That is subject to change, of course, after the Broncos build a 17-player practice squad later today. That $8 million figure does account for the injured players who are not on the 53-man roster including offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle), linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles), safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) and cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle).
Denver also has $76,353,636 worth of “dead money” counting against the cap, by far the largest dead money cap total in the NFL. Ex-Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson accounts for $53 million despite no longer being on the team.
Wilson will also have $32 million count against the cap next year before Denver is finally free of his contract in 2026. Even with Wilson still eating into the cap next year, the Broncos are projected to have more than $61.8 million in cap space available in 2025, according to Spotrac.com.
Denver’s tight against the cap this year, but brighter days are ahead.
“It’s not just because they are young; we like the talent,” Broncos GM George Paton said of Denver’s backfield after cutting Samaje Perine.
The Denver Broncos released veteran running back Samaje Perine on Tuesday, a move that might have surprised NFL fans who are not familiar with the team’s backfield.
Denver opted to carry four running backs on the 53-man roster: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and Blake Watson. All four are younger than Perine with more long-term upside.
“With Samaje, [he’s] another great pro,” GM George Paton said on Tuesday shortly after addressing the Tim Patrick release. “He’s going to move on and do well somewhere else. [That is] another stacked room and it’s not just because they are young, [but] we like the talent. They are young and they are talented, the whole group. Javonte, Jaleel, Estime and then this Watson kid is really talented. … [W]e like the room. We loved having Samaje here. He won us games. We just wish him the best.”
Perine was arguably the team’s best blocking and receiving option in the backfield, but he doesn’t contribute on special teams the way Denver’s young running backs will this season.
“[S]pecial teams does factor in at the running back position,” Paton said. “Audric’s probably going to be a four-core teamer. Jaleel can return and Watson can do some things on teams. That does factor in.”
As Paton noted, Perine should have no problem catching on elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Broncos will now look to build their practice squad. One potential candidate to return is running back Tyler Badie, who performed well in preseason. We will track all of Denver’s moves on Broncos Wire.
Broncos GM George Paton said depth at WR, wanting to keep players at other positions and special teams played a role in the Tim Patrick cut.
The Denver Broncos made a surprise move on Tuesday when they released veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick.
Patrick missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons with injuries, but he is healthy now and looked sharp in preseason. After taking a massive pay cut this spring, the fan favorite and team leader was expected to make the 53-man roster.
Yet coach Sean Payton opted to carry five other WRs instead: Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin.
So, why did the Broncos cut Tim Patrick? Payton will meet the media after practice today. Denver general manager George Paton held a Zoom call with reporters last night.
“Yeah, obviously not an easy one,” Paton said when asked about Patrick. “Just on behalf of everyone in our organization, [we] just can’t say enough great things about the type of player and the person Tim has been while [as] a Bronco for the last seven seasons. We have a lot of great respect for Tim [with] the resilience, the work ethic and the perseverance [with] the last two years [and] to come back from the injury and play like he did. We just wish him the very best.
“What went into it is a number of things. We really like our depth at receiver, and we liked the depth at other positions on our team. We wanted to keep some other players at other positions. Special teams comes into play. Obviously, you have the new element at kickoff and kickoff return. There will be over 200 more plays. So it wasn’t just one thing. Tim did a lot of really good things. We wish him well and we’re going to miss him.”
The Broncos have set an initial 53-man roster for 2024. Here are ten takeaways after the team made 38 roster moves.
The Denver Broncos made 38 roster moves earlier this week to get down to an initial 53-man roster ahead of the 2024 season. After reviewing five surprises yesterday, we’re moving on to ten big-picture takeaways today.
1. Broncos kept 3 quarterbacks
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
Denver coach Sean Payton wasn’t lying last week when he said he expected to keep all three QBs — Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson — on the 53-man roster. The Broncos really like their QB situation.
“Yeah, we think highly of the quarterback room,” general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “I really liked the process. I thought the competition brought out the best in really all of the quarterbacks. All these guys support each other, they compete and they work well together. We looked at last year [and] I think almost half the league kept three quarterbacks. With the rule changes, we think that number will increase. We’re glad to have all three.”
The NFL’s trade deadline this season is Nov. 4. If other teams lose QBs during the season, Paton might get calls about Denver’s QB room.
2. All but one member of draft class made the team
“It’s a credit to our personnel departments and our sports performance with the development of these players,” Paton said. “Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far.”
The only member of the 2024 draft class who didn’t make the 53-man roster is offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who has been sidelined due to injury.
