5 Denver Broncos on Roster Bubble After NFL Draft
The Denver Broncos added quite a bit of quality talent to their roster during the 2016 NFL draft. During the selection process, the Broncos added eight players to their roster—each one with a varying degree of upside. They were able to find a potential franchise quarterback, a future pass-rusher, a three-down back in waiting plus more.
Rookie minicamp started at the end of last week, and the new crop of talent has been strutting its stuff out at UCHealth Training Center.
Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak wants to teach the rookies what it means to be a part of one of the league’s best organizations.
“I just kind of want them to know what it is to be a Bronco," Kubiak said. "We’re going to throw a lot at them [in practice], but I just hope they get a feel for being around this building, understanding how we want them to go about their business, dealing with you guys, understanding who they are in this town when they’re working.”
With more players in place, there will be some players who get pushed off the roster. The NFL is called “Not For Long” for a reason, and every year, most players have to fight to prove their values for a spot on the 53-man roster.
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 to prove what you can do for players on the roster bubble.
Here are five Broncos veterans now on the roster bubble following the draft.
Britton Colquitt
1 of 5
When a team drafts a punter—even later in the draft—it can be seen as a sign of change at the position. With their final pick in the draft, the Broncos selected punter Riley Dixon out of Syracuse.
The seventh-round pick is a directional punter with attitude. During his college career, the Orange relied on Dixon to carry out play fakes and run the ball to move the chains. The former high school quarterback also isn’t afraid of contact and will not hesitate to tackle an opponent after the kick.
The addition of Dixon puts veteran punter Britton Colquitt on notice. Colquitt has struggled over the last two seasons, but he did play better during the postseason on the way to a Super Bowl 50 championship. In terms of annual average salary, Colquitt is the highest-paid punter in the league with an average of just under $4 million in salary per year.
Dixon knows that he and Colquitt are going to battle in camp, and he’s ready for the challenge.
“I’ve always looked up to Britton as a punter these last couple of years," Dixon said. "I’ve watched as much film on him [as I could]. He’s an amazing punter, and he’s looking to do the same thing I always do: keep kicking footballs and let the rest handle itself.”
The Broncos drafted Dixon for a reason. His directional punting could be what puts him over the top in the competition at punter. Colquitt’s big cap number also works against the veteran, as he’s set to make $4 million in 2016, but there’s only $750,000 remaining in dead money. The Broncos could choose Dixon over Colquitt and free up $3.25 million in cap space. That may be the direction they go before the start of the regular season.
Michael Schofield
2 of 5
The Broncos have made several moves this offseason to bolster the quality of talent up front on the offensive line, and they added to the talent in the 2016 NFL draft. They began the process in free agency by adding two new starting tackles in veterans Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung. The move to add these tackles will likely transport 2015 second-round pick Ty Sambrailo inside to guard. It also moved last year’s starting right tackle Michael Schofield to a backup role.
The overhaul of the offensive line continued in the 2016 NFL draft when the Broncos selected Connor McGovern out of Missouri in the fifth round. McGovern has the versatility to play outside at tackle, but his likely home in the NFL is inside at guard. His presence means more competition for potential starting guards like Sambrailo and another second-year player, Max Garcia.
Starting center Matt Paradis believes the experience Sambrailo and Garcia gained last year will come in handy as they enter this season.
“That will be huge," Paradis said. "Those guys—Max, they’re not calling him a starter, but that’s how we viewed him last year. He was a starter in our eyes. Ty, before his injury, was a starter. Those guys got a lot of snaps under their belt and have a head start on that cohesion.”
Schofield being on the hot seat isn’t all about the pick of McGovern. It’s about all the moves collectively the Broncos have done to improve their play up front. If he doesn’t perform well as a swing tackle, the team could decide to move on from the 2014 third-round pick.
Kayvon Webster
3 of 5
Defense is the name of the game in Denver, and the Broncos spent two picks in the secondary during the 2016 NFL draft. In the third round, they added free safety Justin Simmons out of Boston College. Later on, they added Will Parks out of Arizona in the sixth round of the draft.
