Denver Broncos: 5 Most Crucial Training Camp Position Battles to Watch

The Denver Broncos are set to begin training camp on July 31st. During camp, the Broncos will try to find the best 53-man roster possible.

They have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and the pressure is on as time in their Super Bowl window is winding down. So long as Peyton Manning is their quarterback, Denver has to be considered a championship contender. Manning may only play another year or two, so the Broncos need to find a way to get over that hump in the postseason.

There are several positions up for grabs in camp. The team had a ton of upheaval on their roster after last season, losing key players in free agency or to injury.

Here are the five most crucial training camp position battles to watch.

Ben Garland vs. Shelley Smith

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Four of the five starters on the offensive line will be different from the end of last season, so most of the position battles to watch will come up front. The first offensive line competition to feature is the battle between Ben Garland and Shelley Smith for the left guard position.

Garland received all the first-team reps at left guard during minicamp and OTAs. He’s learning the new system, and Garland is still picking up the nuances of the position as he’s only been playing guard for a couple of years.

Right now, the converted defensive lineman has to be considered the front-runner at the position.

There’s a chance that Garland looks even better than he did earlier this offseason when the pads come on. Garland’s game is built on power and aggression, and training camp will be the perfect time for him to cement himself in the starting lineup.

Smith was a free-agent addition by the Broncos earlier this year. Coming out of Colorado State in 2010, the Gary Kubiak-led Houston Texans picked up Smith in the sixth round of the draft, and he’s bounced around to two other teams before coming to the Mile High City. Smith has plenty of experience in the zone-blocking system, and he would likely be a capable starter if he wins the job.

Gino Gradkowski vs. Matt Paradis

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The Broncos let last year’s starting center Will Montgomery follow John Fox and Adam Gase to the Chicago Bears in free agency. The team has to find a new starter in the middle of the line, and the two main competitors for that job are Gino Gradkowski and Matt Paradis.

Gradkowski was added by the Broncos earlier this year via trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The Broncos sent the Ravens a 2016 fourth-round pick in exchange for Gradkowski and a 2016 fifth-round pick.

Gradkowski started every game for the Ravens in 2013, but he was replaced as the starter and barely played in 2014. Kubiak (as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator) must have liked what he saw from Gradkowski during practice last year, and the third-year pro looks to be in the driver’s seat for the starting job.

Paradis came out of Boise State as a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft. The Broncos added him with the idea that he would be a developmental player and perhaps future starter. Paradis failed to make the final roster, but the team decided to keep him around on the practice squad for the entire 2014 season.

While Paradis doesn’t have Gradkowski’s experience as a starter, he is arguably more athletic and just as strong. Gradkowski wants to prove that he can be an effective starter in the NFL, but Paradis is not going to disappear without a fight.

Vance Walker vs. Malik Jackson

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Broncos fans should notice a big difference on the defensive side of the ball this year. The team should have a more aggressive defense under new coordinator Wade Phillips, and the defensive line is going to have a lot of pressure to perform in the new 3-4 look.

Derek Wolfe at defensive end and Sylvester Williams at defensive tackle should be starters, but the other starting job at end is going to be fought for during training camp. Malik Jackson and Vance Walker will be competing for the starting spot at defensive end.

Walker was acquired by the Broncos in free agency earlier this year. Originally a seventh-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2009, Walker bounced around to a few other teams—including both division rivals the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs—before signing with Denver.

His strength is notable, and Walker knows how to set the edge as a run defender. However, he’s not just a guy who will regularly keep containment on the outside. Walker does a good job of anticipating the snap and has good closing burst to the quarterback.

Jackson plays with an ever-present chip on his shoulder, and he just keeps getting better each year. His game is all about hustle and intimidation. Jackson refuses to be outworked on the field, and he plays aggressively to the echo of the whistle on every play. His angry playing style is a good thing, but it can lead to a personal foul penalty here and there.

Walker has the starting experience, so right now he likely has the edge over Jackson.

Chris Clark vs. Ryan Harris

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The final offensive line battle to highlight is the competition at right tackle. This is going to be a battle between two players with a ton of experience in Chris Clark and Ryan Harris.

Clark began the 2014 season as the starting right tackle, but he was eventually pulled from the lineup due to poor play. He’s getting a fresh start this year, and the move to a zone-blocking system works in his favor.

Harris was originally a 2007 third-round pick for the Broncos. He was once thought of as a bookend franchise tackle opposite Ryan Clady, but Harris has bounced around the league—including a second (and now third) stint with the Broncos during his time as the pro. Harris knows the zone-blocking system like the back of his hand, and he's athletic, smart and capable of providing quality protection on the right side.

A player perhaps not in this competition is 2014 third-round pick Michael Schofield. Right now, it looks like Schofield is going to compete to be the team’s swing tackle (Clark’s old role) in 2015.

C.J. Anderson vs. Montee Ball

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Broncos have a ton of talent at the running back position—and that’s nothing but a good thing in the Gary Kubiak offense. This team is going to have a balanced offense, and the rushing attack is going to be featured early and often. We’ll watch in training camp as C.J. Anderson and Montee Ball compete for the right to be the top back in Denver’s running back-friendly offense.

An undrafted free agent in 2013, Anderson has worked hard and patiently waited for his opportunity in the pros. After Ball and Ronnie Hillman were lost to injury last year, Anderson got his chance to start and never looked back.

Over the final six weeks of the regular season, Anderson led the league in rushing and finished third in all-purpose yards behind only New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. Anderson proved he could be an every-down starter and shine with a brighter spotlight on him. This year, Anderson is out to prove that last year's performance was no joke.

Ball was supposed to be the featured running back of the future when the team added him in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He spent his rookie season as a backup behind Knowshon Moreno, but last year he began the season as the team’s starter. Ball was not at full strength due to an appendectomy he underwent during training camp, and he struggled to produce as the lead back. A groin injury later in the year ended up knocking him out for the rest of the season.

Now, Ball is back at full strength and ready to compete for the job he once had. He’s the backup behind Anderson at this time, but this competition could be the fiercest of any position battle at Dove Valley during August.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.