These Broncos players have been put on notice following 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL Draft is now behind us and the Denver Broncos have added eight new draft picks to the roster, along with, at the time of this writing, 14 undrafted free agents. Looking at the way the roster shapes up following the draft, some players may not be feeling so comfortable in their current roles.
The Broncos came into this draft needing to shore up the depth at running back, inside linebacker, tight end and defensive line. There was also talk that the team would look for a developmental prospect at offensive tackle. The front seemed to hear all of that and follow suit as players were drafted at all of those positions.
It went without saying that if the Broncos added to those positions, the current depth players on the roster would be fighting for their roster spots this summer. Now that it has become a reality in some of those cases, these players will be firmly on the roster bubble once training camp begins in July.
Matt Peart took a $1.5 million deduction in pay this offseason to remain with the team, or he would have already been cut. But that didn't secure his job; it may have only prolonged it.
Peart was drafted as an offensive tackle, but the Broncos shifted him to guard last year after Ben Powers went down for several weeks with a torn biceps. In his first start, Peart suffered a knee injury and didn't play again all season. Alex Palczewski came on in relief and was not only better, but he earned himself a contract extension.
Following the fourth-round selection of Boise State offensive tackle Kage Casey, Peart will have a difficult time making the roster this year if you look at the numbers. The Broncos will likely keep eight or nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster.
Let's say they go with nine. Garett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey, Luke Wattenberg, Powers and Quinn Meinerz are the starters. Frank Crum, Palczewski and Casey will all make the team. That would leave one spot for Peart to have to win from the likes of Alex Forsyth and Nick Gargiulo.
With the selections of Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley, the Broncos could go from a weak tight end group to a really good one.
Evan Engram is going to be the starting tight end and Adam Trautman, a favorite of Sean Payton. will likely be around at least one more season. Nate Adkins is a better football player than Lucas Krull as he is the best blocking tight end on the roster.
Krull could easily be the odd man out despite being re-signed this offseason and last year's draft project, Caleb Lohner, will likely be cut or placed on the practice squad for another season unless he's grown by leaps and bounds by the time the season begins.
The Broncos used their fourth-round pick to select Washington running back Jonah Coleman.
Coleman has been described as a bowling ball and has been compared to Maurice Jones-Drew. That was the element that was missing from the team's rushing attack last year after J.K. Dobbins went down with a foot injury. Now, the trio of Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Coleman gives Payton exactly what he wants in a three-headed backfield.
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It also leaves Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLuaghlin on the outside looking in. Both players signed new contracts this offseason, but one of them will almost certainly be gone when the team forms its final 53-man roster. Cody Schrader and Deuce Vaughn are also on the team, so it's a crowded backfield. However, the top three options are clear and obvious.
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