The Denver Broncos have fallen off of the map since winning Super Bowl 50. The team has gone a combined 11-21 over the past two seasons. The Broncos finished third in the AFC West last season. However, with the Oakland Raiders adding major pieces during the offseason, the Broncos could end up in the basement of the division.
The team has no shot at the postseason this year, let alone the Super Bowl. Make no mistake, this is a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff. That puts some veterans and draft picks from the previous regime on the hot seat.
I picked players who I think will be cut by the Broncos. I focused more on the veteran players because I could easily pick three undrafted free agent signees.
That would be too easy though, so I picked names fans will be familiar with.
3. Jake Butt, TE
I loved watching Butt when he was at Michigan and I thought he'd be one of the best players from the 2017 draft class. Unfortunately, Butt tore his ACL during the Orange Bowl in his senior season. It was the second time he'd torn an ACL.
Because of the severity and timing of the injury, Butt plummeted down the draft. He was originally projected as a first round pick but Denver got him in the fifth round.
Butt missed all of 2017 and played in just three games last season. His season was cut short by yet another ACL tear. As great of a player as Butt is when he's healthy, the Broncos are poised to move on from him. At this point, his injuries trump his upside and letting go of a former fifth round selection won't hurt Denver long-term.
The Broncos recently selected Iowa tight end, Noah Fant, in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Fant stands at 6-4 and weighs 249 lbs. In comparison, Butt is 6-6, 250 lbs. Fant is more athletic though while Butt is more technical. The Broncos also have fourth-year tight end Jeff Heuerman and rookie fifth round pick Troy Fumagalli on the roster. Fumagalli is 6-6 and weighs 248 lbs.
Butt could still make the roster if he was competing with just those three tight ends. However, the Broncos also have undrafted free agent, Austin Fort. While Butt has much more upside, none of that matters if he can't stay healthy. We also don't know how he'll look coming off of a third torn ACL.
Fort presents a known factor while Butt is a question mark at this point.
2. Shamarko Thomas, S
Thomas was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He didn't pan out in the Steel City.
Thomas started two games as a rookie and hasn't made a start in the NFL since. After four years with Pittsburgh, Thomas spent a season in Buffalo before joining the Broncos last year.
The Broncos currently have seven safeties under contract. Free agent signee, Kareem Jackson also spent time at safety for the Houston Texans last season. It seems likely that he'll stay at his traditional cornerback position in Denver though. That still leaves the team with plenty of options, most of whom are younger than Thomas.
I'm willing to bet on younger players like Jamal Carter and Dymonte Thomas securing spots alongside veterans like Will Parks and Justin Simmons.
Thomas hasn't done enough to maintain a spot on Denver's roster.
1. Kevin Hogan, QB
The cards are stacked against Hogan. The former Cleveland Brown will inevitably find himself looking for a new job by the end of training camp.
This offseason, the Broncos added four quarterbacks, including Hogan. They traded for Joe Flacco, who will be the team's starter for at least the season opener. Then, Denver drafted Drew Lock in the second round and signed undrafted free agent, Brett Rypien.
Flacco and Lock aren't going anywhere. Hogan's best chance to make the roster is to beat out Rypien. However, Rypien played well as a four-year starter at Boise St. I'd argue he performed better in college than Hogan did. Rypien also has the added benefit of being a rookie with a chip on his shoulder.
Considering how Rypien has played in the past, I think he'll force the Broncos to say goodbye to Hogan. Rypien isn't out of the woods either. Some teams don't even keep three quarterbacks after all.
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