Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - TOO EARLY: Denver Broncos Post-Draft Roster Projection Features More Spots Up For Grabs

Starting point is 00:00:00 Unlike last year, the 2026 Denver Broncos might have more roster spots up for grabs. You are locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What's up, Broncos Country? I'm Cody Roar. joined as always by Sarah Bedinger. On today's episode of the show, we're going to be predicting the Broncos roster going into 2026.

Starting point is 00:00:30 And as we teased in the cold open, there might be more spots up for grabs than the team had. season. We'll dive through all of that. We'll look at special teams. We'll also take a look at maybe why there might be more rookies primed to contribute early compared to last season's group of guys. But more importantly, we're going to go through and break down everything on this roster on the offensive side of the ball, including predicting how many players we think they'll keep at every position. Sarah, let's get into it first and foremost. Let's start off here at quarterback. Now, for the Broncos, this has been a position for the last couple of years. They've fluctuated between two and three players. They've rotated different guys on the practice. squad when it comes to the 53 man roster, if we're predicting things way too early ahead of time, how do you see this one going out? I've got them keeping two. Where do you stand on this one? I've got them keeping two as well, Cody, Bow Nix and Jared Stidham. And I think you utilize the ability to shuffle up a practice squad player for free, essentially every game with Sam Ellinger, right? And I think that ultimately, you know, we'll see him come up to the 53 as injuries occur. The Broncos like to get him up there and get him those, you know, regular season, 53 man roster

Starting point is 00:01:38 game checks and all those sorts of things. So that type of stuff, they'll take care of Sam the way that they did last year. But when you're assembling a 53 man roster at the end of August, the beginning of September, I think it's, you know, because he's not subject to waivers. That might be something that people are questioning there is, well, why would you let other teams have a shot of him? Well, because he's a veteran, he's not subject to waivers. So the Broncos can just cut him, bring him back the very next day. And ultimately, you know, he doesn't lose his locker or anything like that. So you utilize the advantages that you have in that way to quarterbacks with the depth of

Starting point is 00:02:12 this roster everywhere else, Cody, you have to go that direction in my opinion. Yeah, I feel like this is the year too, especially with some of the new emerging players, some of the rookies they added, you may need an additional roster spot at another position that you don't necessarily need to allocate towards a guy, you know, is going to be a game day and active, though he'll be an emergency designation guy, regardless if he's on the practice squad or the active roster. So I think that's where you look at maximizing your roster and very much so, how does that impact running back?

Starting point is 00:02:40 Now, I think for Denver, running back will be very interesting considering the fact that Denver last year they kept four. One of those guys remained a game day and active is this year where maybe they keep three, in your opinion, three running backs in totality. I'm curious for your thoughts on this one because I could see it, J.K. RJ, Jonah Coleman, And right now, considering other positions on this team going through this whole exercise last night, I couldn't justify keeping a fourth running back, kind of going with the practice squad route in that regard. 100%. I think that's the direction the Broncos should go. And I ultimately think it's the direction they will go because Adam Prentice played well enough last year, Cody, to get brought back as well. So you got to kind of factor in the fullback position there. And as, you know, that could be your fourth, you know, quote unquote running back. Right. So I think.

Starting point is 00:03:29 think with the three running backs on the 53, it makes so much sense. Those guys will all have defined roles. They'll all be active on game days. They'll all be playing. And I think that, you know, you can find ways to keep a couple of backs on the practice squad, not to diminish what Jolil McLaughlin and Tyler Badegh, I've contributed the past couple years, but you kind of just get the sense that somebody like that or maybe even to somebody's like that could be hoarded on the practice squad for whenever you need those

Starting point is 00:03:58 guys. running backs make it there all the time. So that's where I think we're going to see the Broncos keep some of their running back depth is on the practice squad because once again, you're really cutting it tight around the roster elsewhere. So unless somebody goes out in the preseason and just absolutely balls out, I think that we're going to see those three running backs and then Prentice the fullback. Well, I would even say, too, you have flexibility here with Prentice because he's also a veteran.

Starting point is 00:04:23 I mean, you could almost kind of have this handshake agreement and say, hey, look, we need to manage our numbers at other positions. We're going to wait. We're going to release you. We're going to bring you right back on the practice squad. First three weeks of the regular season, we're going to elevate you to the active roster. And then we'll find a spot for you after the fact there. That way, maybe Denver could keep a guy or sneak a guy through that maybe they don't feel like, well, clear waivers.

