Tag: Douglas Coleman

Denver Broncos depth chart prediction: Safety   

Which safeties will make the Broncos’ 53-man roster?

As we wrap up our 2020 depth chart prediction series for the Denver Broncos, today we’re going to be looking at the linebacker position.

Previously, we predicted QB, RB, TE, WR, OL, DL, LB and CB depth charts for the Broncos. Here’s a look at our safety prediction:

Justin Simmons Kareem Jackson
Douglas Coleman III Trey Marshall
Alijah Holder P.J. Locke
Kahani Smith

Last year, Denver carried two starters and two backup safeties on the initial 53-man roster. That will probably be the strategy again this year.

Marshall is the most experienced backup on the roster and he is the favorite to replace Will Parks as the team’s new No. 3 safety. That leaves four safeties competing for just one remaining spot in the back of the secondary.

Holder will have an experience edge over Coleman, which might give him an advantage in the competition. If he doesn’t make the active roster, Coleman will likely make the practice squad.

Right now, though, Coleman might be the favorite for the No. 4 job.

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Which Broncos UDFA has the best chance to make the roster?

Which undrafted free agent has the best chance to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster?

From Rod Smith to Chris Harris to Shaq Barrett to Phillip Lindsay, the Denver Broncos have a strong history of signing undrafted free agent gems.

This year, the Broncos signed seven UDFAs: WR Zimari Manning, QB Riley Neal, WR Kendall Hinton, RB LeVante Bellamy, OT Hunter Watts, CB Essang Bassey and DB Douglas Coleman III.

Of those players, who has the best chance to make the 53-man roster?

Let’s start by discussing who has the hardest road to the active roster.

Neal is likely just a camp arm and it will be hard for him to even land on the practice squad. Manning and Hinton will be part of a crowded wide receiver room so they will face long odds to make the team.

Watts seems like an ideal candidate to serve on the practice squad as a rookie. Denver usually has several offensive linemen on the PS each year.

That leaves, Bassey, Coleman and Bellamy.

Bellamy could make the team if Royce Freeman is traded. If Freeman makes the team, though, the Broncos seem unlikely to carry four RBs.

Coleman will have a shot to make the roster as Denver’s fourth-string safety. He’ll be a player to watch for this summer.

Bassey, who was one of the top UDFAs available this year, appears to be the most likely UDFA to make the Broncos’ roster this season. Bassey received a large signing bonus and he plays cornerback, a position where Denver could use more depth.

If only one UDFA makes the Broncos’ roster, it’ll probably be Bassey.

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Broncos’ UDFA contracts could give clues about who will make 53-man roster

Essang Bassey might be a favorite to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

When NFL teams make decisions about roster cuts, a player’s performance on the field is the biggest factor to consider.

That doesn’t mean other factors don’t have any influence on decisions, though. A player’s draft status and contract situation can also influence a team’s decision.

For the Broncos, the bonuses for undrafted free agents could give us a clue about which of those players Denver coveted the most. Sometimes teams get into bidding wars for UDFAs and a player’s large bonus certainly doesn’t guarantee a player will make the team, but it can help.

Running back LeVante Bellamy received a $25,000 signing bonus and $35,000 in guaranteed salary, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Could that be a sign that the Broncos plan to trade or cut Royce Freeman and have Bellamy serve as the third-string RB this season? Maybe.

Cornerback Essang Bassey received a $20,000 signing bonus, according to Klis. Even though he didn’t receive the largest bonus, Bassey might be the most likely UDFA to make Denver’s roster. The team needs more depth at cornerback and Bassey could be a sleeper to watch this summer.

Here are the remaining UDFA signing bonuses, according to Klis:

Player Bonus
WR Zimari Manning $12,500
WR Kendall Hilton $10,000 (plus $5,000 guaranteed salary)
QB Riley Neal $8.000
DB Douglas Coleman $5,000
OT Hunter Watts $3,000

The undrafted free agents who don’t make the 53-man roster will be strong candidates to make the Broncos’ practice squad.

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Broncos signing undrafted free agent safety Douglas Coleman III

The Broncos are signing safety Douglas Coleman III to an undrafted free agent deal.

The Denver Broncos are signing undrafted free agent safety Douglas Coleman III, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Coleman (6-1, 200 pounds) was a play-making safety at Texas Tech, recording eight interceptions as a senior. Over the last four years, Coleman totaled 137 tackles, one sack, 11 interceptions, 15 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles with the Red Raiders.

Coleman played cornerback at Texas Tech before transitioning to safety as a senior. He’s a versatile defensive back but safety appears to be his best position. After the Broncos lost Will Parks during free agency, Coleman should have a good chance of making the roster as a backup safety.

Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons will remain Denver’s two starters but there’s not much depth behind them. Coleman will be competing with Trey Marshall, Tyvis Powell, Kahani Smith and P.J. Locke for a roster spot. Right now, Marshall and Coleman are probably the favorites for backup duties.

We are tracking all of the Broncos’ undrafted free agent signings here.

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