The Denver Broncos report for training camp this week, and there will be plenty of training camp position battles to watch for. Specifically, there are three position battles that can have a profound impact on how the Broncos season plays out.
Denver Broncos training camp position battles to watch for
The Denver Broncos feature more youth than they’ve had in recent years as training camp begins this week. Eight players on the roster are at least 30 years old, 48 players are in the age bracket of 29-25, and 31 players are between the ages of 24 and 20. With a significant youth movement impacting this team, it makes these upcoming position battles even more intriguing to watch.
Broncos QB Battle: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson
There is a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding the Denver Broncos’ first-round rookie draft pick, Bo Nix. Taken 12th overall out of Oregon, Nix is in line to become Sean Payton’s hopeful pick as the team’s next franchise quarterback.
He’ll compete with Jarrett Stidham, who started two games for the Broncos last season. Stidham is entering the final year of his deal but is firmly in the mix to compete with Nix for the starting job. Both QBs looked sharp during Denver’s OTAs, and their battle will continue as the team takes the field this week to start camp.
Zach Wilson is also involved in the competition. He didn’t have the sharpest OTA showcase but was fresh in the process of learning a new offensive system after spending the first few years of his career with the New York Jets. He’ll look to string together several good passes during camp to stay in the mix of the QB battle.
Will Nix and Stidham continue to be the leaders in the clubhouse, or will Wilson re-emerge and throw his name back into the mix?
Cornerback battle comes under the microscope
Patrick Surtain II is the Denver Broncos undisputed starter at cornerback, and that’s not even in question. Who starts opposite him is one of the more intriguing storylines for camp.
In the mix for the job are Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis, Ja’Quan McMillian, Tremon Smith, Art Green, Levi Wallace, and Kris Abrams-Draine. Moss and Mathis return to the mix after being involved in last year’s CB2 competition, but injuries interfered with the progression of that battle in camp last season. They’ll be joined by the players listed above.
McMillian is coming off of an impressive 2023 campaign and a strong offseason showing during OTAs, which could land him as a potential favorite for the job to start the regular season. Despite his established production in the nickel, he could be valuable to the Broncos on the outside in their base 3-4 package, and still have the ability to slide to the nickel when they go into that personnel grouping.
Smith’s a veteran in the NFL but doesn’t have a lot of starting experience, with only five career starts in 83 games over the course of the last six seasons. His impact on special teams is big for Denver, and he’ll have stiff competition from Mathis, Moss, McMillian, Wallace, Green, and Abrams-Draine for a spot in the defensive rotation.
Green is an under-the-radar name to watch for Broncos Country, and his stock is rising after an impressive showing during OTAs. He made more plays on the football in OTAs than he did during camp last year and looked comfortable getting more looks by Jim Leonhard.
Wallace’s veteran experience can’t be ignored. With over 70 career starts, he could provide the team with a boost in the secondary. Both he and Abrams-Draine worked inside the slot and on the outside during OTAs and will also be firmly in the mix.
All signs point to the Broncos coaching staff being comfortable with the depth they have at the position and having security in whoever wins the job during camp.
Denver Broncos wide receiver depth comes into question
Going into practice this week, the Denver Broncos overall depth at wide receiver is in a good spot, especially with their top four. Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, and Josh Reynolds appear to be the team’s established group of four — with the biggest question about the position surrounding how many receivers they may plan on carrying.
Jalen Virgil, Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, David Sills V, Michael Bandy, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Phillip Dorsett, and Brandon Johnson are all looking to win the fifth and potential sixth spot on the depth chart at the position.
One of the key factors going into determining the potential final two spots of this position battle revolve around special teams, particularly in the return game. Players like Virgil, Bandy, Vele, and Dorsett could appear in this potential role alongside Mims. Players like Franklin, Sills, Johnson, and Humphrey could also factor into the return game as blockers to help set up the return.
Whichever two players emerge and produce consistently during camp will likely win this job, if in fact Denver keeps six players at the position.
