Denver Broncos 2013 Team Roster: Report Card Grades for Every Position

The Denver Broncos have set their final 53-man roster. It’s time to look at the team as a whole and hand out a grade for each position.

Even though the Broncos are considered a favorite to make the Super Bowl, that does not mean their team is without flaws. In fact, there are a couple of positions where the Broncos have big concerns.

At the positions that matter the most, the Broncos are incredibly strong. At quarterback they have a future Hall of Fame player in Peyton Manning.

There’s another future Hall of Fame player as well, this time on the defensive side of the ball. Champ Bailey may go down as the best cornerback in the history of the game. Just like Manning, Bailey’s leadership is invaluable on this team. This is why they should be able to live up to the hype in 2013.

Every team has to find breakout players each year. The Broncos have a few unproven players with huge upside. Guys like Montee Ball, Julius Thomas, and Duke Ihenacho are going to be exciting to watch this season.

They also have a few players who are dangerously on the roster bubble even though they made the final roster at the end of the preseason. Players like Quentin Jammer, Mike Adams, and Steve Vallos need to keep making a positive impression to keep their spots on the roster.

Here’s my breakdown and a look at how I’ve graded out the 2013 Denver Broncos at the start of the regular season.

Quarterbacks

QB1	Peyton Manning
QB2	Brock Osweiler
QB3	Zac Dysert

The Broncos have a strong group at this position with a couple of young, developmental quarterbacks with upside.

Peyton Manning

He's a future Hall of Fame player and could end his career as the best quarterback to ever play this game. Manning proved last season that he was recovered from the four neck procedures that knocked him out of the 2011 season. He should put up even better numbers in 2013.

Brock Osweiler

This is the Broncos' quarterback of the future. Osweiler has cleaned up his throwing motion and footwork since his days in college at Arizona State. The second-year player looked good with extended playing time in the preseason. There are some in the scouting community who feel Osweiler has Ben Roethlisberger-like upside if he plays up to his potential.

Zac Dysert

The Broncos surprised some by keeping Dysert around on the active roster. He was a seventh-round pick out of Miami (OH) in the 2013 NFL draft. Dysert is inconsistent as a passer but has shown small improvements during his time in camp. He's mobile and has strong leadership ability. Another thing in his corner: He's a favorite of John Elway.

Position Grade: A+

Running Backs

RB1	Ronnie Hillman
RB1a	Montee Ball
RB2	Knowshon Moreno
RB3	C.J. Anderson

The Broncos don't have any solid answers at this position yet. It's why we'll see at least a two-man running back by committee in 2013.

Ronnie Hillman

Preseason fumbles aside, Hillman has the best big play ability at the position. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase continues to express his desire for explosive plays from the ground game. The best back to do that is Hillman. His pass protection is improved, and he seems a lot more confident as a runner in his second season. We'll see if Hillman can hang onto the football and the starting job this year.

Montee Ball

A favorite of the coaching staff, the rookie from Wisconsin should be the team's primary back when they're in scoring position. He finished his college career with the most touchdowns scored (83) in NCAA history. Ball is bigger than Hillman and does a good job of grinding out tough yards between the tackles. Pass protection is his biggest problem. When he improves in this area, he could see an increased role on offense.

Knowshon Moreno

The seasoned veteran gives the Broncos veteran insurance at the position. He's the best back on the roster in regards of pass protection. Moreno is also a quality receiver out of the backfield who does a good job of getting upfield with little wasted motion. The Broncos will turn to him if either one of their young backs struggles.

C.J. Anderson

The undrafted rookie out of Cal continues a streak of 10 years where the Broncos have a priority free agent make the final roster. He showed an intriguing blend of power, burst, and speed during training camp and early on in the preseason. A knee injury kept him to only one appearance in the preseason, but he made enough of an impression to make the final roster.

Position Grade: C+

Wide Receivers

WR1	Demaryius Thomas
WR2	Wes Welker
WR3	Eric Decker
WR4	Andre Caldwell
WR5	Trindon Holliday

The Broncos have arguably the best trio of wide receivers in the entire league. They don't have much depth at the position but won't need it if their top three stay healthy in 2013.

Demaryius Thomas

He's Peyton Manning's favorite target and has taken his game to a different level since he came into the league as a raw first-round pick in 2010. Thomas has size, strength and speed that no other receiver has on the roster. When Manning is in trouble, he looks for Thomas and trusts him to come down with contested catches near the sidelines or in the end zone.