3. UDFAs make the 53-man roster
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
For the 20th time in the last 21 years, Denver had at least one undrafted free agent make the active roster. It’s three players this year: running back Blake Watson, linebacker Levelle Bailey and offensive tackle Frank Crum.
“The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” Paton said. “Frank Crum, we had on a Top-30 [visit]. We had Watson on a Top-30. … Bailey, we didn’t know as much about, [but] we liked him and we liked the athletic ability.”
Crum needs more time to develop, but Watson and Bailey could become instant contributors on special teams.
“What went into it is a number of things,” Paton explained. “We really like our depth at receiver, and we liked the depth at other positions on our team. We wanted to keep some other players at other positions. Special teams comes into play. Obviously, you have the new element at kickoff and kickoff return. There will be over 200 more plays. So it wasn’t just one thing. Tim did a lot of really good things. We wish him well and we’re going to miss him.”
5. Cody Barton wins starting ILB job
(Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
It’s no surprise because Barton appeared to be leading the competition throughout preseason, but the veteran officially won the starting job on Tuesday when the team waived Jonas Griffith. Barton is now set to start next to Alex Singleton this fall. Denver might look to add more linebacker depth through the waiver wire.
6. Some players need more time to develop
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
Many Broncos fans were surprised that offensive tackle Frank Crum made the 53-man roster after he struggled in preseason. He is a big, promising tackle, though, and Denver could not afford to risk having him claimed off waivers. So Crum made the active roster despite needing more time to develop.
“You’re always going to have players that aren’t quite ready — developmental players,” Payton said. “Can you get them through [the waiver wire]? Can you get them on the practice squad? Those are the discussions that you have in regards to roster management. How long is it going to take a certain player to develop? I think by midseason or do I think by the end of the season? Can we survive, if that player doesn’t play, with what we have?
“Those are all the discussions you have. The biggest guesswork we do — and it’s not just guess, we use analytics on certain positions where it clears more than others — is whether you can get a guy through. Those are the discussions we have, and there’s a lot that goes into it. A player that has potential — you don’t want to use a potential for a ready-made player. Again short- and long-term views come into play.”
7. The NFL’s new kickoff rule impacts roster
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Broncos had the NFL’s new XFL-style kickoff rule in mind when they made roster cuts on Tuesday.
“I think it always plays a role, but even more so this year,” Paton said. “[Assistant head coach Mike] Westhoff tells me [there are] 200-plus plays on special teams, and so that factors into a lot of our decisions certainly.
“The defensive backfield — we had an injury. [Damarri] Mathis was a really good [special] teamer, so how do we compensate there? It’s a big puzzle and it’s roster management. Special teams are a huge emphasis and even more so, to answer your question, with the new kickoff.”
8. Some veterans could return on practice squad
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Among the final cuts for the Broncos on Tuesday were wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton. If re-signed to the practice squad, both players would be candidates to get elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1.
“Roster management,” Paton said when asked about the team’s last-minute cuts. “We’re trying to keep the best players we can for as long as we can. So you’re exactly right. There are a couple of vets who will likely be active Week 1. You probably know who they are, but certainly we already have a few guys who are already going to be on our practice squad.”
9. The offensive line depth is thin
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
Denver’s updated depth chart has a huge hole at backup guard, a consequence of Quinn Bailey suffering a season-ending ankle injury this summer. The Broncos also don’t have much depth at tackle: Alex Palczewski was injured for all of last season and Crum is not quite ready for regular season action. That leaves Matt Peart is a do-it-all swing backup. Don’t be surprised if Denver looks to improve the offensive line’s depth today.
10. This is not the final 53-man roster
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
The Broncos could make a few waiver claims today, and Paton hinted that trades are possible as well. Denver will also build a 17-player practice squad.
“[W]e’re looking at any way we can to upgrade our team on the wire tonight — or it could be a trade,” Paton said Tuesday. “Last year, we didn’t put a claim in, but we signed four new players to our practice squad [and] all four of those players ended up playing. Then we made a trade for Wil Lutz. There aren’t as many claims as you think — I think there were 24 last year — but you still can make some hay as you work the wire.”
We will be tracking any potential moves today on Broncos Wire.
The waiver wire is not the only place where the Broncos could find talent today, though. Last night, Denver general manager George Paton hinted that trades could be on deck as well.
“Any way we can upgrade our team, we’ll do that,” Paton said. “We feel like we’re stronger in certain areas on our team, maybe a little weaker [in others]. If we can upgrade the weaker areas, then we’ll do that. We’re looking across the board, any way to upgrade our team. It could be just a special teamer. It may be just a gunner. It may be just a small role — we’ve done that before.
