NFL cutdown day has left the Denver Broncos with most of their roster in place, but the work is far from done.
After trimming nearly 40 players, Denver still has a few spots where outside help makes sense, and the search won’t stop with the active roster. The Broncos can also shop the waiver wire and the league’s cutdown leftovers for practice-squad upgrades, especially if those players offer more upside than the options Denver has already been developing.
Of course, claiming players off waivers is rare, and any claim would require that player to join the active roster. So the more realistic path is usually the practice squad. Even then, there’s no guarantee a cut player would take that route.
One obvious area to watch is return work. The foot injury Marvin Mims Jr. suffered in the preseason finale does not sound serious, at least based on what Sean Payton said, though the coach has never exactly been open about injuries.
Denver did see Kolbe Katsis, Cameron Ross, and Sean Fresch Jr. flash as return options this preseason, but Jones brings a different kind of resume. He already has a return touchdown in each of his two NFL seasons, which makes him a sturdier insurance policy if the Broncos want another kick-return option alongside Mims.
The defensive line also stands out as a spot where Denver could do better. The Broncos kept seven linemen and moved on from Jordan Miller and Kristian Williams, neither of whom turned in a strong preseason.
That opens the door for a player like Benny, a rookie many viewed as a third- or fourth-round talent before injuries pushed him down to the seventh round. The medical questions are real, but so is the upside.
Outside linebacker is another group that could use a fresh look. After the top five, the Broncos didn’t get much.
Drew Sanders got hurt again, Dasan McCullough was frequently injured and ineffective when he was available, and Johnny Walker struggled. Denver waived all three on Sunday, which makes a practice-squad addition from outside the building a real possibility.
The safety room has its own issues, too. Denver tried veteran Taylor Rapp, but personal issues led to his release, and the depth chart still needs help. Stone would give the Broncos a veteran who can contribute on defense and special teams, and he fits as the kind of stabilizing depth piece the team may still want.
Running back could become a factor if Denver loses one of its own. The Broncos should be able to bring back either Jaleel McLaughlin or Cody Schrader on the practice squad, though the team has usually carried two backs there. If that doesn’t happen, Whittington becomes a name worth considering.
Linebacker is thin and unsettled, especially after Denver waived Red Murdock and Taurean York. The Broncos may like the young depth they’ve kept around, but Jordan Turner and Karene Reid are still inexperienced, and Turner has dealt with injuries. Dodson, who posted north of 100 tackles last year as a starter, could give Denver more dependable depth on the roster or the practice squad.
On the offensive line, Freeland is the kind of athlete Denver tends to chase. He never put it together with the Colts, but the physical tools are there, and he could fit the tackle profile the Broncos have favored. If Tyler Miller gets claimed, Denver may need another option.
The Broncos also have to keep an eye on edge depth. They have good bodies there, but Jonathon Cooper is now on the commissioner’s exempt list and will miss time. Robinson has had some NFL moments in a regular-season game, and while he dealt with a calf strain this preseason, he’s reportedly healthy and ready.
Denver also plans to sign David Agoha as its international player on the practice squad, but that doesn’t mean the team can’t use one of its regular 16 spots on another raw, high-upside defensive lineman. Bernard fits that description.
He’s a freak athlete, was drafted in the seventh round, and Denver reportedly had interest in him. Now the Broncos can try to bring him in and develop him on the practice squad.
Quarterback is probably the longest shot of the bunch. The Broncos are keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster, so Levis would have to want a very specific opportunity.
Still, Sean Payton has shown he likes reclamation projects, and Levis could be the next player to get the Zach Wilson or Sam Ehlinger treatment. If Denver could land him on the practice squad to push Jarrett Stidham and Ehlinger, it would be worth a look.
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Broncos Bring Back A Familiar Name As Roster Churn Continues
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Prentices path back to Denver gives the move a little extra familiarity. He first joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent, later spent time with the New Orleans Saints, and then returned to Denver, where he appeared in all 17 games in 2025. For a club still cycling through personnel, keeping a player who already knows the system and the environment can be useful as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Put More Pressure On One Young Pass Rusher
The Broncos chose to keep seven defensive linemen on their 53-man roster, and that decision says plenty about how they view Saivion Jones. The 2025 third-round pick has not moved as quickly as some might have expected, but Denver still carried him through roster cuts, betting on the long-term upside that made him worth the investment in the first place.
Jones now joins a group that includes Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim and Jordan Jackson as the Broncos work to reshape the interior of the line after losing veteran John Franklin-Myers. He is likely to sit low on the depth chart for now, but the fact that he made the team gives Denver another chance to keep developing a young pass rusher it clearly does not want to give up on yet. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Kept A Fan Favorite Rookie In The Mix At Key Spot
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Murdock now gets to keep developing within the same system rather than starting over somewhere else, and Denver gets a chance to keep evaluating a player who flashed enough to remain part of the conversation. With the roster settled and a few rookies already making their way onto the team, the practice squad spot gives the Broncos another look at a player they clearly were not ready to let go completely. [Read more 🡒]