Broncos 2023 roster projections: Who returns to build around Russell Wilson? (2024)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With one loss over their final six games, the Broncos will assure themselves a sixth straight losing season. Denver didn’t expect to enter another offseason pondering how to dig out of a last-place hole, but that is likely where this franchise will find itself when dust settles on a massively disappointing 2022 season.

The question now becomes how do the Broncos begin repairing this mess? How do they avoid another disaster in 2023? While decisions about coaching staffs and even front-office positions could be a part of the offseason calculus, the place we can start now is the current roster. Among active-roster players and those currently on injured reserve, here is a player-by-player breakdown of the roster separated into four projected groups: those who will assuredly be a part of the team in 2023, those likely to return, those whose status is up in the air and those who are unlikely to be back.

(Note: Players denoted with an asterisk are impending free agents; those in italics are on injured reserve. Salary cap numbers come from Over The Cap.)

Part of the 2023 foundation

Russell Wilson, QB

Wilson has started 10 games with the Broncos, and there are already being questions raised about how and when Denver could theoretically wiggle out of the five-year, $245 million contract the veteran signed with the team in September. The short answer is that for reasons financial and otherwise it is highly unlikely a divorce occurs before the 2023 season. Wilson will play a second season with the Broncos, and everything Denver does this offseason needs to center on creating a system in which Wilson can thrive as a complementary piece, not the centerpiece.

Javonte Williams, RB

Williams suffered a significant knee injury in Week 4 that will make a Week 1 return in 2023 a difficult goal to reach, but he’ll be in the mix at some point next season. Even if it takes time for Williams to regain the form that made him one of the NFL’s most exciting offensive rookies in 2021, his return will be significant for an offense that has sorely missed his ability in the run game.

Garett Bolles, LT

Out since suffering a broken leg in Week 5, Bolles has no guaranteed money remaining on the final two years of the contract extension he signed in 2020. But the last thing the Broncos need to do is create another hole to fill on an offensive line that needs to be upgraded in multiple spots this offseason.

Quinn Meinerz, RG

Meinerz, who will be entering the third year of his rookie contract, has been arguably Denver’s most consistent (and available) offensive lineman since taking over at right guard for veteran Graham Glasgow midway through the 2021 season.

Courtland Sutton, WR

For all the struggles Denver’s offense has had — including a midseason lull for Sutton — he has 52 catches for 688 yards through 11 games, putting him above or near career-best pace in both categories. He should benefit greatly from the return of Tim Patrick, another big-bodied receiver who can draw some of the extra attention from defenses that has been thrown Sutton’s way.

Tim Patrick, WR

Oh, how the Broncos have missed Patrick. The toughness, the physicality, the locker room presence, the ability to block and create mismatches out of the slot. The hope is Patrick will be ready for training camp in 2023, and his return can’t come soon enough.

Greg Dulcich, TE

Since his blistering start during his first three NFL games, teams have thrown more attention Dulcich’s way and have limited him to seven catches for 52 yards in his past three contests. Still, Dulcich appears to be Denver’s unquestioned top tight end moving forward, and the Broncos should work over the season’s final six games to build his confidence as a playmaker.

Luke Wattenberg, C

Wattenberg was thrown into the fire during his first offensive action at center in Week 10 against the Titans and understandably struggled. But coaches and teammates have lauded the rookie’s work ethic and his grasp of the offense. An offseason of strength gains could give him a chance to compete for the starting center position in 2023.

D.J. Jones, DL

The free-agent run-stopper who signed with the Broncos last offseason has been as good as advertised. Denver improving on the edge of the defensive front could give Jones, who already has a career-high four quarterback hits, more opportunities to rush the passer.

Randy Gregory, OLB

Gregory suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against the Raiders had has not played since. It’s hardly what the Broncos had in mind when they signed the former Cowboys pass rusher to a five-year, $70 million contract in March. Without Gregory or Bradley Chubb (traded Nov. 1) on the field for the past three games, the Broncos have produced just two sacks. Denver needs Gregory to be productive and available consistently in 2023, or else the signing by general manager George Paton will go down as a massive swing and miss.

