ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos open the 2026 NFL regular season at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET. in the season's "Monday Night Football" opener. But first, they play one more preseason game (Friday against the Minnesota Vikings) and then must cut their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Who will make the team? Which positions have tough decisions on deck? And where might the lineup be deepest and thinnest this season?
These questions are difficult for a team with very few landing spots for new arrivals. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was the big-ticket acquisition, but 20 of the 22 starters on offense and defense from January's AFC Championship Game were on the training camp roster. Denver re-signed 17 of the 21 of its players who had been scheduled to be unrestricted, restricted or exclusive rights free agents. So, the Broncos will have multiple choices for the final spots on the depth chart in each position group as coach Sean Payton tries to avoid the cut-down nightmare.
Here is our projection for the 53-man roster for the Broncos.
Quarterbacks (3)
Bo Nix, Sam Ehlinger, Jarrett Stidham
The Broncos rostered two QBs in 2025, as Ehlinger opened the season on the practice squad. Payton said Ehlinger turned down offers last August for an active roster spot to stay on Denver's practice squad and turned down a late-season offer for a roster spot from the Colts to remain with the Broncos. He has looked like the No. 2 in camp practices this summer, so it's hard to believe they let him go now. Stidham could draw some trade interest if there are injuries across the league.
Running backs (4)
J.K. Dobbins, Jonah Coleman, RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin
The fourth spot will likely be McLaughlin or Tyler Badie. McLaughlin is a more explosive player, but Payton has consistently used Badie in a variety of situations. Coleman, a rookie fourth-rounder, showed plenty of potential throughout the preseason and already projects to get some early-down touches.
Fullbacks (1)
Payton likes having a fullback in his offense and says he'll always want to have a player in that role. He has had tight ends lined up there at times in the past, but Prentice's portfolio fits exactly what his coach wants from the position.
Wide receivers (5)
Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant
If a quarterback is released and the Broncos keep only two passers, perhaps there's room for a sixth player here. They have had a clear top five throughout camp, but Lil'Jordan Humphrey is a long-time Payton favorite, and players such as undrafted rookie Cameron Ross and Michael Bandy have flashed plenty in the preseason.
Tight ends (4)
Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Justin Joly
Caleb Lohner, who has missed the preseason with a foot injury, could alter this calculus if the Broncos believe he is close to a return for the start of the regular season. Besides Lohner, the final spot could well come down to two rookies -- fifth-rounder Joly, a more refined pass catcher, or seventh-rounder Dallen Bentley, a more polished in-line option.
Offensive linemen (9)
Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Calvin Throckmorton, Frank Crum, Kage Casey
Casey, a fourth-round rookie, is a multi-positional player who likely wouldn't make it through waivers if the Broncos tried to get him to the practice squad. Throckmorton has shown his versatility, as well, with a start at center in the preseason opener adding to his work at guard. There's a numbers crunch here overall, as the Broncos have at least 10 linemen capable of making the roster, with Alex Forsyth and Matt Peart under consideration.
Defensive linemen (6)
Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson
In this scenario, Jackson edges out Sai'vion Jones, last year's third-round pick, for the sixth spot. There is always potential for them to keep seven here, but the entire depth chart is tight, making for squeaky tight fits throughout. Uwazurike has shown far more point-of-attack strength in camp and is in line for an increased workload.
Edge rushers (4)
Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Jonathon Cooper
The Broncos have allowed Cooper to practice throughout training camp and play in the preseason after his two arrests on domestic violence charges in a seven-day span in June. While his roster spot might have looked shakier in the spring given the tone of the team's statements at the time, he's on track to be on the 53 unless he is suspended by the NFL before Week 1 under the personal conduct policy. In that scenario, Dondrea Tillman likely earns the fourth spot.
Linebackers (4)
Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Red Murdock, Jordan Turner
Undrafted rookie Taurean York certainly did enough to earn a spot, but it's just a matter of whether the Broncos think two rookies (Murdock being the other) are ready to be the primary backups behind the two starters. Drew Sanders' injury in the preseason opener is a factor, but the Broncos have liked Turner's progress and physicality. He has also gained momentum since returning from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list to open camp.
Cornerbacks (5)
Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja'Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine
This is perhaps the league's deepest cornerback room and was likely the most difficult roster spot for anyone else to break into. Other teams have looked at this group with interest, but the Broncos continue to keep it intact.
Safeties (5)
Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, Taylor Rapp, JL Skinner
With concerns about defensive depth, the Broncos added Rapp before their second preseason game, which tightens up the depth chart even more. Key was an All-Pro special teamer last season. On another team, rookie Miles Scott's work in training camp would have been enough for a roster spot, but Skinner's special teams ability might be the difference.
Special teams (3)
Wil Lutz (K), Jeremy Crawshaw (P), Mitchell Fraboni (LS)
The Broncos brought in rookie long-snapper Luke Basso to share some of Fraboni's workload in the offseason program and camp, but this group returns every player.
