Broncos: Defensive Position-by-Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis

The Denver Broncos will hold their first practice of training camp in just over three weeks, according to the team's training-camp schedule.

As with any training camp, fans want to see their team on the field again. They want to see how the new players the team has obtained fit in and perform on the field, even if they're just running some drills.

But most importantly, fans want to know what the depth chart looks like. Who is the starter at each position? Who has an uphill climb to make the roster?

Though the first depth chart released by a team during camp isn't official, it does give fans an idea of where each player stands in regards to his future with the team.

That is what we're going to do here—release an unofficial defensive depth chart prior to training camp.

In doing so, we will identify the players who should be starting at each position as well as a few who could be squarely on the bubble to make the team.

Taking into account the defensive line, linebackers and secondary, here is how we see each position heading into the beginning of camp.

Defensive Tackle

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Starter: Sylvester Williams

Second String: Marvin Austin

Third String: Darius Kilgo

The team will expect big things out of former first-round pick Sylvester Williams this season, and he will have to deliver. If he doesn't, he could soon be jettisoned out of Denver with a big bust label attached to him.

Williams will get every opportunity to play nose tackle for the Broncos in 2015, and Denver will only replace him after he has exhausted every opportunity to succeed.

For Williams, the key in the 3-4 defense that Denver will be switching to will be eating up double-teams and being quick off the snap. This will aid the pursuit of the inside linebackers behind him.

Williams will also have to be better against the run than he was in 2014. Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 71 out 81 defensive tackles in terms of defending the run last season. That won't cut it.

Marvin Austin will be behind Williams. Drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the New York Giants, Austin has made just 22 tackles in his entire career. He made the team in Denver last season after a strong preseason.

At 6'2" and 312 pounds, Austin has the size to play nose tackle in the 3-4 defense, and if Williams falters, the Broncos may have a solid option to turn to in Austin, even if his career stats don't suggest that.

The team selected Darius Kilgo in the sixth round of this year's draft, but he is a project player. He may make the active roster because of the lack of depth at the defensive tackle position, but placing him on the practice squad will be another option for the team to consider.

Kilgo would likely see limited snaps on running downs, as he is a liability on passing downs. For that reason, placing him on the practice squad might be the best option, as the team can work on developing him into a more versatile defensive lineman.

In defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' scheme, there is also the chance that we will see guys like Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson line up at defensive tackle in certain packages. Phillips has many options with the defense in Denver, and he has a history of being creative with the players at his disposal.

Defensive End

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Starters: Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe

Second String: Vance Walker, Antonio Smith

Third String: Gerald Rivers, Josh Watson, Chuka Ndulue

Jackson and Wolfe are the clear starters at the defensive end spots for the Broncos. Each player could have a career year with Phillips directing the defense.

Wolfe can show his skills against the run while lining up at defensive end, and Jackson could easily double the most sacks he's had in a single season, which is six.

However, there isn't much depth behind Jackson and Wolfe, especially when factoring in the status of Antonio Smith. Since TMZ reported (via ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio) that Smith is under investigation for child abuse, his status in Denver has been a mystery. Will he even play a single down for the Broncos?

He hasn't been arrested or charged, and though the seriousness of the investigation clearly takes precedence over the on-field implications, the team still has to consider the possibility of losing a player who would be a perfect fit in its 3-4 defense. Not only does Smith have experience playing in a 3-4 scheme, but he also has experience playing for Phillips (in Houston).

The team also signed Vance Walker as a free agent, but he has just 10 sacks in 89 career games.

Gerald Rivers, Josh Watson and Chuka Ndulue will all find it tough to make the roster. Unless one of them stands out and has an exceptional training camp, they will all likely see their names on the list of roster cuts before the season starts.

Inside Linebacker

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Starters: Danny Trevathan, Brandon Marshall

Second String: Lamin Barrow, Todd Davis

Third String: Reggie Walker, Corey Nelson

Fourth String: Steven Johnson, Danny Mason

There is going to be a great competition at the inside linebacker position once training camp begins in Denver. The Broncos have brought in players like Reggie Walker and Danny Mason to compete with the young crop of players who were with the team last season.

With that said, the health of Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall will be the key to the success of the inside linebacker position throughout the season.

Trevathan missed much of the 2014 season because of several knee injuries, and Marshall had offseason foot surgery following a career year in relief of Trevathan.

Prior to last season, Marshall had just four career tackles to his credit. He racked up 113 tackles, two sacks and one interception in 2014, and one could argue that he was the most valuable player on defense.

If these two players are healthy, the Broncos have an excellent combination at the inside linebacker position. Marshall is an excellent tackler, and Trevathan can make plays in pass coverage. However, if one or both players are unable to bounce back, the Broncos have an intriguing group of young players behind them.