Nik Bonitto, OLB

When Paton traded Chubb to the Dolphins, he cited Denver’s young pass rush depth as a reason he felt comfortable trading the team’s most accomplished edge rusher for a first-round pick. The Broncos would love to see Bonitto, the rookie second-round pick out of Oklahoma, take a leap while making the most out of the significant opportunities he will get in the final six games.

Baron Browning, OLB

Injuries have hampered Browning in the second half of each of the last two seasons, but he has unique traits as an edge rusher, and the Broncos will want to see how he can build on some encouraging moments during his first season at that position.

Jacob Martin, OLB

The Broncos acquired Martin on the same day they traded Chubb — in a separate deal — with an eye on providing pass-rush depth this season and beyond. He has two years left on his current deal with cap figures of $5 million (2023) and $3.5 million (2024).

Josey Jewell, ILB

Jewell has made the two-year, $11 million deal he signed with the Broncos in the offseason look like a smart investment to this point. He missed four games early in the season due to injury, but in just seven starts he has produced 68 tackles, a career-high 2 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for loss.

Pat Surtain II, CB

Mini slump over the past two games aside, Surtain has established himself as one of the game’s best young cornerbacks. The Broncos can work on a long-term deal for the 2021 first-round pick after next season.

Damarri Mathis, CB

The rookie fourth-round pick has been granted a lengthy audition by way of the season-ending injury to starter Ronald Darby, and the staff has been impressed by his week-by-week progress. Mathis will have a chance to cement himself as a starter during the offseason, though the Broncos should certainly create competition for that spot.

K’Waun Williams, DB

Williams, who sealed the Broncos’ win in London with an interception, has been a smash-hit signing for Denver’s defense. The unit has a different element when the veteran’s physical style is occupying the nickel spot.

Justin Simmons, S

It has been a trying season for Simmons, who landed on injured reserve at the start of the season for the first time in his career because of a quad injury and also missed Denver’s Week 10 loss to Tennessee with a knee sprain. But he remains a pivotal leader on Denver’s defense and has two years remaining on the contract extension he signed ahead of the 2021 season.

Caden Sterns, S
Delarrin Turner-Yell, S

Sterns, a 2021 fifth-round pick, needs to demonstrate that he can remain healthy, but he has shown glimpses of starter-level potential during his two seasons in the league. Turner-Yell has made a significant impact on special teams as a rookie, including a fumble recovery on a punt coverage play in Sunday’s 23-10 loss to the Panthers.

Likely back

Chase Edmonds, RB

Edmonds was having a rough 2022 even before being traded to the Broncos from Miami on Nov. 1. Then, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in his second game with Denver. Edmonds is slated for a $6 million cap figure next season and Denver would incur no dead-money charge by waiving or trading him, so there will likely be a restructure involved if he does return in 2023. But the Broncos probably want to take a closer look at the running back who was part of the package they got back when trading Bradley Chubb.

Jerry Jeudy, WR
Kendall Hinton, WR
Montrell Washington, WR

The Broncos will have until next spring to decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Jeudy’s rookie contract. At a projected cost of $12.1 million, that doesn’t seem likely. Jeudy’s injury issues over the past two years will give the Broncos pause. Also, there was interest in Jeudy ahead of the trade deadline this season. Do the Broncos field offers in the offseason in order to gain more needed draft capital and then go younger at the position?

The Broncos can bring Hinton back in 2023 for a cap figure just under $1 million. He would once again be competing for a spot in training camp, just like he has the previous two seasons, but why would the Broncos not want the overachieving, undrafted player to not be a part of their offseason program?

Washington needs to demonstrate more consistency as a returner over the season’s final six games.

Lloyd Cushenberry, C

Cushenberry has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and the Broncos probably have too many other holes on the offensive line to move on early from a player who has already started 40 games at center in the NFL. But expect Cushenberry to face another battle for the starting job at center, just like he did, to varying degrees, during his first three NFL training camps.

Eyioma Uwazurike, DL
Matt Heningsen, DL

It is too early to write the names of these rookie draft picks onto the Week 1 2023 roster in Sharpie, but both young defensive linemen have shown progress the past few weeks and should get more opportunities to see the field down the stretch.

