Horse Tracks: Training camp battles to watch for the Denver Broncos

With the Denver Broncos having their training camp and joint practice schedules announced yesterday, Mile High Report’s Christopher Hart dishes out three training camp position group battles to watch for this summer.

Good morning, Broncos Country.

Yesterday, the National Football League announced their schedules for training camp and joint practices for every team.

In a little less than a month, the rubber will meet the road for the players and coaches of the Denver Broncos. After securing a playoff berth last season, the franchise has diligently been preparing to build upon their success last season and do even better in 2025. With their moves in free agency and the NFL Draft, the Broncos have added a lot of talent to their roster.

From my perspective, there are few glaring weaknesses for the team. When glossing over the roster, a lot of positions seem set in stone. However, there are a few groups that catch my eye which should result in some of the best competition throughout camp and the preseason.

Wide Receiver

Longtime veteran Courtland Sutton is the leader of the Broncos’ wide receiver room. Barring some sort of surprise, I think he will be quarterback Bo Nix’s top target in terms of volume for the upcoming season. After Sutton, it’s anyone’s best guess who will rise to the top over camp and snag ahold of that second wide receiver spot.

The Broncos have a lot of youth and potential at the position. Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele all showed flashes at points last season. Overall, the three received relatively equal target share in ‘24. Even so, that didn’t stop them from adding to the room, with the team selecting Pat Bryant in the third round of this year’s draft.

I’m intrigued to see which of these receivers rises to the top and cements themselves as the team’s second wide receiver. If there is any position group that could outperform perception, I believe this would be the group. The potential is off the charts. That being said, I’d also posit that Evan Engram is poised to be the second guy in terms of overall volume share in the passing game.

Defensive Back

The Broncos boast one of the premier secondaries in the NFL headlined by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II.

This past April, they added another top-notch player to the position group by selecting Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron in the first round. Additionally, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Damarri Mathis and Kris-Abrams Draine are all slated to return from last season. That’s key continuity that should help ensure the defense remains one of the team’s strengths in ‘25.

At safety, a healthy Talanoa Hufanga playing alongside Brandon Jones could give them one of the best safety duos in the league. They also have a nice mix of veterans and young players for depth who are going to be in a big battle to make the team’s final roster. All things considered, the defensive backfield might have a surplus of talent.

That means tough cuts are on the horizon. Moreover, I wouldn’t be surprised if a trade of sorts could come to fruition at the end of summer when the roster trimming happens. Whether or not the Broncos keep 11 players like last season or opt for just 10 is something to keep your eye on.

Offensive Line

The Broncos are bringing back all five starters across their offensive line from last season. There’s no doubt that the starting five coming back should pay big dividends for the team’s aspirations this coming season.

While most fans are probably more interested in how the running back position sorts itself out, I’m more interested in seeing how the backup battles across in the offensive trenches. The team added four undrafted free agents into the mix and have a handful of backups from last year that will be competing for spots. Outside of Matt Peart being the team’s swing tackle, I expected the remaining three or four spots to be extremely competitive.

Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line Coach Zach Strief has done a tremendous job helping find and develop talent. Could this season be the third in a row where an undrafted rookie free agent makes the roster? I’m excited to see how that plays out.

What do you think, Broncos Country? What three position group battles do you think will be the most important or competitive over the course of the summer? Sound off in the comments section and let me know!

As always, thank you for reading. Here is today’s slate of articles for Horse Tracks.

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