Starting point is 00:04:45 They don't, you know, necessarily have to worry about that with a guy like Prentice. So that's maybe like a little bit of a wild card I would project to keep an eye at. Wide receiver. I'm kind of going with a theme of one of my favorite burger joints, man. Five guys. five guys here at this position. Cortland Sutton, the new shiny edition of Jalen Wattle,

Starting point is 00:05:02 Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, and Pat Bryant. When I talk about those guys as the five wide receivers for this team, I get excited about it because I feel like there's so much talent across the board amongst all of those guys

Starting point is 00:05:13 that it excites me to see what they could do for the Broncos offense. Could make the argument if the Broncos wanted to keep a little Jordan Humphrey. But Sarah, at this point, I mean, with those guys that we talked about, is that in the cards, in your opinion?

Starting point is 00:05:25 You know, I think that he's got a chance, but ultimately he's in a similar boat as Sam Ellinger, Adam Prentice, right? Because he's a veteran. So you can cut him back to the practice squad, elevate him to the game day roster for the first few weeks if you want to. And so I think that that's a possibility. But I feel like since Sean Payton became the head coach of the Broncos, Cody, I feel like I've been trying to make fetch happen with projecting six or more wide receivers on this roster. And I'm like, okay, well, they've got so many guys that would be nice to keep. or that even make a lot of sense to keep or this guy can contribute as a return man when ultimately Sean Payton just continually keeps five receivers. So maybe this offseason, we'll spend all our time

Starting point is 00:06:06 projecting five receivers to make it. And then this will be the year that Sean keeps a sixth guy. So you just never know. But ultimately, I think one of the spots that could be one here, Cody, and maybe why you might keep a sixth player is the return game because we don't know exactly what that's going to look like for Marvin Mims. I hope that question gets asked this offseason of like, hey, is that still part of the way that you're going to utilize him after what went down last year with multiple concussions? So somebody could steal a roster spot as a kickoff returner.

Starting point is 00:06:37 And I don't know exactly who that's going to be. I know right now the Broncos have undrafted free agent Colby Katzis, who is a kickoff returner. And I think Cam Ross, another undrafted player, has some kickoff return experience. So those guys might be some. to watch out for in that particular category. I'll ask Darren Rizzi if we get a chance to talk to him this week at Broncos rookie

Starting point is 00:06:59 minicamp. I'll bring up and factor that into the equation for kick return, considering the tweak to the kick return rule going into this upcoming season. No, I like that. Let's get into a tight end here. A tight end is always interesting because, okay, we know Adam Troutman's going to make it. We know Evan Ingram's going to make it. So how does the room of Dallon Bentley, Justin Jolie, Nate Adkins, Lucas Kroll,

Starting point is 00:07:20 how does that all maybe change or even Caleb Loner, factor the equation. To me, Sarah, I think they keep four. And I think we do see a little bit of a prototype of a sense where you got a guy who could play the Trotman role and you got a guy who play the Evan Ingram role. That's where Dallan Bentley and Justin Jolie come in. Though I think maybe going to seventh rounders, an unpopular move in the eyes of so many. But I think that that's why the Broncos double dipped this year because maybe they're thinking that way versus the other guys who once again, I imagine maybe Lucas Kroll and will be on the practice squad. Maybe Kayla Loner will be on the practice squad. But at this point, them double dipping seems to indicate to me that, hey,

Starting point is 00:07:56 we're looking at revamping this room. Yeah, a little bit of fresh blood coming into the tight end position, which based on last year is a good thing. I mean, like I pointed out, I put together an article for this on predominantly orange. And one of the things that I was thinking about, because it would be a tough situation, I think, for Sean Payton to cut Nate Adkins, who's been such an important part for his offense over the past couple of years. But the Broncos got to kind of get a glimpse last year of life without Nate Adkins. And I think Justin Jolie can do a lot of those things. You know, he may not necessarily be the, I guess, special teams ace or whatever. I don't know how you want to classify what Adkins brings to the table in that regard. But the Broncos playing a lot of

Starting point is 00:08:38 last season without Nate certainly leads to the idea that, hey, we know what life is like without him. So we don't necessarily have to have him at this point. I think that's a situation to watch for, because between Bentley and Adkins, obviously they're two very different kinds of players, but I'm pretty positive Justin Jolie is going to make this team, Cody, even as a fifth round pick. The question is whether or not Bentley can fend off the other guys. And I think that the Broncos are going to buy his potential more than anything else. But I also think he's going to ball out in the preseason. So I'm with you.

