A way-too-early look at the Broncos’ projected depth chart

For all the hand-wringing within Broncos Country over the past seven days, the Denver Broncos — as of today — have a roster that is nearly the exact same as the one that it sent out for most of a season in which it finished with the NFL’s best record and the No. 1 seed.

That said, without John Franklin-Myers’ 7.5 sacks and the experienced depth of a starting-caliber safety in P.J. Locke, it is objectively worse than it was in January. One cannot argue otherwise. But it’s not fallen to the panic-pulsing degree of turning a powerhouse into a patsy.

If the team is worse, realistically, it’s only by a smidgen.

There is no standing still in the NFL, and after tying an NFL record with 11 one-score wins, the Broncos would be wise to expect a regression in such fortune this coming year, and to bolster wherever possible.

But it’s the knowledge that no one ever lingers in the same spot that serves as a reminder that last week’s departures could easily be offset by improvement from second- or third-year contributors such as Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, RJ Harvey or the bright center of the roster, quarterback Bo Nix.

If Nix makes a leap and becomes one of those high-tier quarterbacks who elevates those around him, the equation changes.

WHERE THE BRONCOS’ DEPTH CHART STANDS

One reason why it’s instructive to look at the roster and a projected depth chart is to get a feel for where the team truly is after free agency’s first wave passed with only retentions.

Take the draft, which arrives in five-and-a-half weeks.

Any draft pick will be hard-pressed to crack the starting lineup, even at positions that appear weaker than others. That’s a luxury few teams have heading into next month. The Broncos didn’t even have that last year, when RB2 was a must-have. That’s not the case now, although one could correctly argue that the team needs a better insurance policy behind J.K. Dobbins than the one it had last year — preferably one that allows Harvey to stay in the same role that he had when he was the second part of the one-two punch that revitalized the backfield last year.

Would the running-back corps be better if the team had landed Travis Etienne instead? It would objectively be more durable; Etienne has missed just two games in his career and has participated in more games in his four-season NFL career (69) than Dobbins has in his six years in the league (51).

Could the wide-receiver room use a bit more juice? Yes, although some of that could be found from more optimal utilization of the younger resources on hand.

Fifty-four players are listed below within this exercise, but as we’ve seen over recent years, the Broncos have a habit of using the ability to release vested veterans and elevate them from the practice squad to squeeze a few more roster spots for younger players, so, don’t be surprised if the cut to 53 players happens and names such as Sam Ehlinger, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Adam Prentice are deemed expendable for a day.

And above all, the depth chart below was good enough to come within three points of a Super Bowl without its starting quarterback. Much of it was fine enough to be a playoff team the year before. It’s dotted with recent first- and second-team All-Pros. Most general managers in the league would exchange theirs with Denver’s instantly.

So, perspective is in order.

BRONCOS PROJECTED DEPTH CHART AS OF MARCH 15

One spot that appears troublesome on first glance in terms of the formal depth-chart listing is defensive end, with Enyi Uwazurike on the top line despite having just one career start. The overall rotation up front likely slides Malcolm Roach up a notch with Franklin-Myers’ free-agent departure for Tennessee.

But Uwazurike did have the best season of his career last season, accumulating 3.5 sacks and five tackles for losses in a rotational role. There will likely be a race between him and Sai’vion Jones to seize playing time, although if the Broncos wanted to simply drop a proven veteran into the room, they could.

The biggest hole likely is at the No. 2 kickoff returner, and it will be fascinating to see if — and how — the Broncos look to find a complement to both remove pressure from and create opportunities for Mims. What position would such a player have on offense or defense — wide receiver, running back or cornerback?

That could be a spot where the Broncos do locate some playmaking punch that remains missing.

Related

Broncos star CB Pat Surtain II again voted a top-10 player in the NFLIn Broncos loss, they got a win in something specific that truly matteredBo Nix happy with ‘solid’ first TD drive, says return ‘was like riding a bike’Sean Payton unhappy after Packers demolish Broncos, sends message to startersBroncos waste no time getting Jaylen Waddle involved in his preseason debutBo Nix throws a TD, leads two scoring drives in return from broken ankle