The Broncos’ depth is drawing notice in more than one place, and ESPN’s Bill Barnwell found a pair of Denver linemen worth highlighting on his “All-Backup” team: Alex Palczewski and Eyioma Uwazurike.
Palczewski’s rise has made him an easy player to like around Denver, and he’s already shown he can handle real work when called upon. He has also become an occasional starter, and that role could come into play again soon with the age and injury concerns surrounding the Broncos’ offensive line.
Denver has invested heavily in that group, but there’s also some uncertainty baked in. Guard Ben Powers has been mentioned as a possible cap cut after missing much of last season with a torn bicep, and Palczewski made the most of his chance when Powers went down.
He filled in capably, and his ability to bounce around the line mattered even more when late-season injuries hit, including center Luke Wattenberg’s shoulder injury.
That flexibility is part of why Palczewski stands out, but the bigger picture for Denver’s front is about expectations. The Broncos were excellent in pass protection for quarterback Bo Nix, avoiding the kind of big sacks and long-yardage situations that can wreck drives.
Now the assignment changes. With new offensive coordinator Davis Webb, Denver wants a more consistent run game, so the pressure on the line will look different this season.
Uwazurike’s path is different, but the opportunity is just as real. He spent last year behind John Franklin-Myers on the depth chart, and Franklin-Myers has since moved on after signing with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.
Even with that, Barnwell pointed to last season as Uwazurike’s best as a pro. He posted 3.5 sacks over a career-high 409 snaps.
Now 28, Uwazurike is in position to take on a bigger role as a rotational defensive tackle behind star Zach Allen. Denver likes to keep fresh bodies cycling through up front, so there should be chances for him to spell Allen and contribute. He has a tough act to follow, but he’ll have support in a strong defensive line room and good coaching around him.
If Uwazurike can give Denver anything close to what Franklin-Myers provided last season, the Broncos will take it. And with Denver’s brutal early schedule, there’s a real chance the defense is asked to carry the load again.
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 summer with more clarity than they had a year ago, but still plenty to sort out after their AFC Championship Game run. The roster has enough established pieces to feel competitive, yet the next step in Denver may come down to a few jobs that are still very much up for grabs, especially in the backfield, on the edge and in the receiver room.
The running back question behind J.K. Dobbins is one of the more interesting ones, with RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman offering different skill sets for the staff to weigh. The same kind of choice exists on defense, where Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai'vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim are all in the mix to help replace John Franklin-Myers' production, while Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant could turn the WR3 role into another camp-long fight worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Rookie Is Suddenly Fueling A Familiar Draft Debate
As the Broncos head toward 2026 training camp, rookie running back Jonah Coleman is already drawing attention for the kind of versatility that can make a depth-chart spot matter more than it sounds. Expected to open as the third back behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, Coleman has been praised for doing a little of everything, from pass protection to short-yardage work, and Denver plans to fold him into the rotation with his exact role shaped by game flow and the health of the backs ahead of him.
Colemans rise has also revived a familiar draft conversation around players who slip a little and then force teams to wonder what they missed. Draft analyst Justin Melo has gone so far as to put Coleman among a group of rookies he believes could make teams regret passing on them, and there is an added layer here because Coleman once posted a pre-draft image imagining himself in Broncos colors. For now, Denver just needs the rookie to keep turning that kind of buzz into useful snaps when camp opens. [Read more 🡒]