The coming days are among the longest on the calendar for NFL front offices. They’re not only finalizing their own 53-man rosters but projecting what’s going to happen around the league. They have seen film on anybody who might get cut, waived or dangled via trade between now and Tuesday’s cutdown deadline.
“I’ve been in it myself a number of times, formally as a player,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Sunday after polishing off a 3-0 preseason with a 38-12 drubbing of Arizona. “I can remember being really naive on one team, thinking they were going to start me. I went in, I got cut and I could not believe it. You have the 53 and the (16-man) practice squad. There are paths for decisions, and part of it is managing the roster.
“So (general manager George Paton) and I have met for the better part of the last couple weeks each week, relative to where we are at with certain decisions. I think we have a good handle on it in terms of that.”
The wait for those players on the bubble is on now. Denver will make their decisions over Monday and Tuesday and then assemble its practice squad beginning almost immediately after the 2 p.m. Tuesday deadline. Those players can be formally added then on Wednesday.
For now, here’s The Post’s last shot at predicting a tough-to-peg 53-man Broncos roster.
OFFENSE (25)
Quarterback (3)
Locks: Bo Nix
In the mix: Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson
Bubble consideration: Wilson has played himself into must-keep territory, so the question becomes whether to retain all three or part with Stidham. There’s $5 million in cap savings to be had if the Broncos release him but Payton likes the room and could opt to roll with the trio at least out of the gate. The Broncos could try to trade Stidham or get him to take a pay cut, too.
The call: Absent a trade, take three.
Running back/fullback (4)
Locks: Javonte Williams, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin
In the mix: Samaje Perine, Blake Watson and Michael Burton (FB)
Bubble consideration: Perine didn’t dress for the finale. Is it because he made the roster or because he’s on the cutting/trade block? Bet the latter, especially considering the way roles for the top trio shake out plus Burton’s value on special teams. Badie keeps producing and another year he might have made the roster. In this case, they’d do well to get him to the practice squad along with Watson, the undrafted rookie out of Memphis.
The call: Burton.
Wide receiver (6)
Locks: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Josh Reynolds, Devaughn Vele
In the mix: Troy Franklin, Tim Patrick, Brandon Johnson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, David Sills, Jalen Virgil, Phillip Dorsett and Michael Bandy.
Bubble consideration: Denver loves its depth here. Humphrey was held out of the preseason finale, but that could have been to facilitate a release and return on the practice squad. The real rub here is that Vele played his way cleanly onto the team. Patrick has, too, and they traded up for Franklin. That just feels like a pretty solid six. Stretching to seven in addition to three quarterbacks makes the rest of the puzzle tough to fit together. The rest of these receivers are practice squad candidates and several may contribute throughout a long season.
The call: Patrick and Franklin.
Tight end (4)
Locks: Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull
In the mix: Nate Adkins, Hunter Kampmoyer and Thomas Yassmin
Bubble consideration: If Denver keeps three quarterbacks, the pinch is going to be felt somewhere. That’s where Adkins’ versatility comes into play. He can play tight end, fullback and special teams. Kampmoyer is interesting and could be a practice squad candidate because of his blocking ability. Yassmin should be on the practice squad, too, as his status as an international player means he doesn’t count against the 16.
The call: Adkins.
Offensive line (8)
Locks: Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey and Luke Wattenberg
In the mix: Center Alex Forsyth; tackles Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, Demontrey Jacobs and Frank Crum; and interior linemen Nick Gargiulo, Calvin Throckmorton and Sam Mustipher
Bubble consideration: It’s been said before but Quinn Bailey’s injury really hurts this group’s depth. They have guards and tackles but not many guys that have shown they can do everything. Forsyth can play all three interior spots. Peart and Palczewski have been No. 2 at left and right tackle, respectively, all of camp. Jacobs could be a wild card if the Broncos think he’s got development potential. Throckmorton’s had a nice camp and was one of the last players left off in this exercise. Either way, this is a position group ripe for a waiver claim. Making it on Tuesday doesn’t guarantee all of these guys are around by Wednesday night.
The call: Peart, Palczewski and Forsyth.
DEFENSE (25)
Defensive line (6)
Locks: Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach
In the mix: Angelo Blackson, Matt Henningsen, Eyioma Uwazurike, Elijah Garcia, Jordan Jackson
Bubble consideration: This might be among the most difficult groups to make for the Broncos. The top four are set in stone — none of them dressed for the preseason finale. Maybe injury issues elsewhere will mean Denver can take an extra one. Uwazurike is interesting because of his size and the fact he missed last year. Jackson put together a quality camp and had two sacks Sunday against Arizona.
The call: Blackson and Uwazurike.
Outside linebacker (5)
Locks: Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto and Jonah Elliss
In the mix: Thomas Incoom, Dondrea Tillman, Durell Nchami
Bubble consideration: Nchami hurt his hamstring Sunday, so time will tell if that impacts his roster position. In each of the other two projections, we’ve had him making the roster. If he’s going to miss three or four weeks, he could start on injured reserve. Incoom’s flashed throughout camp but recently has been playing mostly with the deep reserve groups. Tillman closed the preseason with a strong outing against Arizona, but did he do enough earlier in camp?
The call: Nchami or, in the event of an IR placement, Incoom
Inside linebacker (4)
Locks: Alex Singleton, Cody Barton
In the mix: Jonas Griffith, Justin Strnad, Levelle Bailey, Andre Smith
Bubble consideration: Strnad put a stamp on a strong camp with a forced fumble against the Cardinals. His play combined with his special teams prowess might end up bumping Bailey off the initial roster. The Broncos have plenty of reasons to like the rookie, though, and could be compelled to roster him if they think he’s a risk on the waiver wire after a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown Sunday. Otherwise, four vets on the 53 and a developmental piece back in the building on the practice squad.
The call: Strnad and Griffith
Cornerback (6)
Locks: Pat Surtain II, Ja’Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Draine
In the mix: Levi Wallace, Damarri Mathis, Reese Taylor, Art Green, Tremon Smith
Bubble consideration: Mathis went out early in the preseason finale with a right ankle injury. Payton said the injury isn’t thought to be long-term, but given the timing of the injury he could be an injured reserve candidate, which would create a spot and give him four games to get fully healthy. If he’s good to go, he should make the roster. As such, we’re going with him here. If he lands on IR, keep an eye on Reese Taylor, who’s been the No. 2 nickel and played a ton of special teams this summer.
The call: Wallace and Mathis.
Safety (4)
Locks: Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Devon Key
In the mix: Keidron Smith, Tanner McCalister, Omar Brown
Bubble consideration: Jones didn’t play at all in the preseason due to a hamstring injury. Payton said the free agent addition is getting healthier and he went through warmups on Sunday. Can Denver start with just four on the roster? Key and Skinner have played their way onto the roster through solid play and also attrition around them in Caden Sterns’ release. They could look outside to add somebody or they could consider Smith or McCalister for the 53-man, too.
The call: Start with four, but expect some movement.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Locks: Wil Lutz (PK) and Mitchell Fraboni (LS)
In the mix: Riley Dixon (P) and Trenton Gill (P)
Bubble consideration: It’s been a tight battle between Dixon and Gill throughout camp. The only wild card here would be if Denver thinks Gill can give them something special as a kickoff specialist in addition to punting and they’ve been keeping it under wraps. Special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica said Dixon and Gill are both good holders. Dixon’s had the first reps all of camp and in all three preseason games.
The call: Dixon.
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