Jonathon Cooper, OLB

The seventh-round pick in 2021 has been a solid depth contributor during his first two NFL seasons, starting nine of the 24 games he’s played while tallying 62 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks. He has two years left on his rookie deal, and as the Broncos fit together a trickier financial puzzle around Wilson, cost-effective depth pieces with experience will be an important part of the equation.

Brandon McManus, K

The struggles McManus has had with long kicks — 6-of-23 on attempts of 55-plus yards since 2016 — should mean the Broncos bring in competition for the veteran in the offseason.

On the fence

Brett Rypien*, QB: Rypien has been in the organization since joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and has made two starts, most recently in Week 7 this season against the Jets, but expect Denver to search for a potential upgrade at the backup spot.

Damarea Crockett*, RB

Crockett was having a strong start to training camp before suffering an ACL tear in August. He is an exclusive rights free agent, so Denver could bring him back at minimal cost and give him a chance to compete for a roster spot if he’s healthy by the start of camp.

Eric Saubert*, TE
Andrew Beck*, TE/FB

Saubert has had a career-best receiving season (10 catches, 111 yards and one touchdown), contributes frequently on special teams and is beloved in Denver’s tight end room, but he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent and could have options.

KJ Hamler, WR
Jalen Virgil, WR

Hamler experienced a setback with his latest hamstring injury this week, which could threaten the rest of his third NFL season. If Hamler doesn’t see the field again in 2023, he’ll have played in only 10 games while recording 12 catches across the past two seasons. Hamler will enter the final year of his rookie deal next season and carries just a $2.2 million cap hit, so there is no significant financial incentive to move on early. The bigger question is whether the Broncos can plan around Hamler being healthy.

Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said WR KJ Hamler had a “setback” in his return from a hamstring injury suffered ahead of Week 10. Asked whether it will threaten the rest of Hamler’s season, Hackett said they are still evaluating.

— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) December 1, 2022

Virgil has elite speed, but he’ll need to showcase improvement as a well-rounded receiver during the stretch run of the season. Expect Virgil to be in training camp next year. Whether he makes the roster from there could depend on what other moves the Broncos make at the position.

Cameron Fleming*, OT
Calvin Anderson*, OT

Fleming has been solid while starting nine of Denver’s 11 games this season, and perhaps the Broncos view him as a veteran swing tackle option in 2023, but they will search for other options first.

Anderson was buried on the tackle depth chart behind Bolles, Fleming and Billy Turner to start the season, but injuries to the latter two players pushed him into the starting lineup in Week 8. He has six games left to auction for the Broncos and 31 other teams ahead of free agency.

Dalton Risner*, OG

The Broncos did not approach the fourth-year guard about an extension during the bye week — he called that “a tough pill to swallow” in a recent radio interview — so he’s set to hit unrestricted free agency after the season. Risner has been a durable figure at left guard. He’s the only Broncos offensive lineman who’s played every snap this season. He should have a market in free agency, but can the Broncos fit a new contract for Risner into a crowded financial picture?

Dre’Mont Jones*, DL

Asked in early November whether he wanted to be with the Broncos into the future, Jones responded: “I’m here now.” Translation: The 25-year-old with 5 1/2 sacks in 11 starts this season will be exploring his free-agency options. Broncos general manager George Paton has said he wants Jones with the Broncos “for a long time,” and Denver has the franchise tag at its disposal as a way to ensure Jones remains with the franchise for at least 2023. But a fifth year for Jones in a Broncos uniform shouldn’t be viewed as a foregone conclusion at this point.

Mike Purcell, DL
DeShawn Williams*, DL
Jonathan Harris, DL

Purcell has had a strong season and has fit in well alongside D.J. Jones. He has played in all 11 of Denver’s games after frequently dealing with injuries the previous two seasons. Still, Purcell turns 32 in April and the Broncos would save $3.5 million against the cap by moving on from him after the season, so those factors will be worth monitoring.