Simmons is listed as a free safety, but his rangy and sure-tackling skill set could tempt the Broncos to play him as a sub-package corner. Parks is also a versatile player who can line up at free safety, strong safety or even as a dime cornerback.
The secondary is talented—and cramped—with these two players added. There’s a chance that 2013 third-round pick Kayvon Webster could be on the hot seat.
Strong safety T.J. Ward is excited about the secondary prospects the Broncos picked up in the draft.
“When I heard about the guys that we picked up, I definitely saw what type of players they were and what type of people they are," Ward said. "I think we’ve got two good guys. They’re going to contribute a lot to us.”
Webster has not panned out as a cornerback, although he does get on the field as a sub-package player. He lacks the versatility to play safety, but Webster does show up on special teams. Will special teams ability be enough for Webster to keep his job if these rookies in the secondary (plus some second-year players) look better on defense? Only time will tell.
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Jordan Norwood
4 of 5
The Broncos are one of the better teams out there when it comes to finding talent from the college free agents left over after the draft. For years, this team has been able to find quality depth players—and even some stars—from the ranks of the undrafted.
When looking over the list of college free agents added this year, wide receiver Bralon Addison is a player who stands out. Addison made big plays for the Oregon Ducks in college, and he’s a dangerous player with the ball in his hands as a runner, receiver or return man. He knows how to find the soft spot in a zone, and Addison does a good job of creating his own space as an open-field runner.
Addison has already caught the eye of Kubiak.
“He kind of played everywhere," Kubiak said. "[He] made a lot of plays with the ball. Really good after the catch. I think he’s one of the players that may have to be gone for a few weeks because of the graduation situation. Hopefully we can get a lot of ground caught up this weekend before he comes back I think in a few weeks.”
If Addison makes a strong impression in camp, his ability as a return man could push veteran Jordan Norwood off the final roster. Norwood, an undrafted free agent (2009) out of Penn State, has been fighting for his roster spot each year he’s been in the league. This competition is nothing new to the veteran, but a speedster like Addison may be too much for the veteran to handle.
One could also easily make the argument that Addison can do more as a reserve receiver than Norwood. Addison is also a former high school quarterback, and he could be used on a trick play here or there. That extra bit of help could propel Addison onto the team’s final roster—and cost Norwood his job.
Juwan Thompson
5 of 5
It’s been an interesting offseason for the Broncos backfield. Restricted free agent C.J. Anderson signed an offer sheet with the Miami Dolphins, but the Broncos decided to match the offer so Anderson could be their lead back. Unrestricted free agent Ronnie Hillman didn’t get much interest on the open market, and he ended up re-signing with the Broncos on a one-year contract.
In addition to free agency, the Broncos added talent to the backfield in the 2016 NFL draft. This is the talent that could end up pushing Juwan Thompson off the 53-man roster.
In the fourth round of the draft, they may have gotten a steal by selecting running back Devontae Booker out of Utah. A second-round talent, Booker fell in the draft over a meniscus injury that required two surgeries to repair. On the field, Booker is a patient and determined runner with plenty of power. He’s also a fantastic receiver out of the backfield as evidenced by his 80 catches in two years with the Utes.
In the sixth round of the draft, the team added Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich. He’s a battering ram as a blocker, plus Janovich can convert short-yardage situations as a runner. The Kubiak offense needs a fullback, and the position was sorely missed last year as they carried nobody at that position.
On my radio show, The Football Insider on 104.3 The Fan in Denver, I regularly call Anderson the smartest running back in the league. Booker told me he’s going to do everything he can to learn the pro game from Anderson.
“Absolutely," Booker said. "He’s been here for a couple of years already. Just learning from the guys that have been here before me. It will be something good for me to learn. It will just be a learning curve from me to learn from all of the other running backs that [are here]. Just picking up everything.”
Anderson is the starter, and Hillman might be the primary backup to begin the season. However, it may not take Booker long to leapfrog the speedy change-of-pace back when the season starts. Add in the fullback position, and the Broncos are likely to only carry three running backs. That leaves Thompson on the outside looking in.
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.
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