One of the more interesting aspects of training camp each year is the positional battles ongoing throughout camp and into the preseason. We have seen multiple quarterback competitions happen during Broncos camp, but thankfully, Bo Nix has that job locked down for the foreseeable future. However, the Broncos will have multiple camp battles happening this summer that could greatly impact how this team looks come Week 1.
While the Broncos starters are mostly locked and loaded for Week 1, there still
will be plenty of competition for roles and even roster spots happening during camp. So, with all that said, here are the Denver Broncos positional battles I will be paying attention to during Broncos Camp.
Backup Quarterback
Veteran Jarrett Stidham has been Sean Payton’s backup since he was acquired and hired by the Broncos, but could his role be up for grabs this summer? Sam Ehlinger joined the team as the QB3 last season and quickly impressed the Broncos coaches on and off the field. Ehlinger re-signed with the team this offseason and, according to reports from OTA and minicamp, looked pretty good and may have even outplayed Stidham.
Do I think Ehlinger can really take the QB2 role from Stidham? I have my doubts. Payton has spoken fondly of Stiddy in the past; he was Payton’s first free agent signing with the Broncos, and he knows the system well. With that said, his performance in the AFC Championship Game was, well, not great. In fairness to Stidham, the circumstances were not great for him, but you still hoped he would have played a little better than that.
However, if Ehlinger outplays Stidham throughout camp, we could have a real conversation here. I will need to see it happen consistently for me to really believe this could happen, but we’ll have to wait and see. It certainly is possible.
Running Back – The battle for carries
The Broncos are expected to enter Week 1 with veteran JK Dobbins, second-year back RJ Harvey, and rookie Jonah Coleman as their three running backs on the roster. All three backs are expected to have a role on this offense this season, but the exact details remain up in the air.
Veteran JK Dobbins re-signed with the team after a successful 2025 season that was unfortunately cut short by injuries. Unfortunately, that has been the story of Dobbins’ career, and the Broncos have to be wary of his injury history. To his credit, he has bounced back and performed well despite multiple serious lower-body injuries, but the concern remains. He will be the Broncos’ starting running back this season, but could we see him share carries with a pair of young Broncos ball carriers?
RJ Harvey had a mixed bag when it came to his rookie year. On a positive note, he had 12 total touchdowns last season, which is pretty damn good for a rookie running back. However, once Dobbins went down with an injury, Harvey struggled as the Broncos’ main ball carrier. Harvey averaged just 3.7 yards per carry but did look better as a receiver and in space, which was the role the team envisioned for him when he was drafted. I would anticipate he would have a similar role this season, but could he lose snaps to rookie Jonah Coleman?
The real X-Factor here is rookie Jonah Coleman. The talented rookie back has three-down traits and could push for significant playing time his rookie year. He is a powerful and patient runner who can run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, and probably most importantly, come in on third downs and be a pass blocker. If he were to have a strong camp and preseason, he could push for significant snaps early on this season.
Sean Payton in the past has said it is difficult to manage a three-headed backfield, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out. All three backs will be on the team, but it will be interesting to see the pecking order come Week 1.
WR3 battle
Probably the most interesting positional battle to happen this summer during Broncos Camp will be the WR3 battle between Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant.
As we know, the team made a blockbuster trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle during the offseason, and that addition shook up the Broncos’ wide receiver room. With Waddle and veteran Courtland Sutton being your WR1 and WR2 in the offense, that battle for the WR3 job is expected to be a competitive one.
Marvin Mims Jr. has shown up in the biggest moments throughout his career and has routinely made big plays down the field. On top of that, he is also an All-Pro returner who can take one all the way back for a touchdown whenever he touches the ball. However, he has never fully lived up to his potential as a wide receiver. Now in a contract year, could that all change?
This time last year, all the hype was about Troy Franklin. He added weight and was making plays throughout OTAs and minicamp and carried that into training camp, preseason, and into the regular season. He finished the 2025 season with 65 receptions for 709 yards and 6 touchdowns, which is pretty decent considering how his rookie year went. However, with Waddle now on the team, Franklin seems like the player most negatively impacted by this addition. He will once again need to have a strong summer if he wants to solidify himself in this Denver Broncos wide receiver room.
Pat Bryant had himself a solid rookie season. His role in the offense was growing as the season progressed, and it appeared he surpassed Troy Franklin late in the season. However, the injury bug bit him late in the year and derailed what could have been a strong end to his rookie year. Now, in year two, Bryant is hoping to put the concussions behind him and take that big second-year jump and become a mainstay in the Broncos offense. Bryant is a big and physical target who can work the middle of the field, contribute as a blocker, and was arguably the Broncos’ most reliable wide receiver when it came to catching the ball. He is my personal favorite in this competition, but all three can and should make strong cases for the Broncos’ WR3 job.
The bigger picture here is: how will the team utilize all three of these receivers? Will there be a potential trade? Will they rely on the depth and use all three in a rotation? It could go a number of ways right now and I am excited to see how it plays out throughout camp.
