With training camp close, the Broncos are staring at a roster that could force some hard choices before 2026. There’s enough talent packed into Denver’s depth chart that a logjam could eventually lead to a cut or a trade, especially at a few crowded spots.
That makes this a good time to sort through which young players still deserve runway and which ones may be running out of it.
Jahdae Barron belongs in the first group. He didn’t make a major rookie splash, but Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian both turned in the best football of their careers, which limited Barron’s path.
Even so, moving him would only make sense if Denver got a major haul. With Moss and McMillian both set to be free agents in 2027, patience is the smarter play.
The Broncos may not be able to keep both, especially with safety Brandon Jones also heading toward free agency and big contracts already on the books for Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga.
Sai’vion Jones is another player worth developing rather than discarding. He logged 33 defensive snaps in 2025, but John Franklin-Myers and Eyioma Uwazurike soaked up most of the work at defensive end opposite Zach Allen.
Jones just turned 23, which makes it hard to justify giving up on him this early. Denver has shown it can develop defensive linemen, so keeping him in the mix and hoping for a big second-year jump makes sense.
Marvin Mims Jr. also stays on the develop list. He’s only 24 even though he’s already in his fourth season, and the production still hasn’t matched the talent.
But the tools are obvious: he’s an All-Pro returner, he has solid hands, and he can threaten defenses downfield. The answer may simply be more snaps and more chances.
Even with Jaylen Waddle in the picture, Mims is too valuable to walk away from.
On the other side, Drew Sanders looks like a player the Broncos may need to move on from. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and the position changes have piled up.
Now that he appears to be heading back to EDGE, cracking the roster is going to be a serious challenge. At this point, it feels like an uphill battle for Sanders to stick, and Denver and the player may be better off going separate ways.
Levelle Bailey also lands in the give-up category. He appeared in 10 games in 2024, then only three in 2025.
He’s flashed in the preseason and has had some offseason buzz, but the Broncos brought in Red Murdock and Taurean York at inside linebacker for a reason. With two rookies added to that room, there just isn’t much to get excited about with Bailey now, and his time in Denver could be done.
JL Skinner rounds out the list. He’s become a strong special teams player, but the Broncos also added Tycen Anderson and Miles Scott at safety.
Skinner still hasn’t carved out consistent defensive snaps, and entering year four, that matters. He’s played only 54 career defensive snaps, and Denver may be ready to see whether the new faces can make an impact instead.
In Other News...
Three Broncos Camp Battles Could Shape Denver's Next Step
With training camp set to open July 28, the Broncos are heading into one of those stretches where a few seemingly modest roster questions could end up shaping the bigger picture. Coming off their AFC Championship Game run, Denver does not lack for attention at the top of the roster, but the next layer matters too, especially with J.K. Dobbins established and the staff sorting out who fits best behind him in the backfield.
The same kind of competition is playing out on both sides of the ball. Denver has to find a way to replace John Franklin-Myers production up front, with Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai'vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim all in the mix, while the receiver group still has to settle on a clear WR3 behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. Troy Franklin looks like the natural answer, but Pat Bryant has given the Broncos a different type of option, and camp should tell them plenty about which of these battles is real depth and which one becomes a defining role. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Looks Set Except For One Uncomfortable Camp Question
With rookies reporting July 22 and veterans set to follow on July 28, the Broncos are close enough to camp to start sketching out what their defense should look like. Most of the unit feels fairly settled on paper, from a secondary that should again rank among the leagues better groups to a front that has enough established pieces to give Denver a clear baseline as the summer begins.
The one uncomfortable question sits at defensive end, where the open starting job could go to Eyioma Uwazurike but is still very much up for grabs. Inside linebacker is another spot worth watching, with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad projected to open as the starters even as the position remains a major question mark, and there are also contract situations around the defensive backfield that add a little extra long-term uncertainty to an otherwise sturdy-looking group. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Rookie Is Suddenly Fueling A Familiar Draft Debate
Jonah Coleman is arriving in Denver with a path to real playing time already in view, even if he begins training camp behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey on the Broncos running back depth chart. The rookie has drawn praise for his versatility, with evaluators pointing to the kind of all-around skill set that can help in pass protection and in short-yardage spots, and Denver intends to work him into the rotation as the summer unfolds.
There is also a little extra draft-day intrigue hanging over Colemans first NFL season, the kind that tends to linger when a player lands in a place that once looked like a natural fit. The Broncos see a useful piece they can deploy based on game flow and health, but the larger question is whether Coleman can turn that early role into something bigger and give the team a reason to revisit how the board unfolded. [Read more 🡒]