Starting point is 00:09:10 I think those four guys at tight end make the most sense. Well, let's now go to the trenches where, hey, the games are won and lost in the trenches. The Broncos are returning the same starting offensive line for Bo Nix. this upcoming season. Obviously, there's not going to be a surprise as there as we predict the roster, but the guys behind the starters, Garrett Bulls, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Miners, Mike McGlinchie. We're looking at guys like Alex Paucheschi who signed what was it a two-year deal this offseason. Frank Crum, who emerged in a little bit of a bigger role this past season and became a little bit of a fan favorite. Alex Forsyth, who proved he could step in and start at center

Starting point is 00:09:44 in the event of an injury. He's done that two years in a row now for the Broncos. and then you go in you get Cage Casey in this year's NFL draft. I mean, I don't think that he's going to be hitting the practice squad. I think he'll be on the active roster himself too. So nine players here on the offensive line. That sounds right to me. I mean, the only question marks would be, I suppose you have some other players who like Matt Pert came back on a reduced

Starting point is 00:10:07 contract this past year. Do the Broncos want to keep him? What about Nick Garjulo, you know, who was in line to potentially be the backup left guard last season before the injury? Does he come back healthy and looking good? I think in any event, it would mean that you keep a 10th offensive lineman as opposed to swapping any of the other guys that we've mentioned out. Because Cody, to me, those top nine guys, I mean, you might as well set that in stone.

Starting point is 00:10:31 Like those guys are going to be on this team barring something completely shocking happening this offseason. All right. Braco's country, let's know your thoughts here on a projected offensive side of the ball here for the Broncos roster in 2026. Coming up next, we're going to talk about the defense and look at which players, how many players are to stay on the defensive line edge, corner safety, linebacker, you name it, we got it here on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. Today's episode is brought to you by our friends over there at Fandu. The NBA playoffs, they're ongoing as the second round has begun.

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Starting point is 00:11:36 which makes the whole experience a lot more informed. So make sure you head to Fanduu.com to get started. Fandu, play your game. As we go through a way too early roster prediction for the Denver Broncos, more rookies might be making this team than expected. And I think primarily we're looking at the defensive side of the ball here. So Broncos Country, we're going to tell you which rookies we think might be surprising additions to this year's roster on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos.

Starting point is 00:12:01 But Broncos Country, we appreciate you so much. Thanks for rocking with us and tuning in every single day for all you every dayers out there if you haven't already done. So Cody and I want to invite you to check out the Every Day or Club. You're going to get access to the Discord where you can just talk Broncos all offseason with other members of Broncos country. You get an ad-free episode of the show as we ramp up closer and closer to training camp and Broncos off-season activities going on.

Starting point is 00:12:25 Definitely want to check that out. Link will be in the show notes, locked on Broncos. Dot supercast.com. Cody, let's talk about maybe more rookies making the team than expected. It starts in the trenches on the defensive line where Broncos spent their top pick in this year's draft on Tyler O'Neadem, defensive lineman out of Texas A&M, who they really, I think, believe he can contribute it at not. just say make the team capacity this year, but essentially, I mean, Sean Peyton said he's in the

Starting point is 00:12:51 mix to fill the void left behind by John Franklin Myers. And I don't think there's going to be any surprises here on the defensive line roster. I think right now we view it as one of the strengths of the team, though I think the biggest question was replacing JFM. They're looking to maybe supplement that production with more than just one guy. If Tyler O'Neadem can come in and get that experience right away and all of a sudden thrive in this type of defense, we might have some fun conversations coming up this season. But, no, Tyler O'Neum, obviously, Zach Allen's going to be returning, leading the way, DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach, Injoma Uwazer, Riquet, and Savian Jones.

Starting point is 00:13:26 I mean, there's other guys in the mix as well, like Jordan Jackson, but I feel like Denver will keep six on the defensive line, very similar to how they did last season, and then having that flexibility with guys on the practice squad. This is the problem, Sarah, that you run into when you have so much roster continuity, when you have so many of the same guys, 71 of the 73 players before the, the draft that were on this team that were on this team last year in capacity of either being on the active roster or the practice squad. This is what makes things very difficult when you look at some of the turnover around the

Starting point is 00:13:55 rest of the National Football League. The Broncos simply don't have that right now. So that's why I think six here on the defensive line. Yeah, I completely agree. I think that's what they went with last year. And we saw Savion Jones was pretty frequently inactive, but I don't necessarily expect that to be the case this year. I think as much as we are banking on Tyler Owen yet, him making an impact.

