9 Dark Horse Candidates to Make Denver Broncos' Final 53-Man Roster

Though training camp for the Denver Broncos is still several weeks away, and thus so are the battles that will take place within it, we can start to take a look at some of the names to remember once it opens.

We all know Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Von Miller and Chris Harris will be part of the team in 2015, but which players will round out the roster? Which players could help pad the depth on the roster?

That will be the focus of this article.

Each NFL team is given 53 roster spots, and the teams that have the deepest runs in the postseason manage each of those slots wisely, usually needing every player on the team to contribute in one form or another.

Whether it be an undrafted free agent, a player who spent a great length of time on the practice squad or a new player who fans may not be familiar with, here are nine Broncos players who could be a part of that final 53-man roster.

Bennie Fowler, Wide Receiver

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If there is a big opportunity at any position in particular for the Broncos, it would be at wide receiver.

Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer are likely the only players assured spots on the final roster. That sets up for a very interesting battle in training camp.

Though familiar names like Andre Caldwell and Isaiah Burse will be among those looking to win a roster spot, don't overlook the ability of Bennie Fowler.

Fowler spent the 2014 season on Denver's practice squad after going undrafted coming out of Michigan State. According to stats compiled by Sports-Reference.com, Fowler caught 93 passes for 1,341 yards and 11 touchdowns during his college career.

With a year of experience under his belt, Fowler should come into camp ready to impress.

Though the Broncos are switching to a brand new offense under new head coach Gary Kubiak, Fowler would still be a good fit. He would provide a spark off the bench with his speed and ability to run after the catch. He can make tough catches in traffic and at 6'1" and 217 pounds, he would provide a big target down the field.

But what could really catch the eye of the coaching staff is his ability to block down the field.

Though there will be tremendous competition at the wide receiver position during camp and preseason games, Fowler has a decent chance to make a big enough impression to earn a spot on the final roster.

Shaquil Barrett, Linebacker

JACK DEMPSEY/Associated Press

Like Fowler, Shaquil Barrett was placed on the practice squad prior to the start of the 2014 season. Though he was promoted to the 53-man roster when Quanterus Smith went down with an injury, he never played a game.

Barrett used the 2014 season to prepare for what the NFL is all about, and the former Colorado State product is ready to unleash what he learned during that time.

Barrett was also able to learn from former NFL linebacker Joey Porter, who also spent his college playing days at Colorado State. If any of Porter was able to rub off onto Barrett, the Broncos will be better for it.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will love the versatility that Barrett brings. Barrett has experience playing inside linebacker as well as being a pass-rushing outside linebacker. He can get to the quarterback as well.

Barrett racked up 12 sacks during his senior season, allowing him to become the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year in 2013.

Barrett has an uphill climb if he is going to make the final roster. The Broncos have a logjam at the linebacker position, and he will likely need to beat out either Kenny Anunike or Lerentee McCray in order to earn a place on the team.

Barrett is a good tackler who can blow up plays in the backfield. His ability to put pressure on the quarterback will keep him on the roster bubble throughout camp, at the very least.

Kapri Bibbs, Running Back

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Kapri Bibbs is another player who came to the NFL after playing at Colorado State. Though 2013 was the only season he played there, he put up up massive numbers.

Bibbs ran for 1,741 yards and 31 touchdowns on the ground. Despite that, his name was not called during the 2014 NFL draft.

Bibbs was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent, spending much of the 2014 season on the practice squad.

However, the Broncos were fortunate to keep Bibbs in the organization. Last November, Bibbs was given a tryout with the Arizona Cardinals when the Cardinals were looking for more depth at running back. They chose to bring in veteran running back Michael Bush instead.

For Bibbs, whether or not he can pick up the zone-blocking scheme quicker than other running backs on the roster will be the key to his future with the Broncos.

C.J. Anderson will be the Broncos' starting running back, but there are no certainties beyond that. Juwan Thompson looks like a player who will thrive in the system and Montee Ball is a question mark.

"

Best pass protection RBs at #Broncos minicamp are CJA, Juwan and Kapri Bibbs. KB could build a strong case to make the 53 in AUG

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) June 10, 2015"

However, a battle for a roster spot between Bibbs and Ronnie Hillman seems like a strong possibility. Hillman has underwhelmed during his time in Denver, and a strong camp for Bibbs could push him off the team.

Matt Paradis, Center

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There are positions along the offensive line that are completely up for grabs in Denver this year. One of them could go to Matt Paradis.

Last year's sixth-round pick out of Boise State spent the entire season on the practice squad. His chances of making the team this season could hinge on the performance of Gino Gradkowski at the center position and how the Broncos intend to use fourth-round pick Max Garcia.

If Gradkowski looks good and Garcia is tabbed to be the backup center, then Paradis could easily be sent packing. On the flip side, if Gradkowski struggles and the team chooses to line Garcia up at the guard spot, then Paradis has a chance to make the team.

If the Broncos keep just seven offensive linemen, Paradis most likely will not be among them. If the team chooses to have more than seven linemen on the final roster, Paradis has a chance to stick around.

He will be a very interesting player to watch in camp, but the team would probably like to keep him around in some capacity.

Solomon Patton, Wide Receiver

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The Broncos need a player who can return punts and kicks, and that had to be on the minds of those in charge when they placed a waiver claim on Solomon Patton back in May.

Patton played sparingly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014, almost exclusively as a return man. He will get a chance to do the same in Denver. In Tampa Bay, he averaged 11.2 yards per punt return and 23.1 yards on kickoffs.

