The Denver Broncos are about one month away from the opening of training camp ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The team will have some competitive position battles that will help shape the team's final roster.
The Broncos will be a new-look team as we advance, built in the vision of head coach Sean Payton. Very few players are guaranteed a roster spot in that situation.
As several players fight for the chance to stay on the squad and be part of that vision, the team will have difficulty getting rid of some of its players. Many teams want to place some of those players on the practice squad to further develop them and use them down the road. But the danger in that is exposing them to waivers where they are free to be claimed by any other team for 24 hours.
That might make it tough to let go of these players, but at the same time, they can't keep them all.
6 most difficult potential roster cuts facing Broncos ahead of 2024 season
Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Wide receiver
Lil'Jordan Humphrey has never amounted to much in the league with just 31 career receptions in five seasons with three different teams, but Payton seems to like him. Humphrey started his career with Payton in New Orleans.
Last season, he caught only 13 passes but three of those went for touchdowns. But even if Payton likes Humphrey, there is almost certainly no room on this roster for him with the guys that are in front of him.
Last year, Payton gave one of his former Saints players, Marquez Callaway, a shot in Denver, but he failed to make the team. Payton has his guys, but he also has to make the difficult decision to move on when it's time to move on.
Jalen Virgil, Wide receiver
Staying with the wide receiver position, Jalen Virgil is another guy that the team could have some difficulty in letting go of. Virgil was undrafted in 2022 and his talent and potential have always been evident as he made the 53-man roster as a rookie.
But what clouds things for him is the fact that he missed the entire 2023 season due to injury. He most likely won't make the team outright, but the Broncos would probably like to keep him around on the practice squad. Would he clear waivers?
Matt Henningsen, Defensive lineman
Many fans would probably predict Matt Henningsen to be a part of the 53-man roster but he is a clear bubble player heading into training camp this year. With the free-agent additions of Malcolm Roach and Angelo Blackson and the trade for John Franklin-Myers, the team has put in some work to improve the defensive line.
There might not be enough room for Henningsen.
Damarri Mathis, Cornerback
It might be a surprise to some if Damarri Mathis is left off the team this season, but if he isn't a lot better than he was last year, it shouldn't be.
Vance Joseph on CB’s Riley Moss and Damarri Mathis:#BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/2WF5EilpwF
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) June 12, 2024
The Broncos added Levi Wallace and will expect much more out of second-year cornerback Riley Moss, Mathis could be buried on the depth chart.
Thomas Incoom, Edge
Thomas Incoom made the 53-man roster as an undrafted player last year, but he might find it difficult to duplicate that, especially since he was a healthy scratch for nearly every game last season.
With the Broncos adding Jonah Elliss in the draft, the quartet of Elliss, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, and Baron Browning will be the guys the team leans on for its pass rush.
Blake Watson, Running back
Blake Watson is going to be incredibly difficult to leave off the team as he was one of the top undrafted free-agent signings any team made following the draft. He has every chance to have the same kind of preseason that Jaleel McLaughlin had a year ago, making it impossible to move off of him.
But Payton may opt for as much experience in the offensive backfield as he can get, which could leave Watson on the outside looking in. If that becomes the case, he won't clear waivers.
