Offense

POS Starter 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Other Total 2012 QB P. Manning B. Osweiler Z. Dysert R. Katz --- --- 4 3 HB W.McGahee M. Ball K. Moreno R. Hillman L. Ball J. Hester M. Fannin J. Johnson C.J. Anderson 9 4 FB J. Hester None None None --- --- 0 1 TE J. Dreessen J. Tamme V. Green J. Thomas L. Reed --- 5 3 #1 WR D. Thomas A. Caldwell J. King G. Robinson G. Orton L. Thomas K. Bateman --- --- #2 WR E. Decker A. Caldwell J. King G. Robinson G. Orton L. Thomas K. Bateman --- --- Slot W. Welker A. Caldwell J. King --- --- --- 9* 5* LT R. Clady C. Clark V. Painter --- --- P. Cornick --- --- LG Z. Beadles C. Kuper M. Ramirez P. Blake

C.J. Davis

J. Boren M. Foketi --- --- C J.D. Walton P. Blake C.J. Davis None --- ---- --- --- RG L. Vasquez C. Kuper

M. Ramirez P. Blake C. J. Davis J. Boren M. Foketi --- --- RT O. Franklin C. Clark V. Painter --- --- --- 14* 9* Totals ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- 41 25

* Starred numbers indicate overall totals for that position group--not just for that specific part of the position group. For example the total is 9 in the slot WR column--this indicates there are 9 receivers total on the roster NOT 9 slot WR's.

If you're wondering what "other" is, I used this column to list the UDFA rookies or players that might have been on the practice squad earlier.

There are 40 offensive players on the roster. Last season the Broncos had a total of 25 offensive players on the active roster. This year I'm projecting 24 due to the loss of the FB position. Even if RB Jacob Hester (who can flex into that position) ends up being cut, there is absolutely no reason for the Broncos to carry one.

The interesting thing will be to see how many O-linemen the Broncos keep. Though they kept 9 last season, they could keep 10 due to all the injuries. If that's the case, expect Caldwell and King to battle each other for the final spot. That would give you the ability to list T. Holiday as a WR (5th) even though he can be used different ways and makes his money by returning kicks.

Defense

POS Starter 2nd 3rd 4th Other Total 2012 RDE R. Ayers S. Phillips Q. Smith --- G. Mason Jr. J. Youboty J. Beal --- --- DT K. Vickerson M. Unrein S. Siliga --- --- --- --- DT T. Knighton S. Williams S. Siliga --- --- 5 4 LDE D. Wolfe M. Jackson --- --- G. Mason Jr. J. Youboty 8* 4 SLB V. Miller S. Phillips --- --- --- --- --- MLB N. Irving S. Bradley S. Johnson --- L. McCray D. Rippy --- --- WLB W. Woodyard D. Trevathan --- --- U. Kaveinga 10* 7 CB 1 C. Bailey C. Harris O. Bolden --- A. Hester M. Butler --- --- CB 2 D. Rodgers-Cromartie C. Harris T. Carter --- --- --- --- CB 3 C. Harris K. Webster --- --- --- 8 5 FS R. Moore D. Bruton --- --- --- --- --- SS Q. Carter M. Adams --- --- B. Gideon D. Ihenacho R. Rasner 7 5 Totals ---- ---- ---- ---- --- 38 25

Here I can see the Broncos carrying 24 Even though they carried 25 last year. In fact, let me show you my projected positional break down:

Position Projected Spots QB 3 RB 4 FB 0 TE 4 WR 5 OL 9 Offense 25

Position Projected Spots DE 4 DT 4 LB 6 CB 6 S 4 Defense 24

QB: Manning, Osweiler, Dysert



RB: McGahee, Moreno, M. Ball, Hillman

WR: Thomas, Decker, Welker, King, Holliday

TE: Tamme, Dreessen, J. Thomas, Green

Oline: Clady, Beadles, Walton, Vasquez, Franklin, Kuper, Ramirez, Blake, Painter

DE: Wolfe, Ayers, Jackson, Smith

DT: Vickerson, Knighton, Williams, Unrein

LB: Miller, Irving, Woodyard, Phillips, Bradley, Trevathan

CB: Champ, DRC, Harris, Bolden, Carter, Webster

S: Moore, Q. Carter, M. Adams, D. Bruton

Specialists: Prater, Colquitt, Brewer, Holliday

Though it is early and pointless to try and choose a 53 man roster in April, I don't think there's any harm in projecting one right now so long as we all remember the sitaation is fluid. What are your thoughts about the current roster and what would you project?