The Denver Broncos have built what looks like one of the deepest rosters in football, which is exactly why the margin for error is so thin for the rookies on the back end of the class. Late-round picks and undrafted free agents were always going to have to punch above their draft slot to stick.
So far, one rookie has done that in running back Jonah Coleman. The rest of the group still has work to do, and the final preseason game against the Vikings looms as a big test.
That’s especially true for a few players who have either been quiet or simply haven’t made enough of an imprint yet.
Dallen Bentley is one of them. The Broncos spent a 7th-round pick on the tight end, partly to keep alive their yearly habit of adding at least one Utah tight end to the mix.
There was real value in the selection, too. Bentley was projected in the 4th- to 5th-round range and came out of a productive final season with the Utes, particularly as a receiver.
He didn’t drop a pass in his last year of college football and showed some real big-play ability.
But that production hasn’t really carried over into the preseason. Bentley hasn’t gotten much of a chance in the passing game, and his name hasn’t been coming up during training camp either.
That’s a problem when the tight end room already looks crowded, with Adam Trautman, Evan Engram and 5th-round rookie Justin Joly all seemingly in line for spots. Nate Adkins has also helped this team, and the Broncos appear set to keep fullback Adam Prentice on the active roster as well.
Bentley may still land on the practice squad, but he hasn’t done enough yet to force a tougher decision.
Safety Miles Scott is in a similar spot. The Broncos’ depth at the position got thin enough that they recently brought in veteran Taylor Rapp, which tells you plenty about the situation.
Scott, a 7th-round pick out of Illinois, was an interesting developmental bet after switching from wide receiver to safety in college and finding quick success. The tools are there, and the ball skills are part of the appeal.
Still, there hasn’t been much to point to in the preseason. The opportunity against the Packers was there, and it ended in a major miss. Scott remains a player with promise, but right now the practice squad might be the best place for him to keep developing.
Then there’s linebacker Taurean York, who may have done the most to make people pay attention - and still not enough to lock anything down. He opened the preseason with a nice tackle for loss against the Falcons, but against the Packers he didn’t record a single tackle. That’s not the kind of momentum you want heading into roster cuts, especially when Karene Reid seems to have taken over as the Broncos’ most reliable backup inside linebacker.
York was a major get after the 2026 NFL Draft, even if Denver had to pay for it. He is the most expensive undrafted free agent in team history, landing $325,000 in guaranteed money.
He’s been active in camp and during the offseason program, so this isn’t a case of a player disappearing. But the question now is whether he, or fellow rookie Red Murdock, has shown enough to claim a spot on a defense that already looks loaded.
The Broncos also need more from their young linebackers on special teams, where early lapses have been a concern.
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Broncos Suddenly Have A Real Backup QB Decision To Make
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Zach Wilson has emerged as a name to watch because of both his past time in Denver and his broader NFL background, which gives the Broncos a low-cost alternative if they decide to move in a different direction. Nothing has been confirmed, and the evaluation appears to be centered on familiarity, fit and contract cost as much as raw performance. For a team trying to keep the quarterback room stable, even the backup spot is suddenly open for debate. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Have An Early Problem Sean Payton Cant Ignore
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Rizzis first year in Denver has had some mixed results, with the Broncos investing in punter Jeremy Crawshaw and getting some individual success stories along the way. Still, the broader coverage concerns linger, and the kind of breakdowns Denver has already shown are the sort of thing that can quickly turn into a bigger problem if they are not cleaned up soon. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Preseason Loss Reopened Three Offseason Questions Fans Feared
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The quarterback picture behind the starter remains unsettled, too, with Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger still competing for the backup job. With a few veteran options available earlier in the offseason, the Broncos left themselves room for debate in more than one spot, and this preseason performance only sharpened the questions. The roster is not in crisis, but the parts most likely to matter if injuries hit still do not feel fully settled. [Read more 🡒]