The Denver Broncos head into training camp with most of last season’s starting lineup already in place, and that gives Sean Payton and Vance Joseph one less headache to sort through.
The biggest reason for relief comes at cornerback. Denver does have a real battle brewing for the No. 2 spot, with Riley Moss and Jahdae Barron set to compete for the job, but that’s the kind of problem teams want.
The Broncos are not scrambling for a body there. They have two legitimate choices.
Moss, who is entering the final year of his deal, gives Denver a familiar option. Barron, a 2025 first-round pick, gives them another.
If Barron ends up winning the job, that could create a path for Moss to be traded, and his value should only rise as time goes on. If Moss holds onto the spot, the secondary stays exactly as it is.
Either way, Denver comes out in good shape.
That flexibility matters, especially with the Broncos aiming at a Super Bowl run this season. They do not have to move Moss unless they want to, and they do not have to force Barron into the lineup if he is not ready to take it. That kind of depth is a luxury, not a problem.
Moss’s 2024 season had its rough edges. His penalty issues hurt the Broncos, and when he worked to clean those up, his coverage play appeared to take a step back. If he can keep the flags down and maintain his level of play, Denver could get a major return from him both on the field and in the bigger picture.
The larger point is simple: the Broncos are in a strong spot at corner. With Patrick Surtain II anchoring the group, they cannot afford to waste his prime by leaving the opposite side in doubt. Denver does not have that issue right now.
That is not the case everywhere on the roster. The defensive line has its own starting question with one spot still open, but cornerback is the position that stands out most because the Broncos have two players capable of winning it. Moss may be the favorite, but Barron will get his chance, and Denver can be pleased that this is one starting job it does not need to panic about today.
In Other News...
4 Broncos Entering Camp With No Room For Error
With training camp set to open July 28, the Broncos are heading into the kind of summer where every rep matters for players living on the edge of the roster. Jarrett Stidham, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Drew Sanders all enter camp with little margin for error, whether the concern is performance, contract math or simply staying healthy long enough to make a case.
Stidhams situation is especially delicate because the Broncos have to decide how much value to place on a veteran backup quarterback spot, while McLaughlin and Badie are fighting for survival in a crowded backfield. Sanders, meanwhile, still has to prove he can carve out a clear role after injuries and uncertainty have slowed his progress, and the coaching staffs evaluation over the next few weeks will go a long way toward deciding which of these names is still on the board when the roster gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]
Former Broncos Draft Pick Gets Another Shot After Frustrating Fall
Damarri Mathis is getting another crack at an NFL roster after a frustrating stretch that has followed him since his time in Denver. The cornerback, drafted by the Broncos in 2022, lost his starting role, was released in 2025 and then landed with Carolina, where his next opportunity vanished almost immediately.
Mathis signed a contract in July 2026 ahead of training camp, giving him a fresh opening to try to reset his career. At 27, the path back is getting narrower, and this latest move carries the feel of a chance he may not get many more times. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Camp Shuffle Raises Early Concern At Two Unsettled Positions
The Broncos first offseason roster shuffle brought a little early caution to two spots that were already going to be watched closely. Offensive guard Nick Gargiulo was placed on Active/Physically Unable to Perform as he continues working back from the ACL injury he suffered last preseason, while linebacker Jordan Turner landed on Active/Non-Football Injury and can return once medically cleared.
Both players are still in the mix for depth jobs on the 53-man roster, which is what makes their status worth monitoring now rather than later. Gargiulo was competing for a valuable reserve role on the interior line, and Turner was part of a crowded linebacker group, so any missed time this early only adds more intrigue to two battles that were already unsettled. [Read more 🡒]