With their first preseason game of the summer scheduled for Friday, the Denver Broncos have released their first 2026 depth chart.
NFL rules require teams to release depth charts before their first preseason game, but Broncos coach Sean Payton clearly doesn't like the exercise. “We don’t have a classic third [receiver]," Payton said on July 31. "We don’t have a 1A, a 2, a 3. We’re just different than that.”
Denver calls the mandated depth chart an "unofficial depth chart," despite it coming straight from the team. So judging from that title and Payton's comments, the depth chart should probably be taken with a grain of salt.
That said, here's a quick look at the club's first depth chart of the summer.
Broncos depth chart
Quarterback (3)
- QB1: Bo Nix
- QB2: Jarrett Stidham
- QB3: Sam Ehlinger
Stidham and Ehlinger are competing for the backup
job this summer, and it looks like Stidham is still in the lead.
Running back (6)
- RB1: J.K. Dobbins
- RB2: RJ Harvey
- RB3: Tyler Badie
- RB4: Jaleel McLaughlin
- RB5: Cody Schrader
- RB6: Jonah Coleman
Putting rookies at the bottom is Payton's custom. In reality, Coleman is likely the third-choice RB in 2026.
Wide receiver (14)
- WR: Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Hakeem Butler, Dane Key, Joseph Manjack, Kyre Duplessis
- WR: Jaylen Waddle, Lil'Jordan Humphrey
- WR: Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Michael Bandy, Kyrese Rowan, Cam Ross. Kolbe Katsis
The Broncos list three starting wide receivers, even though Payton has said they don't have a traditional WR1-WR2-WR3 rotation. Mims is listed as the third receiver after Sutton and Waddle.
Tight end/fullback (8)
- TE1: Evan Engram
- TE2: Adam Trautman
- TE3: Nate Adkins
- TE4: Lucas Krull
- TE5: Caleb Lohner
- TE6: Justin Joly
- TE7: Dallen Bentley
- FB: Adam Prentice
Adkins has an underrated role in Denver's offense as a key blocker and capable receiver. Joly will likely rise the depth chart in the coming weeks and months. Bentley is fighting for a spot on the roster.
Offensive line (16)
- LT: Garett Bolles, Matt Peart, Frank Crum, Tyler Miller
- LG: Ben Powers, Calvin Throckmorton, Gavin Ortega
- C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Michael Deiter
- RG: Quinn Meinerz, Kage Casey, Gavin Ortega
- RT: Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Reid Holskey
- PUP: OL Nick Gargiulo
Palczewski is listed as the backup right tackle, but he filled in very well at left guard last season. He is likely the team's top backup swing tackle/guard.
Defensive line (9)
- DE: Zach Allen, Jordan Jackson, Sai'vion Jones
- NT: D.J. Jones, Jordan Miller, Kristian Williams
- DE: Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim
For now, Roach is listed as the DE replacement for John Franklin-Myers as a starter across from Allen. Uwazurike is Roach's backup.
Outside linebacker (8)
- OLB: Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Johnny Walker
- OLB: Jonathon Cooper, Dondrea Tillman, Drew Sanders, Dasan McCullough
Denver has great depth at outside linebacker, and the team will have to make some tough cuts at the position later this summer.
Inside linebacker (7)
- LB: Alex Singleton, Karene Reid, Jordan Turner
- LB: Justin Strnad, Lavelle Bailey, Red Murdock, Taurean York
Reid and Bailey are listed over rookies Murdock and York, but that could change during preseason.
Cornerback (9)
- CB1: Pat Surtain, Kris Abrams-Draine, Sean Fresch, Ricardo Hallman
- CB2: Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Brent Austin
- Nickel: Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Reese Taylor
Barron is listed as the top backup behind Moss and the top backup behind McMillian. The 2025 first-round pick could be looking at another season as a rotational backup.
Safety (7)
- S: Brandon Jones, Devon Key, Miles Scott
- S: Talanoa Hufunga, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson, Parker Robertson
Key and Skinner appear to be the early favorites for the backup safety spots, but Scott, a seventh-round draft pick, could carve out a special teams role during preseason.
Special teams
- K: Wil Lutz
- P: Jeremy Crawshaw
- LS: Mitchell Fraboni, Luke Basso
- PR: Marvin Mims, Michael Bandy, Cameron Ross
- KR: Marvin Mims, Tyler Badie, RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Kolbe Katsis
Bandy and Badie are the veteran backup returners. Ross and Katsis, a pair of undrafted rookies, will hope to turn heads during preseason as they compete for roster roles as returners.
After playing three preseason games, Denver will have until Aug. 30 to finalize a 53-man roster. After that, the Broncos will build a 16- or 17-player practice squad before turning their attention toward the regular season. The club will release an updated depth chart following roster cuts later this month.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos release first depth chart ahead of 2026 preseason
