5 VETERAN PLAYERS WHO WON'T MAKE THE BRONCOS' WEEK 1 ROSTER IN 2024

Even though the perception of the Denver Broncos roster in 2024 has not been overly favorable, it's still going to be a tough team to crack. The Broncos have reset over the last two years with Sean Payton coming in as head coach and cleaning house, especially in the 2024 offseason with the releasing of veterans like quarterback Russell Wilson and safety Justin Simmons.

Ruthless wouldn't be the right word, but brutally honest might be. Payton has taken inventory and he's establishing his own vision and direction for the team. Which veteran players will be part of that vision with so many new players entering the fray?

Let's take a look at some veterans who may not be making the Broncos' Week 1 roster in 2024.

5 veterans who won't make the Denver Broncos roster in 2024

1. Jarrett Stidham/Zach Wilson, QB

At this point, it's fair to wonder whether or not the Broncos are going to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster in 2024. What reason would they have for doing so? The ideal scenario for the Broncos in 2024 might look something like this...

Bo Nix comes out in training camp and the preseason and looks like an absolute stud. The Broncos are able to name him the starter early on and feel confident that they can compete this season with Nix at the helm.

On top of Nix playing well, the Broncos' ideal scenario would involve both Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson showing out in training camp/preseason games. Why would that be ideal? Beyond just having guys play well and show progress, the team would likely be able to flip one of Stidham or Wilson for draft compensation in a trade from some team in need of a starter or some team in need of an upgrade in the QB2 spot.

It's just difficult to see a path to keeping three quarterbacks while also having the best possible roster elsewhere. It's not out of the question, by any means, but if the Broncos can open the season confidently with just two QBs on the 53-man roster, that's the ideal scenario.

2. Samaje Perine, running back

Samaje Perine is going to be a very interesting player to watch over the remainder of the offseason. He's not only the oldest running back on the team (28, will be 29 in September) but he's also the most expensive with a $4.5 million cap hit this season. It may not seem like much, but the Broncos could save $3 million by cutting Perine (or trading him) before the start of the season, and the rest of the players at this position group could make them inclined to do so.

The Broncos are hopeful for a rebound year from starter Javonte Williams. They have plans to get Jaleel McLaughlin more involved heading into his second season. They also had a third-round grade on rookie Audric Estimé, a big-bodied back who was a yards-after-contact machine at Notre Dame. They also gave a hefty guarantee to UDFA Blake Watson out of Memphis. Tyler Badie is looming on the back end of the roster as well.

It's not difficult to see a path to the team moving on from Perine, as valuable as he was last year as a receiver in two-minute situations.

3. Lil'Jordan Humphrey, wide receiver

One of the benefits Lil'Jordan Humphrey had last year in his pursuit of a roster spot in Denver was the injury to Tim Patrick. Hopefully, he doesn't have that same luxury in 2024.

Humphrey has a decent shot at being the 6th receiver on this team, but it's also not difficult to see other guys taking his roster spot. As solid as Humphrey has been for Sean Payton, he also started off last season on the practice squad and was shuttled up a few times. I could see a similar situation in 2024 with the Broncos keeping someone like Jalen Virgil or Devaughn Vele on the 53-man roster instead.

4. Matt Peart, offensive tackle

The Broncos signed former Giants third-round pick Matt Peart to a free agent contract in 2024, and that move has flown under the radar, to say the least.

Peart has a legitimate chance to come in and be the Broncos' top swing tackle option, or he could potentially miss out on making the roster altogether. He signed for less than $400,000 in guaranteed money on his one-year deal, leaving minimal dead cap penalty if the Broncos decide he's not going to make this team.

The players who could be standing in his way include a host of former UDFAs like Alex Palczewski and Demontrey Jacobs, two second-year players the Broncos are high on, as well as rookie Frank Crum, a talented player out of Wyoming. Add in the fact that veteran Calvin Throckmorton also has tackle experience, and Peart's chances of making this team seem slim.

5. Levi Wallace, cornerback

The Denver Broncos were forced into a really tough situation last year when they suffered a couple of early training camp injuries at cornerback and had to sign veteran Fabian Moreau. Moreau not only ended up making the roster, but coming in and starting a bunch of games for this team last season.

The Broncos are obviously hoping that they can get better contributions out of their young players at the position this year, players they have drafted who should be able to beat out a guy whose one-year deal doesn't include even $700,000 guaranteed.

It's time for players like Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis, and Kris Abrams-Draine to prove they can help this team opposite Pat Surtain II. Ja'Quan McMillian should be in the lineup whether he's playing inside or outside, but if Levi Wallace is playing substantial snaps this season, it means the Broncos felt they couldn't rely on guys they have had high NFL Draft grades on in the last three draft classes.

This article was originally published on predominantlyorange.com as 5 veteran players who won't make the Broncos' Week 1 roster in 2024.

2024-07-05T14:11:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd