Denver Post Broncos writer Parker Gabriel posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season and periodically during the offseason. Click here to submit a question.
What letter grade would you assign this current Broncos roster? And where would this roster rank among AFC West opponents? And in your opinion, is this current Broncos preseason roster more talented than last year’s squad? And for better or worse, what’s the difference?
— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.
Hey Ed, timely questions and thanks for getting us going this week. Timely, of course, because the Broncos are just getting rolling in training camp.
This isn’t going to be the most satisfying set of answers, but it’s a little early for the measuring stick just yet. At the outset of camp, I think overall I’d say there’s plenty of reason to be skeptical about the overall talent level of the roster. This is one of the best parts of training camp, though. We get a few days to watch OTAs and minicamp, but being out there nearly every day for the next couple of weeks and watching how the work progresses is always instructive. You don’t get all the answers, but you learn a lot. My baseline at the moment is that I’m not convinced about the overall talent level, but given the number of unknowns and what is a pretty big group of young players who should be in a big part of their development arcs, I think there’s more room for that opinion to change in the next few weeks than a year ago.
Is it the worst in the AFC West? Third-best? Let’s give that a few weeks of camp and see what we think closer to the start of the regular season.
I have a hard time saying that this year’s roster is more talented than last year at this point. Again, that could change. It also doesn’t mean that the team couldn’t end up being better overall. But consider the list of key players who departed this offseason: WR Jerry Jeudy, S Justin Simmons, C Lloyd Cushenberry, QB Russell Wilson and ILB Josey Jewell. Do we know as of late July that their replacements are better? The guys who will be tasked with replacing them might in some cases perform just as well or might fit what Denver wants to do more cleanly. But on talent alone we’re talking net loss, I think.
However, when you ask about change, after quarterbacks the biggest change on the roster might be the defensive line. And that group should be better by leaps and bounds this fall. John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach and Angelo Blackson each could have easily started last year depending on the situation. They should be upgrades themselves and they should also create more freedom and favorable matchups for Zach Allen and D.J. Jones.
Parker, if Bo Nix wins the starting QB job in training camp and during the preseason do you think the Broncos could get any trade value for whichever QB loses the backup competition between Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson? Or do you think Payton will keep all three quarterbacks?
— Robert Johnson, Kilmichael, Miss.
Yeah, that’s a great question, Robert. It’s possible, though not guaranteed. Much of that at any position is about what happens on the injury front around the league. Typically, there’s not a rash of QB injuries in the preseason, though stranger things have happened.
The way the practice squad rules have been changed, it’s hard to imagine many teams will keep three quarterbacks on the roster. Only eight did at the outset last year and there’s less incentive now. So you’re probably talking about a scenario where a team is convinced that Stidham or Wilson steps in squarely as their No. 2 and is easily the best option. Then you’re betting that you have to trade for that player rather than hoping Denver will waive one and you can put in a claim.
There’s a long way to go, obviously, but I’d be surprised if A) all three made the team and also B) the odd man out has much trade value. Sneaking one onto the practice squad seems more likely — it’s not like Wilson had a big trade market despite the low acquisition cost and the Jets’ willingness to eat half his $5.5 million salary — but we’re a long way from late August.
Parker, enjoy your coverage. You are the current Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. There have been several good Broncos reporters through the years. How does this impact your coverage today? Pressure to live up to previous reporting? Trying to find a new angle? How can you make yourself unique?
— David Brown, Silverthorne
Hey Davis, thanks for the kind words. And for sure, the history of Broncos beat reporters at The Post is impressive. That doesn’t create pressure to me, though. You just try to do the best job you can and do it in your own way. We’ve kept a lot of the stuff that previous beat writers here have done and we’ve created some new stuff, too. You’re always kind of trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t work as well and what readers want. Then go from there. It’s cool that each person has their own style, their own particular interests, strengths, etc., and that the coverage even on a beat that is so competitive and so inundated can kind of follow those.
Hey with training camp coming up soon, what’s the biggest position battle you see (outside of quarterback, of course)? I feel like it’s at center. Is it Luke Wattenberg who finally takes a step forward this year? Is it someone who’s not even on the roster yet?
— Mike, Denver
Indeed, Mike, center is a good one. Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth is a good battle and veteran Sam Mustipher is in there, too. There are all kinds of interesting battles — for wide receiver spots behind the top three or four, for work in the running back rotation, inside linebacker next to Alex Singleton, corner opposite Pat Surtain II, etc. That’s before you start down the road of special teams roles and who lands the final spots on the roster. Settle in, there’s going to be a lot of roster chewing to do over the next four-plus weeks.
In your opinion, is Pat Surtain II getting a contract extension this year?
— Marvin K., Westminster
Hey Marvin, good question. The next few weeks are the most interesting in terms of Pat Watch. The Broncos haven’t done an in-season extension since Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton in 2021, though neither that nor Denver’s Week 14 bye week necessarily preclude a deal from happening during the regular season. Payton wasn’t interested in talking about the likelihood earlier this week, saying, “That’s one of those answers, that, like, we’ll get to it when we want to.” If he meant talking to reporters, well, OK. Fair enough. But if he’s talking about actually having the conversations, it would seem that the sooner they want to do it the better. The price isn’t going to come down at all considering Surtain is 24 years old, he’s a two-time All-Pro and he’s already guaranteed $18 million plus for 2025.
All of that combined with Surtain’s top-shelf play and the fact that these weeks are prime time for getting extensions done makes it a natural window. Doesn’t make it a guarantee by any stretch, but it would make sense.
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