiver — Courtland Sutton is coming off a torn ACL, Tim Patrick battled knee and groin injuries this past month and KJ Hamler has a history of hamstring issues — to go with five instead of six, which meant cutting draft picks Cleveland (sixth-round last year) and Seth Williams (seventh-round this year).
And the Broncos also have faith in third-round rookie Quinn Meinerz to play center if Lloyd Cushenberry, who didn’t miss a snap last year, is injured. Schlottmann was a candidate to be the backup center.
“We could also move (right guard Graham) Glasgow there; he’s played center in his career,” Fangio said. “We feel we have three centers.”
Paton has currently turned over 30.2% of the roster, but his affinity has grown for players he inherited.
“I’m happy with the players that were here (last year), how they worked, how they wanted to win, how passionate they are about winning and I like the guys we brought in,” he said. “They all have one common trait: They all really love ball and want to win.”
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Broncos GM George Paton does “like” initial 53-man roster, but is “always looking” for reinforcements - The Denver Post
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