Wes Welker

The prized free-agent addition will help the Broncos immensely in 2013. He can get open on underneath routes with ease and quickness. Manning's favorite target is the open guy, and Welker has established strong chemistry with his new quarterback during the offseason. Welker may not catch 120 passes this year, but 90-plus isn't out of the question.

Eric Decker

While he's going to lose some targets to Welker this season, we will still see plenty of Decker. He caught 13 touchdown passes last year and will see that number dip slightly this year. Decker will still be a top red-zone target for the Broncos in the final year of his rookie contract.

Andre Caldwell

The veteran speedster can get on top of the defense in a hurry. He proved in camp that he could also make difficult catches seem routine.

Trindon Holliday

The Broncos keep Holliday on the roster because of his elite ability as a return man. We won't see much of him as a receiver in 2013. However, the Broncos might have a few gadget plays in mind for the tiny playmaker.

Position Grade: A

Tight Ends

TE1	Julius Thomas
TE2	Joel Dreessen
TE3	Jacob Tamme
TE4	Virgil Green

The tight ends are the only position that stays exactly the same way as last year. However, the order on the depth chart is much different in 2013.

Julius Thomas

The former basketball star from Portland State is finally healthy and impressed enough in camp to win the starting job. He's big, fast and athletic, which makes him difficult to match up with. Thomas can work the deep middle seam and gives Peyton Manning yet another big-play weapon to target in 2013.

Joel Dreessen

A knee injury that required two procedures in three months had his roster spot in doubt. Dreessen makes the team because he's the best all-around tight end on the roster. We'll see him continue to be a quality blocker and red-zone target when fully healthy.

Jacob Tamme

He's tumbled down the depth chart for a couple of reasons. First, a quadriceps injury slowed him down to start training camp. Second, Thomas has impressed with increased playing time and creates better mismatches than Tamme does at this point in his career.

Virgil Green

The forgotten man at the position has really improved his game over the course of his pro career. Green came into the league as a one-dimensional pass-catcher. He's improved his blocking so much that he's now a good all-purpose tight end. Green gives the Broncos quality depth at the position.

Position Grade: B-

Offensive Tackles

LT	Ryan Clady
RT	Orlando Franklin
OT	Chris Clark

The Broncos have chosen to only carry three offensive tackles to start the season. They signed Ryan Clady to a big-money long-term deal earlier this offseason and feel confident about his return from shoulder surgery.

Ryan Clady

He's the blindside protector of Peyton Manning, which makes him the second most important player on the entire roster. With Manning under center, Clady enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2012. He's simply one of the best in the league at his position and may not give up a sack this season.

Orlando Franklin

In the run game, there are zero problems with Franklin's game. He's an absolute road grader who can bull over defenders with ease. As a pass-blocker, he does struggle with more athletic edge rushers.

Chris Clark

He gives them veteran depth at the position and has experience playing either tackle spot.

Position Grade: A-

Offensive Guards

LG	Zane Beadles
RG	Louis Vasquez
OG	Chris Kuper
OG	John Moffitt

The Broncos have an improving veteran and a quality free-agent addition starting at guard this season. Behind those two, Denver has valuable veteran depth.

Zane Beadles

He's really improved his game during his pro career. Beadles has improved his strength and understanding of defensive stunts, and because of that, he's a much better pass-protector. He plays with a nasty streak and can push open holes as a run-blocker.

Louis Vasquez

The Broncos made Vasquez a top priority when free agency opened up, and they lured him away from the San Diego Chargers. Vasquez is huge but has the lateral agility to move fluidly in the zone blocking system. Adding him should greatly help the ground game and also improve the interior pass protection for Peyton Manning.

Chris Kuper

If he's healthy, Kuper is one of the best in the game at his position. Injuries have slowed him down in recent years, and it's the reason the Broncos have moved him to a reserve player and out of the starting lineup.

John Moffitt

The Broncos executed a strong trade when they moved defensive tackle Sealver Siliga to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Moffitt. He gives the team excellent veteran depth and can play any position on the interior of the offensive line, including center.

Position Grade: B-

Centers

C	Manny Ramirez
C	Steve Vallos

Center is the weakest position for the Broncos. Because of that this position gets my lowest grade for the entire roster.