Starting point is 00:14:14 I think we'll see also Savian Jones come in and show some progression and get into that rotation. So that will be really exciting on the defensive front. And at the edge position, Cody, is where I have a four or five. You know, we're looking at 53 guys, obviously. I've got four or five at the edge position. This was one of my kind of open spots here. But obviously, we know the top four, right? Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper, Dundre Tillman, and Q Robinson coming off the edge there.

Starting point is 00:14:41 But I had sort of a question mark next to Drew San. Sanders name, Johnny Walker, if anybody else happens to make this team or if you sign an outside free agent, I think as we discuss, okay, you could maybe utilize this guy's eligibility as a veteran who could be called up off the practice squad elsewhere on the roster. You could use that to your advantage at the edge spot if you have somebody that you want to stash or if you do bring in an additional veteran. But for the time being, I penciled in Drew Sanders there, Cody, as the fifth guy. I'm interested in your thoughts on this. Do you think he may be? He may be a it or do you think he's sort of on the outside looking in at this point?

Starting point is 00:15:18 I think he's on the outside looking in. Here's my reasoning behind that. The Broncos moved a player who was so good off the edge in the rotation in Jonah Ellis. They moved him from edge to off ball linebacker to me. That tells me that they were trying to go to four outside linebackers. I mean, at least that's what that move on paper kind of looks like, right? Because why would you move one of your better edge rushers to off ball linebacker where right now the team stance is that Alex Singleton, Justin Stornat are going to be

Starting point is 00:15:43 starting for you. And then you obviously you added in the NFL draft. You have some guys there at this position in the back end of that, at off ball linebacker. But Edge to me, it's just we want to see more Q Robinson. We like Dundrae Tillman. We love Nick Bonito. We love Jonathan Cooper.

Starting point is 00:15:59 We're going to stick with four here. And then we'll have maybe the flexibility. Maybe Drew Sanders can come back to the practice squad. Maybe Johnny Walker could be on the practice squad. And then you have flexibility to elevate those guys in the event of an injury. But it seems like four guys seems to be the rotational mindset. set of this team right now. I just don't have Drew making it.

Starting point is 00:16:18 I think he's got a very, very hard case at this point. Yeah, he does. And so he's going to have to play really well throughout the entire offseason program. And he's going to have to stay available leading up to the regular season. So not only does he have to stay on the field, I think he's got to be impactful on the field. I could see Johnny Walker being somebody who comes, you know, Cody, we may pull this receipt here from early May at some point in July when he's out there balling out in July and

Starting point is 00:16:43 August in the preseason. Johnny Walker was the most expensive. If I remember correctly, undrafted free agent, the team signed last offseason, and they sort of stashed him on injured reserve for his rookie year. So we'll see how that red shirt year played out for him. But at the off ball linebacker position is where I've got two rookies making it. We talk about, you know, hey, more rookies making this team. This is where the opportunity is.

Starting point is 00:17:06 You mentioned it, Justin Nad, Alex Singleton. Those two guys are entrenched as starters and Jonah Ellis, maybe in the mix there, to play a more substantial role than is expected off the ball. But there's two spots that I have. So I had five inside linebackers making it. Red Murdoch being the fourth and then Tori and York, the undrafted free agent, Cody out of Texas, A&M. So I've got those five guys making it. And I think that the undrafted streak, if it's going to continue, this might be one of a couple of different avenues, which I'll, I'll share something a little bit later in the show on that. But this might be one of the more obvious avenues. I think he could make it. I've got five out or off

Starting point is 00:17:43 ball linebackers making it, do you think that's going to be the case? I think five is the appropriate number. And look, I maybe even going back to Jonah here for a second, maybe Jonah, as I've kind of talked about in previous episodes, after he switched positions, maybe Jonah could be one player who accounts at depth for two positions, right? And that gives you more flexibility to add another guy and maybe like defensive back, or if you want to keep an extra inside linebacker, you certainly can. I'm with you.

Starting point is 00:18:09 I would say right now, maybe competition between Jordan Turner. and Torrine York for maybe one of those spots. I do see Red Murdoch making the roster playing special teams right away here for Denver alongside Jonah Ellis. But I think maybe where that back end is, that's going to be where maybe things get a little interesting here for the Broncos. Let's go to corner. I mean, five guys of corner doesn't sound like a stretch here, right?

