The Denver Broncos have their 53-man roster set ahead of the 2024 NFL season; much of it was expected, but the team made some surprise moves.
A team that is now fully in the vision of head coach Sean Payton has come together. After a 3-0 preseason, there is plenty for fans to be optimistic about. So here is your first look at this season's roster.
There will be several opinions on how this roster currently looks. There were certainly some surprises, at least compared to our predictions .
Biggest surprises from Denver Broncos' 53-man roster
Only five wide receivers
This is the first thing that stands out to me. The Broncos decided to release Tim Patrick, after not being able to find a trade partner and Lil'Jordan Humphrey. They only kept five on the roster and with one of those being Troy Franklin, who gave you nothing in the preseason, this is a highly questionable move.
Blake Watson makes the team
The Broncos kept four running backs, but Samaje Perine and Tyler Badie are not among them. Instead, the team feels the value of Blake Watson, one of the top undrafted players this spring, is too much to take a risk on putting him on waivers.
It will be interesting to see how any of the team's running backs figure in on special teams.
Jonas Griffith released
Veteran Jonas Griffith, who has battled injuries, was among the team's cuts. The Broncos have instead decided to go with undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey who made a great impression this summer, capped off by this 94-yard interception return against the Cardinals.
Frank Crum makes team as rotational lineman
Frank Crum was seen as a sleeper candidate to make the team when he was signed as an undrafted rookie but he didn't do much that stood out on the field in preseason. The coaching staff believes enough in him to keep him as a rotational offensive lineman, however, parting ways instead with seventh-round pick Nick Gargiulo and veteran Calvin Throckmorton.
Jordan Jackson survives the cut
Who had this guy making the team? There couldn't have been too many in the media who predicted that Jordan Jackson, a sixth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints out of Air Force in 2022, would make this team.
Jackson signed a future deal with the Broncos before the 2023 season and spent last year on the practice squad. The team feels he could just be hitting his stride and has rewarded him with a roster spot after a strong summer.
Jackson spent the 2022 season on the Saints' practice squad and has yet to appear in a regular season game. That should soon change.
All 3 QBs make the team
This was a hot debate following the team's preseason finale and some will be surprised that Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson have all made the team, but after the way they looked this summer, it's the right move.
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