Aaron Patrick, OLB
Christopher Allen, OLB

Patrick was one of the Broncos’ top special teams contributors before suffering a season-ending knee injury on the sideline at SoFi Stadium in Week 6 against the Chargers. Allen never saw the field this season before landing on IR, stemming from an injury he suffered during his final college season at Alabama, but the Broncos figure to take a look at the young prospect during the offseason program.

Jonas Griffith*, ILB
Alex Singleton*, ILB
Justin Strnad, ILB

Singleton has been one of the surprises of the season for the Broncos. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said this week the soon-to-be 29-year-old has a reaction to plays that is “better than anyone I’ve been around.” Denver is probably wishing it had added an extra year to the one-year deal it gave Singleton in the offseason. As it is, he will be an unrestricted free agent while Griffith, who landed on IR in Week 11, will be an exclusive rights free agent.

Ronald Darby, CB
Essang Bassey*, CB
Michael Ojemudia, CB

Darby was playing well for the Broncos this season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear against the Colts in Week 5. By the end of this season, he will have missed 18 of a possible 34 games since signing with Denver as a free agent ahead of the 2021 season. The Broncos would save $10 million against the cap — with a $3 million dead-money hit — by waiving or trading Darby in the offseason. If he returns, it will almost certainly be on a restructured deal.

Ojemudia, a 2020 third-round pick, has one year left on his rookie contract, but he’s hardly seen the field in 2022.

Kareem Jackson*, S
P.J. Locke, S

The 34-year-old Jackson has returned to the Broncos on one-year deals as a free agent each of the past two offseason. In the meantime, Denver has used three draft picks the past two years on safety — one of those, Jamar Johnson, is no longer with the team — as they prepare for a future without Jackson. It would not be surprising if that future began in 2023, but a return also can’t be ruled out.

Locke’s productivity on special teams and as a reliable veteran reserve player at multiple spots could entice the Broncos to bring him back on a one-year deal.

Likely out

Latavius Murray*, RB
Marlon Mack*, RB
Mike Boone*, RB

Murray has done an admirable job moving into a starting role after being signed off the Saints’ practice squad in Week 5, but the Broncos have Williams and Edmonds under contract for 2023 and will likely be looking for additional help in the draft. Boone has rarely seen the field in two disappointing seasons since signing with the Broncos as a free agent in 2021.

Albert Okwuegbunam, TE
Eric Tomlinson*, TE

Okwuegbunam, the 2020 fourth-round pick, entered the offseason believing he would have a chance to replace Noah Fant as Denver’s top receiving tight end. Instead, Okwuegbunam has seven catches for 50 yards and has been a healthy scratch for the past six games. Okwuegbunam still has one year left on his rookie contract, but it appears a fresh start would be best for both sides.

Billy Turner*, OT
Quinn Bailey*, OT
Tom Compton*, OT

The 31-year-old Turner played in only four games this season before suffering a knee injury that will likely end his season. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Expect the Broncos to look elsewhere as they seek an upgrade at right tackle. Compton, who had back surgery shortly after signing with the Broncos in free agency, did not play in any of Denver’s first 11 games.

Graham Glasgow, OG

The versatile veteran has started games at guard and center for the Broncos this season, but there is no guaranteed salary left on his contract after this season and the Broncos would save $11 million against the cap by cutting him before June 1 of next year. If Glasgow does return, it would almost certainly have to be on a restricted deal like the one he agreed to with the Broncos this past offseason.

Dakota Allen, ILB

An in-season signing, Allen suffered a hamstring injury during his first game with the Broncos on Sunday, likely souring his chance at a meaningful audition down the stretch.

Darius Phillips, CB

Phillips, who joined the Broncos just before the start of the season, has played only six defensive snaps and has dealt with various injuries.

Anthony Harris, S

The eighth-year veteran, signed by Denver after early season injuries to Simmons and Sterns, has been limited to special teams work during his three appearances this season.

Jacob Bobenmoyer*, LS
Mitchell Frabroni*, LS

The Broncos figure to hold numerous tryouts for a new long snapper in the offseason. It’s not out of the question that Bobenmoyer could be back in that role, but there will be a search for other options.

(Top photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)