The Denver Broncos are making moves to welcome their newest talent. On Friday, the team released two players to free up roster spots for their incoming class of undrafted free agents.
The Broncos had agreements with 14 undrafted free agents (UDFAs), which put them four players over the NFL's 90-man offseason roster limit. They got a slight reprieve by designating Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw as their international player, which exempts him from the roster count. However, not every UDFA deal went through—Charlotte wide receiver Sean Brown failed his physical due to a foot injury and did not sign, according to the Denver Post's Luca Evans. That left the team needing to clear two spots, leading to the cuts of outside linebacker Garrett Nelson and offensive tackle Marques Cox.
Nelson, standing at 6-4 and 245 pounds, joined the Broncos for training camp last summer but didn't make the final 53-man roster. He bounced between the practice squad twice during the regular season and signed a reserve/future contract after Denver's playoff exit. Cox, a 6-5, 312-pound tackle, originally arrived as an undrafted free agent from Kentucky in 2025. He spent part of his rookie season on Denver's practice squad before a stint with the Arizona Cardinals, then returned to the Broncos on a reserve/future deal in January.
With these moves, Denver is now at the 90-man roster limit (excluding Crawshaw) as they head into rookie minicamp from May 8-10. But the roster shuffle might not be over. At least 28 rookies and four veterans are trying out at the camp, and if any of them impress enough to earn a contract, the Broncos will need to cut more players. The team could also consider re-signing Nelson or Cox after evaluating the rookie talent this weekend.
Looking ahead, the Broncos' offseason schedule includes organized team activities (OTAs) in early June, followed by a mandatory minicamp in mid-June before a summer break. For fans gearing up for the new season, this is a time of hope and change—and maybe a reason to refresh your Broncos gear.