The Denver Broncos are slowly building one of the best rosters in the AFC, which is impressive considering the dead money hit the team absorbed due to the Russell Wilson contract blunder.
It was feared that the $85 million cap hit would set the Broncos back several years, a tough position for a team that had already gone several years without making the playoffs. But finding the right quarterback changed everything. The Broncos selected Bo Nix with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the rookie led them to the playoffs.
Now, the Broncos have an entirely new outlook.
My first 53-man roster prediction ahead of the 2025 season is available and though it doesn’t feature many surprises, some long-term players could be in jeopardy of losing their spot on the roster. Here are four veterans who may not quite make the cut after the preseason slate concludes.
Denver Broncos 53-man roster prediction: Veterans who may be on the way out
Adam Trautman, Tight End
Adam Trautman has long been one of Sean Payton’s guys, but the team was able to find a massive upgrade in free agency with Evan Engram.
Trautman is still a veteran presence but he’s not as effective as a blocker as Nate Adkins is and doesn’t have the potential upside that Lucas Krull has. Throw in seventh-round pick Caleb Lohner and Trautman, who has caught only 35 passes in two seasons in Denver, has his work cut out for him to stick around.
Alex Forysth, Offensive Lineman
Alex Forsyth had a rough 2024 season after an offseason that seemed to have a lot of promise.
As a college teammate of Nix, it was assumed by many that his familiarity playing center with Nix would bode well as the team had a competition for a new starting center. Instead, it was Luke Wattenberg who beat Forsyth out, rather easily too.
It’s also hard to shake this image of Forsyth getting bowled over at Arrowhead Stadium, leading to the blocked field goal that robbed the Broncos of their biggest win in years.
Damarri Mathis, Cornerback
The Broncos were already solid at cornerback before using their first-round pick on Jahdae Barron, but that pick tightens things up even more. With Ja’Quan McMillian falling down the depth chart as a result of that selection, former fourth-round pick Damarri Mathis could fall off the roster.
Delarrin Turner-Yell, Safety
One of the more interesting position groups to follow this summer for the Broncos will be the safety spot, where the team has a good competition lined up.
After missing the entire 2024 season, Delarrin Turner-Yell, who has only flashed on special teams during his career, will see guys like P.J. Locke and Sam Franklin blocking him from staying around.
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