The Broncos may not be done with Taylor Rapp just yet.
After signing him last month and then moving on from him, Denver brought the safety back in for another workout, according to a report from Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post that pointed to the NFL’s transaction wire. A signing still had not been finalized by Friday’s waiver wire deadline, so the situation remains unsettled for now.
That leaves open a couple of possibilities for Rapp’s return. He could rejoin the Broncos on the practice squad or land on the 53-man roster, per Gabriel.
The roster math, though, is part of what makes this whole process a little messy. Denver currently has four of its maximum six vested veterans on a 17-man practice squad, which means the team would need to waive a player to make room.
That player would not have to be a veteran, but it still adds another layer to the maneuvering.
Coach Sean Payton made it clear after the preseason ended that he expected this story to keep moving. He said there was a “better than good” chance Rapp would wind up re-signing with the Broncos after needing “a little time at home,” and he doubled down on that sentiment in the quote Gabriel relayed.
Rapp’s fit with Denver also appears to be a big part of why this keeps circling back to a reunion. Payton said the Broncos have already seen enough of him to know what he brings, noting, “It was early, but here’s what we know: We’ve played against him,” Payton added when Rapp was released.
“He’s smart, which is a great trait to have as a safety. He’s a good tackler.
He can play down over the slot. He’s got versatility.”
The Broncos have been one of the league’s most watched teams after their 14-3 season, and that attention has made it harder to keep certain players from popping up elsewhere after roster cuts last Sunday. In that kind of environment, even a familiar name like Rapp can turn into a little roster-game chess.
Payton’s own timeline on the move, as Gabriel reported, was simple enough: Rapp “needs a little time at home, and we completely get what he needs. There’s a good chance, better than good chance that - I know how he felt being here - so I think sooner or later (him re-signing with the Broncos) is going to happen.
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