Mile High Report
After several days of cuts and moves, the Denver Broncos have assembled their initial 53-man roster for the 2025 season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see changes made over the next few days. However, for the most part, I expect the roster to be relatively set in stone leading up to the home opener versus the Tennessee Titans. Listed below is some analysis on this year’s squad. Feel free to share your opinions in the comments section.
Position group that is the strongest — Cornerback
When the best player on your team is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, odds are that position group is the primary strength of your defense. For the Broncos, I’d argue their cornerbacks are their biggest strength.
Third-year pro Riley Moss will start opposite of Patrick Surtain II. I think Moss is poised to make a jump this season. Ja’Quan McMillian and rookie Jahdae Barron will both see a lot of reps at nickel. Though I’d expect Barron, this year’s first-round pick, to also see time across the board in the secondary. Second-year pro Kris Abrams-Draine is about as good of a fifth cornerback as you will find on an NFL roster.
That makes them a quality five deep at the position. An argument could certainly be made for the defensive line as the strongest group, but I give a slight edge to the cornerbacks. I think they have a chance to be a special unit this season.
Position group with the most untapped potential — Wide Receiver
After the Devaughn Vele trade, the Broncos opted to keep just five wide receivers on their roster this season.
Courtland Sutton is the savvy veteran, but a youth movement behind him is headlined by Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant. All three have unique skill sets and are hoping to carve themselves out quality roles in the offense. Fifth on the depth chart is Trent Sherfield Sr., who offers standout ability on special teams and as a run blocker.
It usually takes a few seasons for wide receivers to hit their stride. Nevertheless, I’m optimistic this group to perform better than they did in ‘24. Head Coach Sean Payton has a history of maximizing the potential of his receivers and I think that will be the case in ‘25.
Position group with the most concern — Inside Linebacker
Fans certainly have a right to be optimistic about the potential of this year’s defense. At the same time, reasonable concerns linger about the longevity and health of the team’s inside linebacking corps. Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are the top three at the position. Drew Sanders, currently recovering from injury, was placed on injured reserve.
After that, a bit of a surprise happened when the team opted to waive Levelle Bailey and kept undrafted rookie linebacker Karene Reid instead. Bailey received rave reviews throughout training camp and preseason, though it appears Reid’s special teams’ ability stood out. I’d imagine both Bailey and...
