Broncos' Persisting Roster Holes Worth Worrying Over
The Denver Broncos had several roster holes heading into the 2023 NFL draft. Emerging from the draft, the Broncos managed to plug a handful of spots and fortify some positions of strength.
However, with only five total draft picks, Denver couldn’t patch up every position of need and will go into the 2023 season with questions on offense and defense. Three units, in particular, could’ve used an injection of young talent but were either ignored in the war room or had resources added that don't inspire much hope.
Which units should give Broncos Country the most cause for concern?
Defensive Line/Edge
In free agency, the Broncos let defensive end Dre’Mont Jones walk into the laps of the Seattle Seahawks. Jones was the leading sack artist for the Broncos last season and was replaced by Zach Allen from the Arizona Cardinals.
Allen isn’t necessarily an upgrade but should help fill the void that Jones left. However, aside from Allen, Denver's D-line talent isn't exactly a list of superstars. Behind Allen are two 2022 draft picks — Matt Henningsen and Eyioma Uwazurike — that are rotational pieces as of right now. Either player would have to take a giant leap in development to make a significant impact. Jonathan Harris has a few years in the league but only has 38 total tackles and a big goose egg in the sack department.
As for edge rushers, Denver boasts a room full of injury cases and disappointments. 2022 free-agent signing Randy Gregory predictably missed a lot of time with an injury and was suspended for one game after a scuffle with a Los Angeles Rams tackle. Gregory needs to turn things around this coming season, or he could become one of the Broncos' biggest free-agent blunders in recent memory.
Baron Browning showed more flashes as a pure edge rusher but also missed time. Nik Bonitto has disappointed as a 2022 second-round pick, although expectations weren’t all that high. Bonitto wasn’t expected to set the league on fire, but for a second-round selection, you want to see more.
Jonathon Cooper has proved to be a rotational guy, and Jacob Martin is an expensive camp body who could be cut sooner than later.
Running Back
Samaje Perine was an excellent pick-up for a Javonte Willaims-less backfield. While Perine's hard-nosed running and efficiency in the passing game are welcome, no one behind him inspires much confidence.
Tony Jones Jr. will be a relative unknown as he has only rushed 67 times in his career thus far. He played under Sean Payton in New Orleans, so there must be some plan for him, right?
Jaques Patrick played for the XFL's San Antonio Brahmas and totaled 443 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He will attend the Broncos rookie minicamp—an interesting player but hard to pencil him in if he’s not on the team.
Speculation on Williams' return from his nasty knee injury has varied from expectations of being ready by the opener to making no appearance in 2023. Seeing how Denver’s running back stable pans out will be interesting.
Center
The one position on this list that the Broncos used draft capital to strengthen is center. The only problem is that it was No. 257 overall, the third to last selection in the draft. Not that Alex Forsyth can’t eventually become a starter, but there’s a reason he was two picks away from falling out of the draft entirely.
He has decent size as an offensive lineman but lacks any explosion as an athlete and is known for committing pre-snap penalties. Unfortunately, Forsyth is a long shot to dethrone the underwhelming Lloyd Cushenberry III.
Cushenberry's lack of strength has seen him get put on his backside often throughout his short career. Broncos Country has dubbed him Lloyd 'Squishenberry' as a result. The rest of the starting offensive line is secure, but pressure up the middle could throw a wrench into everything.
As the offseason rolls on, questions will be asked about whether Denver finally did enough to make a real push for the playoffs. Only time will tell whether the holes left on the roster will slow the Broncos down or risk sinking the ship entirely.
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