5 Denver Broncos Veterans Now on Roster Bubble Following Draft

The Denver Broncos made several additions in the 2015 NFL draft. They started the draft out with a bang, moving up in the first round for pass-rusher Shane Ray. The following rounds saw them acquire talent for both sides of the ball. Some could be starters as rookies; some could be valuable reserve players, while others could be considered developmental players who need more time before they contribute on Sundays.

With the 90-man roster pretty much filled out, the Broncos will go through rookie minicamp, veteran minicamp and offseason training activities (aka OTAs) over the next several weeks.

These rookies are going to try to turn heads with every single rep they receive during that time. For certain veterans, these reps are also critical as the team approaches training camp.

Every single drill is an opportunity for players on the roster bubble to prove what they can do. With a talented group of rookies coming in, a few veterans need to impress in order to keep their spot on the depth chart.

Here are five Broncos veterans who are now on the roster bubble following the draft.

CB Tony Carter

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The Broncos added two cornerbacks late in the draft this year. These two players are going to create more competition at the cornerback position.

In the fifth round, Lorenzo Doss was the pick. He came to Tulane as a wide receiver but converted to the defensive side as a freshman. He plays with good ball skills and can break up incoming passes or pick off the ball by baiting quarterbacks into bad throws. Doss averaged more than 18 yards per interception return, and he can flip the field quickly after snaring a pass.

In the seventh round, the Broncos acquired another Tulane cornerback, Taurean Nixon. He wasn’t as productive as Doss was for the Green Wave, but Nixon is faster—much faster. He has 4.2 speed and can recover quickly when receivers get by him on deep routes. His speed should also help him out as a special teams option for the Broncos.

Tony Carter has been on the roster bubble before. It’s not a stretch to say that he’s been on the roster bubble ever since he came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

He’s a gambler on the football field, and Carter’s risk-taking style can create big plays—for either team. He can get his hands on interceptions and make big plays as a sub-package player. However, he can also get burned by trying to make the big play instead of the safe one.

Carter is going to have to prove that he’s still worth keeping around over these two young prospects. He’s been proving doubters wrong since he came into the league, but time may be running out on Carter’s stint in Denver.

RT Chris Clark

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In the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos added offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo from Colorado State. It’s not outlandish to consider him the front-runner for a starting job at right tackle.

Last year, Chris Clark began the season as the starter at the position. This year, he is going to have to compete with Sambrailo and 2014 third-round pick Michael Schofield for the starting right tackle job.

Sambrailo has good lateral quickness after the snap. His kick step is quick and wide, setting him up to take on edge rushes on the corner. He has a nasty attitude that helps him as a run-blocker. A left tackle for most of his career at Colorado State, Sambrailo is better suited as a right tackle as a pro.

Schofield started multiple games at right tackle and left guard during his career at Michigan. Last year as a rookie, he struggled with weight issues and problems in pass protection. At minicamp earlier this year, he did a good job of adding muscle to his upper body. We’ll see if he can use his experience from last year to be better against pass-rushers on the outside.

Clark is a finesse player, but that’s not a bad thing in a zone-blocking system. He’s laterally athletic, and that will help him get out and hit moving targets at the second level of the defense. Clark is not a power player, and the shift to this system could help him perform better in 2015.

We’ll see if Clark can impress enough to earn a spot on the roster—either as a starting right tackle or quality veteran depth.

WR Andre Caldwell

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Even though they didn’t add a wide receiver in the draft, the Broncos did add two wideouts as undrafted free agents. Matt Miller from Boise State and Jordan Taylor of Rice will try to make the final roster or the practice squad with the Broncos this year.

Miller is the Broncos' all-time leader in receptions and has the soft hands to make difficult catches seem routine. He dealt with ankle injuries last year but showed toughness as a receiver making contested catches and as a blocker.

Taylor eats up cushion quickly with his long strides and speed. He can line up outside or in the slot, plus he shows good moves after the catch. Taylor is a big play waiting to happen, as evidenced by his touchdowns from 88, 61, 45 and 74 yards over the last two years. That speed could make him an option for the Broncos as a return man.

Andre “Bubba” Caldwell has been with the Broncos for a few seasons. He’s still one of the fastest players on the roster and can also contribute as a returner. Caldwell’s veteran depth is welcome, but he’s also struggled to impress with a larger opportunity from time to time.

Last season, Caldwell was targeted a mere 15 times and only hauled in five catches for 47 yards. His longest catch of the season was 15 yards. There’s little doubt one of these undrafted receivers could match or best those totals in the same situation.

CB/S Omar Bolden

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

In addition to adding two cornerbacks—both from Tulane—in the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos also added a safety prospect in Josh Furman from Oklahoma State.

A safety at Michigan, Furman transferred to Oklahoma State in 2014 and played linebacker for the Cowboys. He was listed as a linebacker, but essentially Furman continued to play as a safety from his "Joker" position. Last year, he racked up seven sacks and 64 tackles for Oklahoma State.

Furman is a hard-hitter who arrives at the ball-carrier with natural violence. He can be an intimidating presence in the defensive backfield, and there are shades of Kam Chancellor (Seattle Seahawks) to his game.

Omar Bolden was selected as a cornerback in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He can contribute as a cornerback, but Bolden has also been moved around to safety by the Broncos. He is entering the final year of his deal and may not be able to make the final roster in this jam-packed defensive backfield.

Not only is Furman a threat to take a safety spot, but we may also see cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Bradley Roby play safety at some times in 2015.

RB Ronnie Hillman

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The Broncos did not add a running back in free agency or the draft, so why is fourth-year pro Ronnie Hillman potentially on the bubble? The possibility may be low, but looking closer at the running back situation does put Hillman near the back end of the depth chart.

First, he is a bit of an odd fit in the zone-blocking system. The offense will require running backs to show great patience while pressing the hole. When a cutback lane opens, the back is supposed to make a quick and decisive cut to get north/south in a hurry. Hillman is the type of back with the speed to make big plays, but he’s used to dancing, jump-cutting and juking to help create his own space.

Next, Hillman is going to have to beat out second-year pro Kapri Bibbs for a roster spot. Bibbs is a patient and decisive runner with a nose for the end zone. An unknown as a receiver in college at Colorado State, he showed last year in training camp that he could be a swift and reliable receiver out of the backfield.

Finally, the need for a fullback on the roster may end up pushing Hillman off the team. Juwan Thompson is essentially a lock for the final roster because he can play running back or fullback. Joe Don Duncan was a super athletic tight end in college at Dixie State, but the Broncos signed him to play at fullback instead of tight end.

If the Broncos keep four backs on the roster, one of them is likely to be a fullback—and that could mean Hillman is on the outside looking in when the final cuts are made.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.