The Broncos are in the thick of it now. With the pads on and camp getting more physical by the day, August is where the roster starts to take shape in a hurry under Sean Payton’s demanding setup. That also means the margin for error is shrinking for a few players who need to show something before preseason and the regular season arrive.
There are four names in particular who can’t let this stretch pass them by.
Troy Franklin is one of them. The young receiver is already carrying plenty of pressure, and it only gets heavier when you look at the competition around him.
Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant have both made plays, Lil’Jordan Humphrey keeps hanging around the mix, and Franklin’s unofficial WR3 spot is not exactly locked down. The Broncos don’t need Franklin to do anything flashy, but if his camp work doesn’t start standing out, it’s fair to wonder whether he could end up in a Devaughn Vele-type situation.
That comparison matters because the Broncos moved Vele last offseason mainly because the room got crowded and his skill set overlapped with other receivers. With Jaylen Waddle added to the mix, Courtland Sutton staying put, and Mims plus Bryant flashing early, Franklin’s path is getting narrower unless he changes the conversation.
Jarrett Stidham is in a similar spot, just at quarterback. Sam Ehlinger has clearly made strides in year two, and the Broncos appear to have a real competition brewing for the primary backup job. Stidham has been a steady presence since 2023, but that alone doesn’t make him untouchable this time around.
He’s been asked to handle plenty and has generally done that, but his performance in the AFC Championship Game was flat-out horrendous. Ehlinger’s movement and athleticism give him an edge that also fits more cleanly with what Bo Nix brings to the table, which matters here. Stidham may be the higher-paid option and could still be the favorite, but Denver does not sound eager to hand him QB2 again without a fight.
Ben Powers is another veteran whose spot deserves watching closely. He missed half the season last year, dealt with two notable injuries, and is now back on an adjusted contract. At the same time, Alex Palczewski earned a two-year deal in the offseason and filled in well for Powers during the 2025 season.
Powers is still a quality player, and the Broncos paid him like one when they gave him a four-year deal worth over $50 million. But availability matters, and he simply wasn’t on the field enough last year.
Palczewski may now be offering a better answer at left guard, even if Powers remains the clubhouse favorite to hold the job for a fourth straight year. Like the backup quarterback battle, that starting spot looks open.
Then there’s Jahdae Barron. The former first-round pick is heading into his second year, and this is the moment for him to make some noise as camp gets serious. Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian look set in their starting roles, but Barron still has a chance to carve out something meaningful if he can force his way into the picture.
Right now, the pick looks strange, and it still looks strange. Barron didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie, and if he can’t claim a notable role in year two, the optics only get worse.
He’s also already turning 25 in December, so while he’s still young, he’s older than your typical second-year player. The pads are on now, and Barron needs to show he belongs in the mix.
In Other News...
Broncos Camp Injury Is One Thing But Drew Sanders Looms Larger
Training camp is already thinned out in the Broncos secondary after undrafted rookie cornerback Blake Cotton went down with a hamstring injury and was waived with an injury settlement. Denver quickly filled the roster spot by signing veteran cornerback Sam Webb, a reminder of how fast the bottom of the depth chart can change once injuries start piling up.
The larger concern, though, sits elsewhere on the practice field. Linebacker Drew Sanders has been out of recent practices, and the team still has not offered an official update on his status, leaving one of the more interesting defensive pieces in limbo as camp moves along. For a Broncos defense trying to sort through roles and stay healthy, Sanders absence is the detail worth watching most closely. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos WR3 Battle Is Suddenly Bigger Than Fans Realize
Behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos No. 3 wide receiver spot has become one of the quieter but more important competitions on the roster. Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr. are all in the mix, and the job is about more than just catching passes. It is shaping up as a role that could be decided by trust, usage and how each player fits into the offense on a week-to-week basis.
Bryant had been building real momentum before the season ended, helped by the way he handled the dirty work and earned more snaps as the year went on. The catch for Denver is that his availability is still part of the equation, and the Broncos have to weigh what he showed late against the health concerns that have followed him into this season. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have An Offensive Line Concern They Can't Ignore
The Broncos got their first real taste of camp contact and, with it, an early reminder of how fragile offensive-line plans can be. Starting center Luke Wattenberg left the first padded training camp practice early after getting hurt, a setback that immediately put attention on a spot Denver has little interest in having become unsettled. Since taking over as the Broncos starting center in 2024, Wattenberg has been a key part of the front, which makes any interruption there worth monitoring.
Head coach Sean Payton said Wattenberg will be evaluated and is expected to be fine, which offers some immediate relief. Still, the timing matters for a group trying to build cohesion in camp, especially when the center is the player tying the line together. Denver does not need an early scare at a position that matters so much to the offense, and it will be watching closely to see how Wattenberg responds once the team gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]