Starting point is 00:18:31 You get Riley Moss, PS2. You get Jayquan, MacMillan. You get Jada Baron. And then you get Chris Abrams drain another year. This seems to be where they go. Like if they go five guys typically here at the corner position, They may go six at safety. I've got five at corner.

Starting point is 00:18:46 I don't see that really changing right now. Yeah, I don't either. I know Reese Taylor spent some time on the roster last year, Cody. So maybe he's an option to be a sixth guy. Jaden Robinson was on the practice squad as an undrafted player last year. And then they brought in a handful of guys that, I mean, the deeper you dig on some of these undrafted players, the more you're kind of like, oh, whoa, there might be something there.

Starting point is 00:19:07 Amari Harvey out of Georgia Tech might have played a lot of football for Georgia Tech and was a former big time recruit who almost quit football, came back, really started to ball out for Georgia Tech. Brent Austin from Cal, somebody who, I mean, a lot of the deep divers in the NFL draft community really liked Brent Austin. So we'll see what those two guys bring to the table along with the other kind of unheralded players. But yeah, five guys. I mean, that's that's like wide receiver on the defensive side of the ball where you kind of just feel like, hey, those spots are set in stone. Somebody's going to have to come in and steal another roster spot if that's going to happen. Safety is where I've got a five or six.

Starting point is 00:19:43 I mean, Telenow Funga, Brandon Jones, Devin Key, and I think Tyson Anderson are roster locks at this point, Cody. J.L. Skinner and Miles Scott are the players that I see as maybe either interchangeable or keep both. Do you think it's between those two guys? Do you think Tyson Anderson is a lock? Who do you see making this safety group in 2026? Yeah, this is a great question. I don't have Tyson Anderson right now as a roster lock. I know they signed him in the office season.

Starting point is 00:20:11 I know he's a really good special teams player. But J.L. Skinner, proven special teams guy last year of his contract, Devin Key, one-year control. Tyson Anderson, they signed him to a one-year deal. They signed him to a two- or three-year deal. Then I'd say probably he's more so a lock. I very much think that Miles Scott and Tyson-Anderson will compete for this last spot here. You're going to have Brandon Jones, Hufanga, Devin, Key, J.L. Skinner.

Starting point is 00:20:34 And then I think they're going to have that fifth spot. I think it's going to be shared between, hey, it's either going to be Tyson or it's going to be Miles Scott in terms of competition throughout training camp throughout, I would even say preseason play. And there is maybe flexibility here as well. Would he be considered, would Tyson Anderson at this point be considered a vested veteran? I'm not sure because he did miss some time in his rookie season. So I don't have that answer to top my head.

Starting point is 00:20:59 But could they maybe release him without him after going to go through waivers and then bring it back on the practice squad? To me, that's where things are at. So that's where I did. I don't think he's a lock. Yeah, that's it. I think that's fair because at this point, like, just like last year with Sam Franklin, I mean, we don't know.

Starting point is 00:21:18 We don't know what's going to be the case, right? And so for Tyson Anderson, I think the Robert Livingston connection is meaningful there. And then obviously, you know, you have, I think Devin Key is going to take a more of a substantial role as a rotational player defensively, not that they're going to pull him off special teams because he's a first team all pro on special teams. So you got to keep him out there. But yeah, I think that all leads to some interesting sort of back end of the roster discussions. But yeah, Miles Scott, he's one of the only guys with multiple years of team control at this position.

Starting point is 00:21:48 Very, very interesting scenario. So we'll see how he does, you know, in the preseason and training camp. But man, if he makes a couple of plays on the ball, he's going to be a tough one to let go up. Yeah, no, he is. And look, this is a good problem for the Broncos to have. We're sitting here like, ah, man, who are they going to keep at this last, this fifth or sixth spot on the roster? It's like, okay, you know what? It's better than I'm saying like, who's the third guy?

