Roster spots are going to be hard to come by in Denver when training camp opens, and that’s exactly what makes the next few weeks so interesting. The Broncos are bringing back 94 percent of their overall snaps from last season, so any newcomer or bubble player trying to force his way onto the 53-man roster is going to have to do it the hard way: stack good days, flash in preseason, and make the coaching staff pay attention.
A few players fit that description better than most.
At tight end, Dallen Bentley is the kind of name that can sneak onto the radar if he keeps building momentum. He’s a 7th-round pick, and that already puts him behind the curve in a room that includes Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, and 5th-round pick Justin Joly.
Nate Adkins is also firmly in the mix after carving out a role on offense and special teams. If Bentley is going to break through, he may have to take a spot that currently looks like Adkins’ to lose, which is no small task.
The Broncos could still try to stash Bentley on the practice squad, and 2025 7th-round pick Caleb Lohner is another developmental name who impressed at rookie minicamp. Still, Bentley has the size, strength, and athletic traits to matter as an in-line depth piece, so his camp and preseason work will be worth watching closely.
Drew Sanders is in a different kind of fight. The 2023 3rd-round pick would be a real surprise if he made the roster in 2026, even with his draft pedigree.
He’s healthy now, which is a good place to start, but that may not be enough. Sanders likely needs a huge camp and preseason just to stay in the conversation.
There is, however, a wrinkle: Jonathon Cooper’s situation off the field could create some opening, and Sanders has shown, in limited chances, that he can help on defense and on special teams. If he gets through camp and preseason without issues, he could force his way in as depth at edge rusher and on special teams.
The Broncos also may feel like they owe him a fair shot after moving him around three times already.
Then there’s Hakeem Butler, who brings a very different kind of intrigue to the wide receiver battle. Sean Payton’s roster construction has usually leaned toward five receivers, and if Denver carries a sixth, Lil’Jordan Humphrey would seem to have the edge as a familiar face who has mostly been around since 2023.
But Butler has entered the picture as a real challenger. The UFL Offensive Player of the Year is a massive target at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, and he pairs that frame with elite long speed.
He was a 4th-round pick by the Cardinals in 2019 and has not stuck in the NFL so far, but he’s 30 now and landing in a spot where the Broncos clearly value size at receiver. He was already making plays at mandatory minicamp, and if that carries over once the pads come on and he gets more reps against the first-team defense, Denver may have to make room for him on the 53.
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Broncos Fans Have Waited Years For A Move Like This
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Miamis rebuilding posture makes that kind of move easier to imagine, especially if a proven veteran becomes available in a market where contenders are always hunting for impact defenders. A player who just earned first-team All-Pro honors would fit the profile of the kind of upgrade Denver has been missing, and if the Broncos are serious about changing the look of that unit, this is exactly the sort of opportunity that could test how aggressive they want to be. [Read more 🡒]
4 Overlooked Broncos Who Could Crash The 53-Man Roster
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Gargiulo is trying to re-enter the mix after missing all of 2025 with an ACL injury, while Badie is working to stay relevant in a crowded running back room because of the little things coaches tend to value. Henningsen is also back in the fight after his own injury absence, and Robinson remains a developmental secondary piece after spending last season on the practice squad. None of them are locked in, but all four have enough going for them to make camp decisions worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Fans Will Care About What This Could Mean For Marvin Mims
Bo Nix spent part of his latest comments stressing something teams often talk about but do not always build around: continuity. The Broncos quarterback framed long-term success as something that usually comes from a group sticking together and growing into the same system, a reminder that Denvers offense is still trying to build the kind of cohesion that can pay off over time.
For Marvin Mims, that backdrop matters because Sean Payton continues to speak highly of the second-year receivers steady play. Payton said Mims has been consistent and deserves more touches, while also pointing to Denvers receiver depth as a good problem to have. For a player trying to carve out a bigger role, that is the kind of praise that can lead to more opportunity, even if the exact path there still has to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]