“So we’re looking at any way we can to upgrade our team on the wire tonight — or it could be a trade. Last year, we didn’t put a claim in, but we signed four new players to our practice squad [and] all four of those players ended up playing. Then we made a trade for Wil Lutz. There aren’t as many claims as you think — I think there were 24 last year — but you still can make some hay as you work the wire.”
The Broncos’ post-cuts depth chart shows the team lacking depth on the offensive line, and Denver could use help at inside linebacker as well. Whether its via the waiver wire, trades or practice squad additions, more players are on the way. Paton will be busy today.
“Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far,” Broncos GM George Paton said.
Six of the seven rookies the Denver Broncos picked in the 2024 NFL draft have made the team’s initial 53-man roster. The only exception was offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who was sidelined for much of training camp and preseason due to injury.
Three undrafted free agent signees — running back Blake Watson, offensive tackle Frank Crum and linebacker Levelle Bailey — also made the squad.
“We’re encouraged by the rookie class, both the draft picks and the free agents,” Broncos general manager George Paton said during a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday. “I think it’s nine total is what you said, we just got done. It’s a credit to our personnel departments and our sports performance with the development of these players. Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far.
“Jonah Elliss is everything we saw in college. [He] plays with his hair on fire and he obviously can rush the passer. He’s gotten better in the run game and he’s gotten stronger, so we like the track that he’s on. Troy Franklin, you see the talent every day. [He’s] a work in progress as a receiver, but he’s learning. You see the speed and the playmaking. We see it in practice. He’s coming on as is Audric Estime. Estime, we liked. He’s strong, he’s big, he’s powerful, he can catch and he can protect.
“Then Kris Abrams-Draine, he was probably the slowest starter in the offseason — a little behind the group. Then he’s caught up quickly as we got through camp and as we got through the games. [He got] more confidence and more playmaking ability. We feel like he’s game-ready if he has to play. [We’re] really encouraged with him.
“Then Vele is mature, as we know. [He] plays like it and plays like a pro. [We] feel like he can play in a game in Seattle if he has too. We like him as well. [With] Gargiulo, just a small sample size.”
Irv Smith headlines this list of players the Broncos should consider adding after NFL roster cuts.
NFL teams set their initial 53-man rosters on Tuesday after more than 1,000 transactions over the last two days.
Players cut with fewer than four accrued seasons are subject to the waiver wire. Veteran players with four or more accrued seasons become free agents when they are released.
After the Denver Broncos made 30 roster moves today, we’ve put together a quick list of 12 players the team should claim off waivers or sign as free agents, depending on the players’ respective statuses.
Waiver claims will be processed at 10:00 a.m. MT on Wednesday. Veterans are eligible to sign right away as free agents.
Players Broncos should sign after roster cuts
1. OL Ricky Stromberg: Former third-round pick with experience at center and guard.
2. OL Kyle Hergel: After being picked third overall in the CFL draft, Hergel opted to go to training camp with the New Orleans Saints instead. He can play guard and tackle.
3. OL La’el Collins: He’s dealt with injuries, but Collins has 86 career starts on his resume as a tackle and guard.
4. OL Matt Hennessy: A former third-round pick with 22 career starts at center.
5. OL Julién Davenport: He has 32 career starts at tackle as a former fourth-round pick.
6. OL Germain Ifedi: Former first-round pick with 83 starts at guard and tackle.
7. OT Alex Leatherwood: Another former first-round pick, but he’s been a backup since starting 17 games as a rookie in 2021.
8. TE Donald Parham: Denver could use some help at tight end.
9. TE Irv Smith: Broncos GM George Paton was part of the Vikings’ front office that used a second-round pick to select Smith in 2019.
About 20 minutes south of Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, former quarterback and general manager John Elway was competing in the BMW Championship pro-am at the Castle Pines Golf Club on Wednesday.
The news of Nix being named Denver’s starter was relayed to Elway, who won two Super Bowls as a quarterback and a third as an executive with the franchise.
“I think that, obviously, Bo is tremendously talented,” Elway told media members at Castle Pines. “He’s played a lot of college football and so he’s ahead of the curb when it comes to that. And I think that Sean Payton will be great for him.”
Elway acknowledged that Nix will have his “ups and downs,” but he believes Payton is the perfect coach to mentor the young quarterback.