Starting point is 00:22:11 Who's the second guy? We're not, can't relate Broncos country. It's been a while since we've been talking about things like that. That's excited here. Let us know your thoughts on the Broncos projected roster here defensively for 2026. Share with us all of your numbers and names at those positions here on today's episode, lockdown Broncos. But coming up next, could there be a change to one of the specialist positions,

Starting point is 00:22:33 even though they've had a guy for the last handful of years who's been consistent and solid? Could a former Oregon duck maybe get his wings and change the narrative? Today's episode of the show was brought to you by our friends over there at Indeed. Folks, if you're dealing with workplace chaos, you've got deadlines that are stacking up and your email inbox is overflowing in the one position that you have to feel is still sitting open. Well, you know what, when the pressure's on and you need the right higher, this is a job for Indeed, sponsor jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for. The skills that you're looking for for this required position, the experience that's necessary to

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Starting point is 00:23:38 slash podcast. Just go to Indy.com slash podcast right now. Support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast, Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms of conditions apply, need to hire. This is a job for Indeed. Sponsored jobs. It's always hard to project specialists in today's NFL, right? You've got to deal with kicker depth, punter depth, and long snapper depth, usually the most sought after competitions in training camp. Just kidding, Brockow's country here. Denver has found some continuity and solidarity on this front for a long time. But coming into 26 for Darren Rizzy in a unit that struggled at times last season, we got better down the stretch and became a little bit more consistent after week 10. Could there be a potential change

Starting point is 00:24:20 here to the specialist? Now, Sarah, I think first off, we start with Will Lutz. Does he make the team? I think absolutely. I think easily he does. Unless he like goes on a stretch in the regular season where he's just missing kicks and in the preseason, missing kicks left and right. I don't see Denver bringing in another kicker to challenge him at this point. Will Lutz, is he a lock? Absolutely. I mean, he just got the contract extension last year, right? So, I mean, the Broncos believe that he has that long-term viability.

Starting point is 00:24:48 And he's been clutch for the team. I mean, I know he hasn't been perfect, but he's been clutch. And so Will Lutz certainly making the team. Cody, what about Jeremy Croshaw? No competition for him this offseason, his rookie year. We experienced, I think, the ups and downs through the first. half of the season and it really came to a head. I believe it was that game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night

Starting point is 00:25:10 football where everybody's like, all right, just bring in a practice squad punter and at least make this guy feel some heat from behind. But from that point, he turned it on, man. And he made one of the most impactful plays in the divisional round that doesn't really get talked about all that much. The punt that pinned the bills so deep that on that drive that ultimately I believe it was where Jayquan Macmillan picked off a path. or I can't remember exactly the circumstances there,

Starting point is 00:25:36 but I know he pinned Josh Allen and the bills deep. And so he came through clutch against the Patriots as well. I mean, he pinned them deep a number of times in the elements, in the snow. I just, Jeremy Croshaw, to me, is also a lock. So you got your kicker and punch the spots locked in. Yeah, not even a debate. And look, I loved how Croshaw kind of turned things around. Because I remember after that ground win game that we talked about in week 10 against the Raiders,

Starting point is 00:26:01 you and I did discuss, like, like DeBron. Donkos need to bring someone in to challenge him because this type of performance isn't acceptable. And I think we even said that could they release him? I know we talked about that. So for him to kick off probably one of the worst moments of his sports playing career to go on and have the year that he did and come up big in the postseason with those exact punts that you mentioned, not only in the division around, but the AFC championship game in the snow. That was so important here. So, yeah, no debate there.

Starting point is 00:26:30 But the Broncos seemingly might be bringing in some competition for Mitchell Friboni, who's been the longstanding long snapper for them for the last handful of years. And I tell you what, here's the thing about Fiboni. And when you talk about long snappers, if you're not hearing their name called, that's a pretty dang good thing. We have not heard of his name called hardly at all for the Broncos since he's been a member of this team. But they are bringing in some competition, a former Oregon duck who was at Oregon when Boe Nix was there. Luke Bassel, he's an undrafted rookie free agent, he's going to be coming in.

Starting point is 00:27:04 Do you think that there could be legit competition here, or is this more so something to keep for boni on his toes a little bit? I think this is legit competition, Cody. I do. I think that ultimately, you know, it's rare to see teams sign long snappers, I feel like, in the undrafted free agent pool unless there's a reason for it. You'll try those guys out very often. Like teams try out long snappers all the time.

Starting point is 00:27:29 You bring in guys for your rookie. mini camp, et cetera, et cetera. But Luke Basso was like one of their 14 undrafted free agent pickups. It's not like he was an invite to minicamp or something like that. And so I wonder, what is it that they're seeing from Mitchell for Boni that they're thinking, hey, he needs either a little push or we could upgrade here because financially speaking, I think they can save one million off his 1.4 million cap hit, something close to that with 400 grand and dead cap if they release Mitchell for Bonney.

