The Denver Broncos are still a long way off from announcing their first depth chart of 2026. Sean Payton usually waits until Week 1 of the regular season, and even then, it's an "unofficial" depth chart.With the offseason training program officially in the books, though, I'm going to take a stab at projecting the Broncos' depth chart. On a Payton-coached team, rookies typically start off at the bottom of the depth chart, but some quickly rise, like Bo Nix in 2024. This depth chart projection will be based on what we've seen and will factor in individual players' momentum instead of just burying every rookie at the bottom. With that said, let's dive in and see what's changed since our last projection in May. QuarterbackBo NixJarrett StidhamSam EhlingerEhlinger is making a strong push for the QB2 job, but for now, Stidham has maintained his spot there. QB2 is up for grabs this summer, though, so we'll be watching this important camp battle closely. Running BackJ.K. DobbinsRJ HarveyJonah ColemanJaleel McLaughlinTyler BadieCody SchraderColeman is clearly the No. 3, despite being a rookie. When training camp rolls around, he'll likely start at the bottom, but will quickly work his way up to No. 3. FullbackAdam PrenticeNate AdkinsPrentice is the only true fullback on the roster. Adkins is a tight end with a little H-back in him. Wide Receiver 1Courtland SuttonPat BryantLil’Jordan HumphreyHakeem ButlerDane KeyJoseph ManjackThe Broncos signed Butler, a UFL standout, the day before mandatory minicamp. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound wideout quickly made his presence felt. Key and Manjack are undrafted rookies, and based on minicamp, I'm ranking Butler ahead of them. Butler is the reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year and a former Arizona Cardinals fourth-round draft pick. Wide Receiver 2Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle catches a pass during OTA practice at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit. | Gabriel Christus/Denver BroncosJaylen WaddleTroy FranklinMarvin Mims Jr.Michael BandyKolbe KatsisCameron RossWaddle headlines this group, but Franklin looked very good in minicamp. Never sleep on Mims, but he's looking for a new contract, so we'll see how that impacts his play in training camp. Tight EndEvan EngramAdam TrautmanNate AdkinsLucas KrullCaleb LohnerJustin JolyDallen BentleyLohner missed OTAs and minicamp after deciding to undergo a clean-up procedure on his lower body. He's supposed to be good to go by training camp, which is why, based on his one year of experience with the Broncos, he's ahead of Joly. Left TackleGarett BollesFrank CrumMatt PeartKage CaseyI'm keeping Peart and Casey here, because Payton likes his backups on the offensive line to be based on one side. So Peart and Casey factor into left tackle and left guard, though both are viewed more as guards. Left GuardBen PowersAlex PalczewskiKage CaseyGavin OrtegaPowers was excused from minicamp with an undisclosed injury, which saw Palczewski and Casey get some extra reps. The Broncos fully expect to have Powers for training camp. CenterLuke WattenbergAlex ForsythMichael DeiterThis group is unchanged from our last depth chart projection. Wattenberg is entering a big year, after being extended on a four-year, $48 million deal last fall. Forsyth is entering a contract year, meanwhile. Right GuardDenver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz (77) during mini camp at Broncos Park. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesQuinn MeinerzNick GargiuloCalvin ThrockmortonThis group changed only because Nash Jones was waived last week. Gargiuolo is still working back from his torn ACL, and did not do on-field drills during the offseason program. He'll be back at some point in training camp. Right TackleMike McGlincheyFrank CrumTyler MillerReid HolskeyCrum is the swing tackle, but Miller is an interesting 6-foot-8 undrafted rookie. We'll see if he can put any pressure on Crum this summer. Holskey was just barely signed and is a right tackle-only player. Left Defensive EndZach AllenJordan JacksonMatt HenningsenHenningsen played better than Jackson, but he's still got to translate that into training camp. For now, Henningsen brings up the rear but I fully expect him to leapfrog Jackson. Nose TackleD.J. JonesMalcolm RoachKristian WilliamsCan Williams find a way to stand out in a deep D-line room? I have my doubts based on what we've seen thus far. Right Defensive EndDenver Broncos rookie defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim runs a drill at rookie minicamp | Ben Swanson / Denver BroncosEyioma UwazurikeSai’vion JonesTyler OnyedimJones was excused for portions of minicamp, but I'm still keeping him in the No. 2 spot for seniority's sake. Onyedim looked very good in minicamp, so Jones is going to have his work cut out for him in training camp. Strongside LinebackerJonathon CooperJonah EllissDrew SandersDasan McColloughCooper was excused from minicamp due to his legal troubles. Elliss looked good, and Sanders earned some praise from Payton. McCollough is still facing an uphill battle. Inside LinebackerAlex SingletonJordan TurnerKarene ReidRed MurdockThis spot remains unchanged. It's going to be a hot camp battle.Inside LinebackerJustin StrnadLevelle BaileyRed MurdockTaurean YorkElliss is still starring on the outside, so he's no longer a factor in the depth chart supremacy, though he'll take some snaps in certain packages at inside linebacker. Murdock will get snaps at both spots. Weakside LinebackerNik BonittoDondrea TillmanQue RobinsonJohnny WalkerThis spot remains unchanged, although Tillman has to be worried a little, based on how good Robinson was in minicamp. Left CornerbackPatrick Surtain IIJahdae BarronReese TaylorBlake CottonThe Broncos waived Paul Manning, but signed Cotton recently. He's 6-foot-2, so don't sleep on Cotton. Nickel CornerbackJa’Quan McMillianJahdae BarronAhmari HarveySean Fresch Jr.Harvey has a long row to hoe if he's going to steal some shine away from McMillian and Barron. No easy task. Fresch was signed when the UFL season ended, but his best path to the roster is through the return game. Right CornerbackRiley MossKris Abrams-DraineJaden RobinsonBrent AustinBarron isn't listed here, but he's basically the primary backup to all three cornerback spots. Keep an eye on Robinson and Austin, though. Robinson is a young incumbent whose career has mostly been spent on Denver's practice squad, while Austin is an undrafted rookie looking to break into the NFL. Free SafetyDenver Broncos 2025-2026 safety Brandon Jones (22) during mini camp at Broncos Park. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesBrandon JonesDevon KeyTycen AndersonMiles ScottThis spot remains unchanged. It'll be interesting to see if Scott can move up the depth chart this summer. Strong SafetyTalanoa HufangaJL SkinnerTycen AndersonParker RobinsonThe Broncos have a great safety competition brewing. They have a handful of guys competing for one roster spot. Skinner and Anderson will be throwing down, but don't sleep on the undrafted rookie, Robinson, or Scott, both of whom will get reps at both safety spots. KickerWil LutzLutz remains the only kicker on the roster.PunterJeremy CrawshawThe same holds true for the punter. Long-SnapperMitchell FraboniLuke BassoBasso is an undrafted rookie and he's survived this far, which means Fraboni will have to sing for his supper in training camp. Kick ReturnerMarvin Mims Jr.Jaleel McLaughlinTyler BadieKolbe KatsisSean Fresch Jr.It will be fun to see whether Fresch can push this competition. Punt ReturnerMarvin Mims Jr.Riley MossMichael BandyKolbe KatsisSean Fresch Jr.Mims is the All-Pro. But the Broncos are looking for fail-safe options for the future. Sign up for our free Denver Broncos On SI newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow