Takeaways From Sean Payton's First Official Broncos Depth Chart
The Denver Broncos are gearing up for the season opener vs. the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Amid preparations, the Broncos released their first official depth chart of the Sean Payton era.
Let's examine, starting with the offense, and then I'll share my takeaways on the newsworthy revelations.
Offense
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, Jarett Stidham
Running Back
Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin
Fullback
Michael Burton
Wide Receiver X
Courtland Sutton, Brandon Johnson
Wide Receiver Z
Jerry Jeudy, Marvin Mims Jr.
Tight End
Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Chris Manhertz, Nate Adkins
Left Tackle
Garett Bolles, Cam Fleming
Left Guard
Ben Powers, Quinn Bailey
Center
Lloyd Cushenberry III, Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth
Right Guard
Quinn Meinerz, Quinn Bailey
Right Tackle
Mike McGlinchey, Cam Fleming
Denver Broncos
Defense
Defensive End
Zach Allen, Elijah Garcia
Nose Tackle
D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell
Defensive End
Jonathan Harris, Matt Henningsen
Strongside Linebacker
Jonathon Cooper, Frank Clark
Weakside Linebacker
Randy Gregory, Nik Bonitto, Thomas Incoom
Inside Linebacker
Josey Jewell, Justin Strnad
Inside Linebacker
Alex Singleton, Drew Sanders
Left Cornerback
Patrick Surtain II, Ja'Quan McMillian, Fabian Moreau
Right Cornerback
Damarri Mathis, Riley Moss, Tremon Smith
Nickel Cornerback
Essang Bassey
Right Safety
Kareem Jackson or Caden Sterns, JL Skinner
Left Safety
Justin Simmons, Delarrin Turner-Yell
Special Teams
Placekicker/Kickoffs
Will Lutz
Punter
Riley Dixon
Long-Snapper
Mitchell Fraboni
Kick Returner
Marvin Mims Jr., Jaleel McLaughlin
Punt Returner
Marvin Mims Jr., Tremon Smith
Takeaways
There's not much to write home about on the offensive side, although it is interesting to see that the Broncos will rely on Bailey — a former tackle — to serve as the primary swing guard. Fleming serves as the swing tackle.
Trautman maintained his supremacy atop the tight end depth chart, but when it all comes out in the wash, it'll be interesting to see whether he or Dulcich ends up with the most snaps this season.
On defense, the most newsworthy revelation is that Cooper beat out the Pro Bowl veteran Clark for the starting rush linebacker job opposite of Gregory. That's a testament to how far Cooper seems to have come in his Year 3 development. He's impressed Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
It seems that McMillian will be the first boundary cornerback onto the field in the event of an injury befalling Surtain or Mathis because even though Moss is listed as the primary backup on the right side, the rookie third-rounder missed training camp and the preseason, and exactly when he'll be fully healthy to play is up in the air.
For some strange reason, the Broncos continue to insist on Jackson sharing his starting role with Sterns. Whatever. We'll know which safety truly takes precedent when the first-team unit takes the field on Sunday.
On special teams, the Broncos are rolling the dice on the rookie Mims as the primary returner. I don't doubt his ability to return kicks or punts, but with how thin the Broncos are at wide receiver until Jeudy gets fully healthy, risking Mims to the predations of the return game is a bit of a gamble.
I guess we know why Smith made the roster. He's the last cornerback on the depth chart and not the No. 1 returner. It's that $2.5 million guarantee he got from the Broncos this past spring.
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