Starting point is 00:28:00 So there's maybe the financial aspect of it. There's maybe the age aspect of it. I don't know exactly what it would be on the field, Cody, because I haven't studied for Bonney's coverage skills or how he gets down the field after pun. Pretty good. Like that. So there's got to be something the Broncos see in Basso then,

Starting point is 00:28:17 because I know our good friend Mike Cliss at 9 News mentioned Basso as one of the top three undrafted players to watch going into rookie mini camp. There's something there. It's not that big of a deal ultimately. but you're right. I mean, if you're not hearing the long snapper's name mentioned, there's really no reason to believe that it's anything but business as usual. So when you sign somebody like this, it definitely raises some eyebrows. Well, looking at Spot Track right now, I mean, Mitchell for Bonies accounts for $1.3 million, which I think kind of puts him at 38th on the

Starting point is 00:28:51 roster. So he accounts for 0.47% of the team's salary cap. So very, very minimal here. But when I look at Luke Basso, He is the 70th rake player in terms of $887,000. That counts for 0.29% of the overall salary cap with, I believe, a dead cap of $27,000. So really not much. But what we see in the NFL always, competition. And also, if you can have competition, you can get a better player who might be younger than Mitchell Fiboni, who might have a little bit more, I would say, leeway or landing room, so to speak. I mean, what is it? I think his undrafted rookie Frigian deal he signed, I think it's up to three years. So through 2029, the Broncos might have a way to upgrade this position. Though I'd say right now, it's not a glaring need to upgrade long snapper, I would say.

Starting point is 00:29:43 And Mitchell for Bonney for two more years at 1.3 million, that's not, that's not bad either. So unless the Broncos have suddenly changed their dynamics and saying, now we're going to start counting and like just crunching pennies and being like, all right, we got to figure out where this penny's going compared to this one. It's hard to imagine. But I imagine competition here probably very true across the board and long snapper here for Denver and doesn't hurt. It really doesn't. And I'm curious to see how Darren Rizzi is going to maybe evaluate that. If I get a chance to talk to Rizzi this week, I'll ask him about that too. Yeah, I like it.

Starting point is 00:30:15 And, you know, I was reading up. I saw Lance Zierline over at NFL.com does a great job with his pre-draft write-ups and scouting reports and all those sorts of things. Interestingly enough, Luke Basso has his own profile from Lance Zerline. at NFL.com. And so he's got in his scouting notes over there, he says that he might have been draftable for some teams in terms of his skills.

Starting point is 00:30:38 So like this is a specialty. Like this is one of those things that's like, hey, a special teams coordinator will watch these guys and be able to tell you who's worth pounding the table for because it's not just that you're snapping it far and it's not just that you're snapping it accurately. You're doing a lot of different things. And so, I mean, for the Broncos to bring him in

Starting point is 00:30:57 is one of their priority undrafted players. And for somebody who may have had draftable grades as a long snapper, which is crazy to me, Cody, I don't, I think I can count on one hand. The amount of times I've seen long snappers drafted. So I just, you mean, it all kind of adds up to some interesting little nuggets that make you believe, okay, like this guy, he's probably got a good shot at doing something this off season. Yeah, I was going to say that going to practice and watching long snappers compete is probably

Starting point is 00:31:24 the last thing I'd ever have on my like, hey, you know what? I'm going to practice today. This is what I'm watching for today. I'll let Darren Rizzi and his special team's assistants handle that. They know best on that unless we see like a really bad, low snap on a hold for a field goal or a PAT or the punt goes over. I mean, the snap goes over the punter's head. Then I'd say, okay, that's something we pay attention to. But very, very curious here.

Starting point is 00:31:46 Broncos country, your thoughts. Give us your way too early 53 man roster predictions down below in the YouTube comments where you can send it into us on social media at Codyork NFL at Sarah. Benjure. Make sure you check out the Everydayer Club so you can have access to our Discord with other members of Broncos country and ad-free version of the show and in-season. You'll get in-depth film breakdowns on the offense, defense, and big plays throughout the course of a game. We'll get all that for you here once the season rolls around. Broncos football is almost here. We're excited. But tomorrow's episode of the show for all you everydayers, we're to take a look at whether or not the Denver Broncos did enough this offseason to build around Bo Nix. Spoiler, we think they did.

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