The Denver Broncos officially open training camp Friday after two days of condensed “acclimation” workouts earlier in the week. It marks the start of Denver’s chase for the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl title and first since the 2015 season, but in a micro sense it also lights the fuse on some intriguing position battles that could help shape the roster when it takes an initial 53-man form in early September.We don’t have to wait that long, though, to take a stab at how that Week 1 group could come together. Below is our second offseason roster projection. The final version will follow after the Broncos’ preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 28.Let’s dive in:Quarterback (2)Bo Nix, Jarrett StidhamOther: Sam EhlingerIt is possible the Broncos will keep three quarterbacks on their roster. They did it in 2024 when Zach Wilson served as the emergency No. 3 on game days. The Broncos have been pleased with Ehlinger’s growth during his second year in the offense, and head coach Sean Payton seemed to suggest during the annual NFL meeting in March that the 27-year-old could even compete for the backup job behind Nix. I still have a hard time seeing Payton moving on from Stidham, even after a couple of critical mistakes during his lone start in the AFC Championship Game in January. However, it also wouldn’t be a total shock to see Ehlinger steal that spot if he puts together an impressive camp and preseason.Bo Nix hits training camp running on surgically-repaired ankleNick KosmiderRunning back (3)J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah ColemanOthers: Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader The Broncos kept four running backs on cutdown day each of the past two seasons, but there were only three on Payton’s opening roster in 2023 (Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, McLaughlin). Given that Harvey and Coleman are entering their second and first seasons, respectively, the Broncos may keep Badie or McLaughlin on the roster. But McLaughlin was a game-day inactive as the No. 4 back last season during all but one of the first 10 games, when all the running backs were healthy, so I think the Broncos will use that roster spot on a different position this time around.Fullback (1)Adam PrenticeThe Broncos could release Prentice, a veteran who wouldn’t be subject to waivers, on cutdown day and then bring him back to the practice squad with a plan to elevate him on game day until a spot opens on the roster. It’s how they maneuvered last season with Prentice and in the past with former fullback Michael Burton. It’s also possible the Broncos don’t need to significantly finagle the roster and just put Prentice on the opening 53. Either way, Prentice will be the team’s fullback when the season begins.Wide receiver (5)Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Pat BryantOthers: Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Michael Bandy, Hakeem Butler, Dane Key, Joseph Manjack, Cameron Ross, Kolbe Katsis The big question here is not who will make the roster, but rather who will emerge as the team’s No. 3 target behind Sutton and Waddle. Bryant, heading into his second season, had a strong spring and could benefit from the space Waddle can create in the passing game. A player to watch in the preseason: Butler, the former UFL standout who joined the team in June and presents a massive target at 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds.Pat Bryant will be among those battling for the Broncos’ third wide receiver spot. (Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images)Tight end (4)Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Justin Joly, Caleb LohnerOthers: Nate Adkins, Dallen Bentley, Lucas Krull Lohner drew unsolicited praise from Payton during rookie minicamp in May, saying the 2025 seventh-round pick has made major strides related to his understanding of the game after playing only one season of college football. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound former basketball player could be a unique target in the red zone. He missed the Broncos’ acclimation practices this week while recovering from a lower-body injury, but Lohner figures to have a real shot to make the roster. Still, the depth spots at tight end could be among the most hotly contested on the roster.Offensive line (10)Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Kage Casey, Alex Forsyth, Frank Crum, Matt PeartOthers: Nick Gargiulo, Reid Holskey, Gavin Ortega, Calvin Throckmorton, Michael Deiter, Tyler MillerThe offensive line benefited in this exercise by there being one less player in the running back room. Forsyth and Peart figure to be the bubble players for a group that added a fourth-round pick in Casey to a room that has largely been the same past three years. The Broncos may keep both, though, as insurance for a line that is among the league’s older and more experienced units.Defensive line (6)Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Sai’vion JonesOthers: Jordan Jackson, Kristian Williams, Matt Henningsen, Jordan MillerJackson has been a veteran contributor for the Broncos the past two seasons, playing in 24 regular-season and playoff games, and it’s possible the Broncos could keep him as a seventh defensive lineman. Uwazurike saw his role increase for Denver last season and figures to be a prominent interior presence as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. A major question in this room is which young defensive end — Onyedim or Jones — pushes for early playing time as the fifth defensive lineman in the rotation.Outside linebacker (5)Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, Que RobinsonOthers: Drew Sanders, Dasan McCullough, Johnny WalkerWill Cooper, who faces a second-degree felony charge with an arraignment date in late August, face a suspension from the NFL for violation of its personal conduct policy? For now, the Broncos are operating with Cooper being a member of the roster, but they could keep extra numbers in this room as they build contingencies for a possible extended absence for the veteran edge rusher. If he can stay healthy — a moving target during his first three seasons in the league — Sanders could be a depth answer for the Broncos on the edge.Drew Sanders will try to bounce back from an injury last year in training camp that cost him the entire 2025 season. (Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)Inside linebacker (4)Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Red Murdock, Karene ReidOthers: Jordan Turner, Levelle Bailey, Taurean YorkConfidence level in the depth chart rankings beyond Singleton and Strnad: low. The Broncos have a room full of intriguing, but largely unproven linebackers behind the two veteran starters. Several of them could be asked to play significant roles at some point this season. The battles to find out who those players will be qualify as some of the most intriguing ones we’ll see in this camp.Cornerback (5)Pat Surtain, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine, Jahdae BarronOthers: Sean Fresch Jr., Brent Austin, Reese Taylor, Jaden Robinson, Sam WebbThe top five here are all but set, but it will be interesting to see whether Fresch, a former UFL standout with return potential who was signed in the spring, can put together a strong case to be added as a sixth corner. His end zone interception Thursday in front of Katsis during a red-zone period was arguably the top play made during Denver’s two acclimation practices.Safeties (5)Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Tycen AndersonOthers: Miles Scott, Parker RobertsonScott, the seventh-round pick out of Illinois, could certainly play his way into a Week 1 roster spot. With P.J. Locke now with the Dallas Cowboys, the Broncos need a reliable No. 3 safety. Key has the most experience in that position among the reserves on this expanded roster, but the Broncos will give Scott plenty of opportunity in camp. Ultimately, though, we went with a pair of potential impact special teams players in Skinner and Anderson to round out this group.Specialists (3)Wil Lutz (kicker), Jeremy Crawshaw (punter), Mitchell Fraboni (long snapper)Other: Luke Basso (long snapper)Crawshaw’s punts so far this offseason have been things of sky-scraping beauty. On the heels of an excellent performance in the playoffs, the punter could be a major weapon for the Broncos in his second season.