John Elway talks about Bo Nix being named the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback:
“He’s going to have his ups and downs as a young guy—I had plenty of those—but I think he’s got all the talent, will, and mind strength to be able to do it.”#BroncosCountrypic.twitter.com/hMg6kQzLuv
Twelve years after retiring from playing, Elway returned to the Broncos as an executive in 2011. He had great success in free agency, bringing in not only Peyton Manning but also Emmanuel Sanders, Wes Welker, T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware, among others.
Elway’s drafts weren’t quite as successful, particularly at quarterback. Elway drafted Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and Drew Lock, but none of them panned out. Elway’s failure to find a Manning replacement played a role in his decision to step down from GM duties in 2021. He remained a consultant in 2022 before stepping away from the team in 2023.
George Paton replaced Elway as Denver’s general manager in 2021 and he swung big one year later, acquiring Russell Wilson in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson didn’t work out, either, so coach Sean Payton cut him this spring and drafted Nix to replace him.
“He’s always been like three steps ahead,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Peyton Manning. “He’s a great resource.”
When the Denver Broncos were sold to the Walton-Penner family in 2022, there was speculation that Peyton Manning might join the ownership group. That hasn’t happened. However, despite not having an official role with the team, Manning continues to be an invaluable resource for the club.
Manning has helped mentor quarterbacks across the league since his retirement, and he quickly reached out to Bo Nix after the Broncos picked the Oregon prospect in the first round of the NFL draft last week.
“[It’s great] especially for a quarterback, [to have] someone like Peyton, his status, legend,” GM George Paton said after the draft. “He has his [quarterback] camp, I think Bo went to the camp. It’s huge to have someone like that here who’s close to the organization.
“I think it’s great for all of our players and everyone in the organization. He comes by all the time, and we have dinner so it’s outstanding to pick his brain, obviously he knows all the quarterbacks.”
Peyton’s trait of giving input and advice everywhere he can seemingly comes from his father, Archie. Denver coach Sean Payton said he frequently hears from both of the former quarterbacks.
“Archie, it’s interesting because sometimes you wonder how does he have time?” Payton said. “Meaning those are just a couple of examples [of him reaching out to players], but something will happen and Archie will send a text or Peyton, and he’s always thinking.
“I think when he watches an NBA game and sees something, it’s one of those unique traits that he has. He sent me a text after Zach [Wilson] and then after Bo and he’s always been like three steps ahead. He’s a great resource.”
Manning, 48, has also stayed busy running Omaha Productions. Nine years after hanging up his cleats, Manning seems to be busier than ever. That’s just his mentality, and the Broncos have benefited from it.
Many draft pundits thought the Broncos could trade down and still draft Bo Nix, so why didn’t Denver attempt it?
Going into the 2024 NFL draft, many pundits believed the Denver Broncos could trade down from the 12th overall pick and still land Oregon quarterback Bo Nix later in the first round (or perhaps even in the second round).
Speaking after the first round on Thursday night, Broncos coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton both addressed that topic.
“We considered moving back, but once [Michael] Penix went, it got a little stressful there at the end,” Paton explained. “We had the Raiders behind us, so we just didn’t want to overthink it. This was our guy, and we were going to take our guy. We did think about it, but not too far.
“We could have moved a couple picks back and maybe have gotten some picks, but at the end of the day, this was our guy. Let’s just take him. Let’s not overthink this. We would have been sick if we lost him just for a couple of fifth-round picks.”
Five quarterbacks had already been picked when Denver went on the clock, including Penix. Las Vegas, another QB-needy team, picked right behind the Broncos, so moving down would have been a risky decision.
“Oftentimes, you hear this, ‘Well, if they don’t get one here, they can go back and get this one,'” Payton said. “I heard those same comments — when the Chiefs selected Patrick [Mahomes] and you go back and tune into everything, it was said, ‘Well, they could have got him later.’ No, they couldn’t have.”
Payton knows firsthand that the Chiefs could not have waited for Mahomes because the New Orleans Saints planned to pick the QB at No. 11 in 2017. Then Kansas City moved up to pick Mahomes at No. 10. Had the Chiefs listened to the notion that “you can get him later,” Mahomes would have been a Saint.
The Broncos did not want to risk a similar scenario with Nix. If the team moved back, there was no guarantee he would still be on the board when Denver went back on the clock.
“Let’s not worry about — and we all understand managing the draft, but let’s worry about what it’s going to look like three years from now,” Payton said. “Three to four years from now, this class will be judged. Make sure we get the right guy there [at No. 12].”
KOA Radio reported that Denver had Nix ranked as the third-best quarterback on their board behind Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. Nix was “their guy,” and it would have been too big of a risk to trade down while hoping he fell to a later pick. The Broncos set out to get their QB and they made it happen at No. 12.