The Broncos have guys on the roster who who fielded kickoffs and punts last year, such as Andre Caldwell and Omar Bolden. Caldwell was highly ineffective as a returner. As for Bolden, would he even be on the team if not for his ability to contribute on special teams?

If he could become the team's primary returner on both kickoffs and punts, the team could save a roster spot. With only 53 spots on the active roster, each one is very important.

The Broncos need to improve in this area of special teams, and Patton could provide the answer.

Joe Don Duncan, Tight End

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If you don't know the name Joe Don Duncan, you should familiarize yourself with it.

Kubiak loves players who can catch like a tight end and block like a fullback. He can then line them up at both positions to keep a defense guessing.

In Duncan, the Broncos have that player.

Duncan can line up at fullback and be a lead blocker in the running game. But teams around the league will pay the price if they sleep on his ability as a receiver. Duncan can get out into the flats and make plays in the passing game as well.

After spending two years at El Camino, a junior college, he moved on to Dixie State. There, Duncan's name is in the record books. He is the school's single-season leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

His versatility doesn't stop there. Duncan can play special teams and can even step in as a long snapper.

A foot injury hurt Duncan's chances of being drafted, but Kubiak liked him enough to bring him in for a shot to make the roster.

Now, Duncan isn't just a dark horse candidate to make the team; it will be tough for the team to justify not keeping him on the final roster.

Kenny Anunike, Defensive End/Linebacker

JACK DEMPSEY/Associated Press

In recent years, the Broncos have found success in signing undrafted rookies out of college. Chris Harris, Steven Johnson, Anderson and Thompson have all made the team after not being drafted.

Kenny Anunike could be the next success story after not being drafted. The Broncos signed the defensive end out of Duke last season.

Anunike may have been on the final roster following camp and preseason games last year. Unfortunately, an injury in the preseason finale forced the team to put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season.

Anunike will be back and hungry to earn a roster spot in camp this year, but it won't come easily.

The Broncos could conceivably line Anunike up at defensive end and outside linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme, so that makes his chances of making the final roster better. He will have to convince the coaching staff that he is a better option at linebacker than either Barrett or McCray—perhaps both.

The defensive end spots are pretty much set with Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson and Vance Walker all figuring into the final equation. Anunike's chances could hinge on what the team decides to do with Antonio Smith, who was reportedly being investigated for child abuse back in May.

It would be ironic if Anunike landed a spot on the final roster at the expense of Smith—who talked highly of Anunike—as tweeted out by ESPN's Jeff Legwold.

"

#Broncos DE Antonio Smith was asked if any of the younger D-lineman has stood out, he mentioned Kenny Anunike (on IR in '14).

— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) May 11, 2015"

It will be exciting to see how well Anunike bounces back from his injury and if he has what it takes to flourish in the 3-4 defense.

Josh Furman, Safety

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Josh Furman's college career was a tale of two schools. At Michigan, he did next to nothing in three years. In one season at Oklahoma State, he came alive.

Furman was a key piece of the Oklahoma State defense following his transfer from Michigan, racking up 64 tackles, seven sacks and one interception. That was enough to convince the Broncos to spend a seventh-round pick on him.

In Denver, Furman will get a chance to compete. Though he'll likely need to prove his worth on special teams, he could move into the defensive rotation due to the lack of depth at the safety position.

The Broncos brought in Darian Stewart through free agency from the Baltimore Ravens, but Furman could become his immediate backup depending on whether the team decides to move Kayvon Webster or Bradley Roby to safety.

Even if that happens, Furman could play the strong safety position and be the backup to T.J. Ward.

With a strong showing in camp and preseason, Furman has a solid chance of making the final roster. At the very least, he'll be all but certain to obtain a spot on the team's practice squad in order to be groomed for the future.

Karl Schmitz, Kicker/Punter

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Last season, the Broncos were one of the teams that used a roster spot to keep a kickoff specialist. That same player—Brandon McManus—was relegated to those duties because of his inconsistency kicking field goals.

Connor Barth was a good kicker, making 15 of 16 field goals, but his leg isn't strong enough for kickoffs.

Then you have the punter, Britton Colquitt, who is scheduled to make $3 million in 2015 but saw his stats take a dip last season. Using its ranking system, Pro Football Focus had Colquitt as the No. 26 punter in the league in 2014. That just isn't worth $3 million.

Enter Karl Schmitz. The new kicker may be a dark horse because he's unknown to many fans, but he is going to push McManus and Colquitt and possibly take both of their jobs.

The Broncos signed Schmitz, who has never played a game in the NFL, during the offseason.

Schmitz took an interesting road to the NFL.

He grew up in Bermuda before going to Jacksonville University as the team's punter and kickoff specialist. He then transferred to Missouri-St. Louis, but he hasn't played football for several years.

The Broncos have a very low-risk, high-reward player in Schmitz who can come in and show off his leg this summer. He could even be given the opportunity to kick long field goals, the kind that Matt Prater used to make. Anything over 50 yards will be a challenge for Barth.

"

SPT coordinator Joe DeCamillis says the goal will be to carry one kicker, one punter and one snapper into the regular season.

— Chris Hall (@BroncosTV) June 11, 2015"

Schmitz gives the Broncos a player who opens up many options within the roster. If he is able to make the roster, the team could dump both McManus and Colquitt, opening up two roster spots for other players who the team otherwise would not be able to keep.