Manny Ramirez

He's been their starting center all offseason, and the team publicly expresses confidence that Ramirez can get the job done. However, all they've done this offseason is bring in many centers to compete at the position. If Dan Koppen had stayed healthy, he could very well have been the starting center again in 2013. When J.D. Walton returns from his ankle injury, he could easily replace Ramirez as the starter.

Steve Vallos

He's keeping the spot warm for Walton. The free-agent addition didn't make much of a positive impression in training camp but did enough to make the final roster.

Position Grade: D (goes up to a C+ when Walton is healthy and starting)

Defensive Ends

LDE	Derek Wolfe
RDE	Robert Ayers
DE	Malik Jackson

I like this group of players for the Broncos. I have to grade them as they currently stand, but this grade could go up to an "A" if Wolfe and Jackson provide more quarterback pressure than some think in 2013.

Derek Wolfe

He had a scary neck injury in the preseason game against the Seahawks but is okay and ready to build on his impressive rookie season. Wolfe has position versatility and can slide inside to defensive tackle if need be. His strength, high motor and closing burst to the quarterback could put him position to log double digit sacks in 2013.

Robert Ayers

He's not a pass-rusher, but Ayers is a quality edge-setting defensive end. He does a good job of keeping contain and forcing plays to the inside. While he was over-drafted as a first-round pick in 2009, he's developed into a decent starter.

Malik Jackson

His skill set is not pretty, and his pass-rushing moves are not refined. What Jackson can do is create quarterback pressure by simply wreaking havoc. He's got upside if he can continue to learn the nuances of the pro game.

Position Grade: B-

Defensive Tackles

DT1	Kevin Vickerson
DT2	Terrance Knighton
DT3	Sylvester Williams
DT4	Mitch Unrein

A nice blend of youth and experience here. The Broncos have plenty of beef in the middle of the line to stuff the run and create middle pressure on the quarterback.

Kevin Vickerson

He's one of my favorite players on the roster. "Big Vick" has done whatever the team wants him to do over the course of his career. He's a team-first player and can control opponents at the line of scrimmage. His size dictates that opponents frequently double-team him. That frees up the players around him to make plays on the ball carrier.

Terrance Knighton

The veteran defensive tackle is reunited with Jack Del Rio in Denver. They worked well together during their time in Jacksonville and hope to rekindle that production with the Broncos. Knighton is big and active up front but does get worn down as the game goes on. That could be a problem playing at altitude.

Sylvester Williams

In the first round of the 2013 NFL draft, the Broncos selected Williams out of North Carolina. He's disruptive in the middle and has a good sense for getting off the line of scrimmage quickly. His work ethic is outstanding, and he could play his way into the starting lineup before the end of the season.

Mitch Unrein

The pride of Eaton, CO, is a hometown favorite. Unrein is a hustle player with the strength to move opponents out of the way. He gives the Broncos quality depth up front.

Position Grade: C+

Outside Linebackers

SLB1	Nate Irving
WLB1	Danny Trevathan
SLB2	Shaun Phillips
WLB2	Steven Johnson
SLB1 (suspended)	Von Miller

The grade for this position will be much improved when Von Miller returns from his six-game suspension. This position changed more than any other did this offseason.

Nate Irving

He failed to impress as a middle linebacker, so the team moved him to strong-side linebacker. Irving is known as a big hitter who can separate the ball from the ball carrier. He proved enough in the preseason to assuage concerns about his coverage ability.

Danny Trevathan

The second-year player is athletic and can find the ball quickly. Trevathan is an enthusiastic player who loves to talk trash. He backs up that talk by swiftly diagnosing plays in front of him and consistently brings the ball carrier down. Trevathan needs to improve his ability in coverage as quick running backs can get open against him.

Shaun Phillips

The veteran pass-rusher is going to work as a part time player in 2013. The Broncos want him to stay fresh and be their best pass-rusher while Miller is out. Phillips could push for double-digit sacks this year.

Steven Johnson

Like Irving, he moves from the middle linebacker competition to find a home as a backup weak-side linebacker. Johnson is a big hitter who loves to strike down opponents.

Von Miller

When he returns to the field in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, I expect Miller to return with a vengeance. He's simply one of the best pass-rushers in the game today. If he can stay clean and stay healthy, he will produce at an elite level.

Position Grade: B (A+ with Von Miller)

Middle Linebackers

MLB1	Wesley Woodyard
MLB2	Paris Lenon

The Broncos get a high grade here because of the immense respect I have for Wesley Woodyard. He moves from weak-side linebacker to the middle of the defense in 2013.

