After spending a year on the practice squad, will Jordan Miller surprise and make the 53-man final roster for the Denver Broncos?
The Denver Broncos sported one of the National Football League’s best defenses in 2024. The additions to their defensive line and their subsequent performance were a key reason for that. The Broncos led the league in sacks and demonstrated significant improvement defending the run in 2024.
Most certainly, their defensive line certainly a strength of the team. Though the competition for the final backup spots for the unit should be one of the most competitive through camp and the preseason. One of those players hoping to earn a spot on the roster is former Miami Hurricane and Southern Methodist Mustang defensive tackle Jordan Miller.
Miller was a prospect the Broncos utilized a top 30 visit on in the 2024 pre-draft cycle. They wound up signing him as a free agent after going undrafted. He spent all of last season on the team’s practice squad.
Will the 2025 season be Miller’s first as a depth player for the Broncos on the active roster? Or is he more likely to spend time on the practice squad again? Let’s discuss.
SMU defensive lineman Jordan Miller is a solid get by the #Broncos as an undrafted free agent. He gets a $15,000 signing bonus and an additional $125,000 of his contract guaranteed for a total guarantee of $140,000.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) April 28, 2024
Player Profile
Age: 25 | Experience: 1 | School: SMU (via Miami) | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 304 pounds
Bench Press: 27 reps | Arm Length: 33-3/8” | Vertical Jump: 28 inches
10-Yard Split: 1.82 seconds | 40-yard dash: 5.18 seconds
Jordan Miller’s 2025 outlook with the Broncos
As I authored last year, Miller’s strength, stoutness at the point of attack, and massive wingspan are quality traits for him. With a year under his belt on the practice squad and getting quality NFL strength and conditioning training, he should be even more physical prepared to take on the rigors of the NFL. Not only that but gaining a better understanding of Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s playbook.
With a loaded Broncos defensive front and few spots available for the taking, Miller faces quite the challenge make the final 53-man roster. The team extended D.J. Jones, the primary nose tackle for the franchise, which is where I’d peg Miller’s best fit on the team. On top of that, Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, and John Franklin-Myers round out the top four.
That leaves him on the outside looking in, especially when you consider third-round pick Sai’vion Jones seems poised to be the fifth player in Denver’s defensive line rotation. They carried six on the front last season and will likely do so again for their 2025 campaign. That leaves just one spot available up for grabs with five other players battling for it.
Final Thoughts
Given the aforementioned, I find it unlikely that Miller will earn a spot on the final roster. Several players ahead of him have more experience in reserve roles and on special teams. I have a feeling the sixth player they keep will have more versatility and capable of playing techniques shaded on the outside alignments of Joseph’s attacking defense. Overall, the most realistic scenario for Miller is another year of development on the Broncos’ practice squad.