Is there a LG competition?
I’ll say this from the start. This is pure speculation on my part, but I believe there will be a three-way battle for the Broncos starting left guard position.
Veteran Ben Powers is in the final year of his contract, and despite briefly being rumored to be a pay cut or trade/cut candidate, he is back with the team and expected to be their starting left guard. However, the team does have competition on the roster that could change things down the road.
First, the team signed versatile reserve lineman Alex Palczewski to a two-year extension this offseason. He started at left guard last season while Powers was sidelined with an injury and performed well. He provides the team with a talented, younger, and cheaper option and someone they know they can plug and play at the position.
The team also drafted Boise State offensive lineman Kage Casey in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played left tackle throughout his college career but is expected to focus on the left guard position his rookie year. Left guard is coincidentally the position Ben Powers is currently slated to be the starter at. It is certainly a possibility that Casey impresses this summer and pushes for that left guard job.
Again, I am mostly spitballing here, but the tea leaves are there. Palcho and Casey are likely viewed as the long-term candidates for the position, but a strong summer from one or both could speed things up a bit.
What happens at tight end?
The Broncos tight end room is a bit of a question mark. The only one I feel safe about is Adam Trautman, who just re-signed with the team this offseason. He will likely be the “starter” at the position and be their main in-line blocker. However, everything beyond that is a bit up in the air.
Veteran pass catcher Evan Engram is probably safe. His good friend and former teammate Davis Webb is now the Broncos’ offensive coordinator and playcaller, so that may bode well for the veteran after a disappointing first season with the team. However, Engram kinda fits as that surprise camp cut that nobody really saw coming. I don’t think it will happen, but I am not comfortable saying it won’t happen. My money is on Engram occupying the same role he had last season, with maybe some more emphasis on him with Webb now calling the shots.
After that, though, things get tough to predict. Rookie Justin Joly made my camp breakouts list, and I believe he will, but for now, he is a question mark. Nate Adkins has been a reliable blocker for the Broncos, but now he’s on a vet minimum deal, so he is firmly on the roster bubble. Same goes for Lucas Krull, but the writing is truly on the wall there. Rookie tight end Dallen Bentley is a bit of a forgotten man in this conversation. The former Utah tight end slipped a bit further than anticipated in the draft and has some in-line and sneaky pass-catching potential. Finally, you have the X-Factor in Caleb Lohner. The developmental project made some noise during rookie minicamp, but an injury sidelined him for OTAs and minicamp, and now he will attempt to continue his breakout performance during training camp.
Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to guessing how this all plays out. I just hope we feel better about our tight end room at the end of training camp and preseason.
Replacing JFM
The Broncos’ biggest offseason departure was veteran interior defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers signing with the Tennessee Titans during free agency. This left a large void in the middle of the Broncos’ pass rush and one that will need to be filled if they want to have a dominant pass-rushing unit once again this season.
They planned for JFM’s departure last year when they drafted LSU defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones. He basically had a reshirt season for the Broncos last season and will look to use that year of development and have a breakout performance during training camp and the preseason. Like JFM, he is a big, long, and athletic interior pass rusher who could thrive in Vance Joseph’s defense.
Despite having Jones in the mix this offseason, the Broncos doubled down and selected Tyler Onyedim with their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, which came early in the 3rd round. Onyedim is a high-motor interior pass rusher whom the team envisions filling JFM’s role as early as this season. Now, a rookie defensive lineman contributing like that right away is probably far-fetched, but he figures to be part of the Broncos’ rotation along the defensive line.
Veterans Eyioma Uwazurike and Malcolm Roach will likely factor into the mix, but all eyes will be on Jones and Onyedim this summer. Hopefully, we see both players stand out throughout camp and the preseason and give the Broncos two talented interior pass rushers they can rotate in and out throughout the game. We saw the Eagles win a Super Bowl due to this, and hopefully, the Broncos can do the same with this unit.
Will Jahdae Barron push for CB2?
One of the more intriguing positional battles that may happen this summer is between former first-round pick Jahdae Barron and Riley Moss and/or Ja’Quan McMillian.
As we know, Moss and McMillian are in the final year of their contracts with the team, and the Broncos will likely have to choose which of the two they will re-sign. On top of that, the Broncos used a first-round pick on Jahdae Barron last year, and he is a logical in-house replacement for one of the two. Head Coach Sean Payton mentions how he has inside/outside versatility, so he is in play for both positions.
The biggest X-Factor here is Barron. Will he push for a starting job this summer and make the decision difficult for the Broncos ‘ decision-makers? If he does, the Broncos will have to decide how to utilize all four of these corners and potentially even consider a trade. Like wide receiver, they could just utilize the talented depth they have and head into the season deep at one of the more important positional groups on the team.
This scenario could play out multiple different ways, and the implications of this outcome will be felt moving forward. So, this will be a very important roster battle and situation to watch moving forward.