Wesley Woodyard

He makes the defensive play calls already and now gets to man the middle for the Broncos. Woodyard has improved his game as a pro and is a complete player. He's smart, diagnoses quickly and doesn't take many false steps when he goes after the ball carrier. Woodyard can also cover the athletic move tight ends that fill the NFL these days. We'll see if his body can handle the punishment it's going to take as a middle linebacker.

Paris Lenon

The veteran free-agent addition was added later in preseason and did enough to make the final roster. He gives them veteran depth but seems to have lost a step.

Position Grade: A-

Cornerbacks

LCB1	Champ Bailey
RCB1	Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
LCB2	Chris Harris
RBC2	Tony Carter
LCB3	Quentin Jammer
RCB3	Kayvon Webster

The Broncos had to keep 11 players in the secondary because of Champ Bailey's foot injury. The group of cornerbacks on the roster is filled with a nice mix of youth and experience.

Champ Bailey

Yes, he was regularly burned by Torrey Smith in the playoffs last year. Yes, he may not be the same player he used to be. However, when healthy, Champ can still be one of the best in the game and is not a liability in the secondary. He is a strength at the position. While he may not be as fast, his mind is still sharp and he will put himself in the right position to make a play most of the time.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

He failed to impress during his time in Philadelphia but has been a standout player for the Broncos this preseason. A high ankle sprain slowed him earlier in camp, but he's healthy now and gives the Broncos a quality starter opposite Bailey. Rodgers-Cromartie has been playing with a chip on his shoulder and seems to have his swagger back.

Chris Harris

He's simply one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league today. Harris can play outside if need be but is best suited lining up against a slot receiver. He's got the quickness and hip swivel to make his break quickly. Harris is also a quality open-field tackler.

Tony Carter

He's a gambler and plays with a short memory. Carter is small, feisty and lightning fast. He locates the ball quickly and is a threat to return an interception for a touchdown anytime he gets his hands on the ball.

Quentin Jammer

The veteran free agent was signed to compete at the safety position. That transition failed, so the Broncos decided to keep him around as a sub-package corner. He's a smart player and quality veteran depth.

Kayvon Webster

The 2013 third-round pick has a lot of work to do in order to improve his pro game. He's big, fast and physical. Webster has good straight line speed but needs to work on diagnosing plays better. Too often he'll take false steps and regularly bites on play fakes.

Position Grade: A (when Bailey is at full strength)

Safeties

FS1	Rahim Moore
SS1	Duke Ihenacho
FS2	David Bruton
SS2	Mike Adams
FS3	Omar Bolden

There are some new pieces at this position. The Broncos also have one exciting playmaker who is now starting in Duke Ihenacho. The grade for this position will be higher if Ihenacho plays up to his potential in 2013.

Rahim Moore

His confidence is back, and that's nothing but a good thing for the Broncos. Moore was burned on the play to Jacoby Jones in the playoffs last year but is ready to beat the ghosts of 2012. He's not quite the ball hawk some envisioned when he came out of UCLA, but Moore is a smart player who finds the ball quickly.

Duke Ihenacho

Attitude is the name of his game. Ihenacho is fierce and patrols the defensive backfield looking for the big hit. He can make open field tackles with regularity and usually brings down an opponent forcefully. Ihenacho is one of the most exciting young players on the Broncos roster.

David Bruton

He's a special teams star and may get a little more playing time on defense. He had a chance to win the starting job but lost out because of the emergence of Ihenacho. Bruton gives the team quality depth at the position.

Mike Adams

The veteran loses his starting job to Ihenacho but provides veteran depth at the position. He may still be on the roster bubble even though he's made the team to start the season.

Omar Bolden

The converted cornerback showed enough in his late preseason transition to make the final roster. He's athletic enough to locate and get to the football quickly. Bolden is raw at the safety position but has the desire to learn and improve.

Position Grade: B-

Special Teams

K	Matt Prater
P	Britton Colquitt
LS	Aaron Brewer

The Broncos have a top-notch special teams unit.

Matt Prater

He can make long-distance kicks with ease and is automatic on extra points.

Britton Colquitt

His powerful leg helps the Broncos win the field position battle.

Aaron Brewer

The second-year player is one of the best young long snappers in the game today.

Position Grade: A