Predicting Each Broncos LB's Odds of Making the Roster

Every NFL team has those players that are guaranteed to make the roster. They're the easiest ones to project onto the 53-man roster, and even a team that went 5-12 the year before, like the Denver Broncos, has them.

Getting to the linebackers, the Broncos' unit is better than given credit for. However, Denver's linebackers still have room for improvement.

The Broncos' projected starters have their issues and concerns on the field, and while they have a rookie garnering a fair amount of hype, he still has to show it on the field. This is a good unit that needs to step up and show more in 2023.

As I break down the Broncos' inside linebackers, players will be placed into three tiers based on their chances of making the roster. Here's a quick explanation of the three tiers that reflect the different percentage ranges that each player will fall into.

Let's examine each player's roster outlook.

Tier 1: 70-100%

Alex Singleton | Josey Jewell | Drew Sanders

A lot is invested here with Singleton's extension, the third-round pick on Sanders, and this being the final year of Jewell's extension. With the Broncos' investment, the unit needs to take a step up.

During the 2022 season, Jewell and Singleton were a solid duo, but they had their issues. Jewell has had problems staying on the field at times, and while it is more of the fault of the play-call, he's been pulled out to cover the slot more often than he should have been.

Singleton flies around the field and is so quick when defending the run. His issues are in coverage, where he struggles to stay in phase and doesn't have the traits to work effectively outside the middle zones. Opposing teams used that to exploit Singleton in coverage as he allowed the second-most catches and second-highest completion percentage among Broncos defenders targeted more than 10 times last year.

Sanders, meanwhile, is where the unit can take its next step forward. He has a good skill set to be a versatile piece; it is just a matter of putting it all together and executing it on the field.

It will be interesting to see the role Sanders plays for the Broncos' defense and if he can potentially win a starting job. However, at this time, the path to a starting position seems to be through injury or a possible trade involving Jewell.

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Tier 2: 40-69%

Jonas Griffith

Griffith was disappointing last season with his chances to be a starter, but dealing with injuries didn't help. He had his flashes on defense, which makes it worth still trying to develop him.

On top of that, Griffith is a good special teams player, and the Broncos can't turn their nose up at third-phase help. He almost landed in the first tier, and the only reason he didn't is because of the coaching staff change.

READ: Broncos Roster Prediction: Revealing Each OT's Odds of Making it

Tier 3: 0-39%

Justin Strnad | Ray Wilborn | Seth Benson

It doesn't seem likely the Broncos keep more than four linebackers on their 53-man roster, so all three of these players have a lower chance of making it. They will have to overcome Griffith or see a Jewell trade to increase their chances of making it.

Each has a shot to stick on the practice squad, so they're battling among themselves for a spot. Special teams play a significant role in deciding the final spot at linebacker, and all three of them can contribute there.

The Takeaway

The Broncos' linebackers position is set with the top three, barring a surprise trade of Jewell. Even after the top three, there is some distance between Griffith and the rest.

This is probably the easiest position to project for the 53-man roster unless injuries occur.

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