Lamin Barrow and Todd Davis both showed flashes of being productive while filling in last season. Both players could be key rotational players in 2015.

Walker and Mason will be locked in a battle to make the team with second-year player Corey Nelson and veteran Steven Johnson.

Making plays on special teams will be important for those players, and Johnson has proved he can do that in the past. Nelson looked better than Barrow at times last season, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him make the team and get more playing time than Barrow this season.

Many of these linebackers could be battling for roster spots all the way into the final preseason game.

Outside Linebacker

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Starters: Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware

Second String: Shane Ray, Kenny Anunike

Third String: Lerentee McCray, Shaquil Barrett

Fourth String: Chase Vaughn, Zaire Anderson

As the season approaches, one of the most exciting things about this year's team will be the prospect of having Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Shane Ray take the field at once. The thought of that likely has teams that are scheduled to play the Broncos scrambling for ways to combat it.

Miller and Ware will combine to be one of the better pass-rushing combinations in the league. Beyond that, the Broncos have a guy who can step right in and be just as good in Ray. 

There will be an interesting battle in camp between Kenny Anunike, Shaquil Barrett and Lerentee McCray. The Broncos probably want to find a way to keep all of them with the team, but there may be room for only one or two on the final roster.

Anunike may have found himself on the roster a year ago, but an elbow injury in the final preseason game put an end to those hopes. Expect to see him come out hungry to prove himself and earn that roster spot this year.

That could pit McCray and Barrett against each other for one roster spot. Barrett is the better pass-rusher of the two, which could give him the edge.

Chase Vaughn and Zaire Anderson are players who will add depth throughout camp, but they face long odds of making the team.

Cornerback

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Starters: Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib

Nickelback: Bradley Roby

Second String: Kayvon Webster, Tony Carter

Third String: Lorenzo Doss, Taurean Nixon

Fourth String: Tevrin Brandon, Curtis Marsh

How good is Chris Harris Jr.? Though the NFL never lists Harris among names like Richard Sherman, Darrelle Revis and Patrick Peterson, it should. Harris has been one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league for the last two seasons, and he will be one of the leaders of the Broncos defense in 2015.

Across from him is Aqib Talib—who, despite a terrible showing in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts last January, is still a great option.

Still, the Broncos will try to get second-year cornerback Bradley Roby on the field as much as possible. That could also mean some snaps at free safety for Roby.

The player to watch is rookie Lorenzo Doss, whom the team selected in the fifth round of the draft. If Doss can stick with receivers at the pro level and learn Phillips' defense, he has the ball skills to become a productive cornerback in the NFL.

Veteran Tony Carter could become a training-camp casualty if Doss progresses well through the offseason.

The team will likely give Taurean Nixon, Doss' teammate at Tulane, a shot to return punts and kicks during camp. Unless he clearly sets himself apart from the rest of the field at that spot, he will likely earn a place on the practice squad.

Tevrin Brandon and Curtis Marsh are two players you can expect the team to cut at some point before the season starts.

Brandon attended Monmouth University and went undrafted coming out of college. He signed a futures contract with the Broncos in January. In May, he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Belmar, New Jersey.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Marsh in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft, but he has just 14 tackles and two passes defensed in his career. In addition to the Eagles, Marsh spent a brief amount of time with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Safety

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Starters: T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart

Second String: David Bruton, Josh Bush

Third String: Omar Bolden, Josh Furman

The starting safeties for the Broncos are not in doubt, at least not at the moment. T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart should open the season at strong safety and free safety, respectively.

Stewart, a free-agent signing from the Baltimore Ravens, is a player the Broncos seem to have a strong belief in. Stewart was the only free agent the Broncos brought in to play safety, and the team chose not to use a high draft pick to bolster the depth at the position.

That means Stewart will have to be up to the challenge, as the depth behind him is thin. David Bruton has been around for a while, but his play on special teams—not defense—is the reason for that.

Ward provides a physical presence in the secondary, and the team could ask him to come up and play the role of linebacker in certain situations. The Broncos and Ward will have to be wary of matchups against tight ends, as Ward struggled in that area last season.

Omar Bolden was able to deliver some lengthy kickoff returns toward the end of 2014, but if he isn't able to win the returner job in camp this year, he may be looking for work elsewhere.

The wild card is Josh Furman. A seventh-round selection out of Oklahoma State, Furman is another big, physical player (6'2", 202 lbs) who could probably line up at either safety position, thanks to his athleticism. He gives the Broncos more options at the position.

If Furman has a strong camp, he has a legitimate shot to make the final 53-man roster. If he exceeds expectations, the Broncos may have found a steal in the draft and a solid replacement for Stewart, should he struggle.

Of this group, fans should expect to see the team cut Bolden and Josh Bush before the end of training camp.