The Denver Broncos concluded their preseason Friday with a 34-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Denver sat most of its starters and key reserves — roughly 30 players total — during the final dress rehearsal before the Sept. 14 opener at Kansas City.Now, it’s decision time.Despite bringing back the bulk of a team that won 14 games last season and fell just short of a trip to the Super Bowl, head coach Sean Payton, general manager George Paton and their staff have a handful of interesting decisions to make as they put together an initial 53-man roster, which must be turned in by 4 p.m. MT Sunday.Top Plays from Vikings @ BroncosSeveral factors could impact how the Broncos maneuver around the cuts with an eye on having not only the right players for the active roster, but also on the 16-man practice squad that can be assembled Monday. The Broncos are dealing with multiple injuries that could lead to short-term IR designations. Starting outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper could be facing an NFL suspension that Denver is also considering. Plus, Payton always seems to have a surprise or two when cuts arrive.With all that in mind, let’s take one final crack at predicting where it will all land:Quarterback (2)Bo Nix, Jarrett StidhamOther: Sam EhlingerThe Broncos cut Ehlinger at last season’s deadline, signed him to the practice squad and then moved him onto the 53-man roster ahead of Week 1 after an injury elsewhere on the roster opened a spot. There is a trust between the Broncos and Ehlinger, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver handle the No. 3 quarterback spot in a similar fashion this season.Running back (3)J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah ColemanOthers: Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody SchraderThe Broncos are facing tough choices at the back of this room. McLaughlin and Badie have both contributed to a team that has won 24 games over the past two seasons. Payton could decide he wants a pure runner on the roster, which would open a spot for McLaughlin. Or he could decide he needs a player well-versed in the position’s responsibilities in pass protection and hurry-up situations, which would give Badie the edge. The prediction here, though, is that Denver decides it has all it needs with its three top backs, reasoning that it could get at least one of Badie or McLaughlin through waivers and back to the practice squad.A note here on fullback Adam Prentice: He will likely be on the game day roster every week this season so long as he is healthy, but the prediction here is he’ll be left off the initial 53-man roster in a procedural move that allows Denver to promote him from the practice squad the first three weeks of the season before moving him onto the roster for the rest of the season ahead of Week 4 — just as they did last year.Wide receiver (5)Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, Troy FranklinOthers: Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Michael Bandy, Cameron Ross, Kyrese Rowan, Kolbe Katsis, Dane Key, Joseph Manjack, Kyre DuplessisRegardless of how the roster is initially formed, Humphrey keeps managing to be a part of it. After returning to Denver midseason after a short stint with the New York Giants, the veteran had nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown — and he added another scoring grab in the playoffs. Similar to the situation with Prentice, the Broncos could cut Humphrey and then move him to the roster via practice squad promotion. A wild card here is Ross. There probably isn’t room for the undrafted rookie on the roster, but he’s impressed during camp and has flexibility as a returner. He figures to be a player Denver would love to develop on the practice squad.Lil’Jordan Humphrey has had an impressive preseason, but may not make the cut on Sunday. (Tyler Schank / Getty Images)Tight end (4)Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Justin JolyOthers: Lucas Krull, Dallen Bentley, Caleb LohnerLohner, a seventh-round pick in 2025, seemed on track to compete for a roster spot in the spring, when Payton singled him out as a player who made a clear jump in his development since the end of last season. But Lohner has not participated in training camp while rehabbing an offseason injury. He began working on a side field during practice this week, but it’s hard to envision him being on the initial roster given his extended absence. Joly hasn’t convincingly outplayed Krull or Bentley in camp, but he was a fifth-round pick in April and Denver may have a tougher time getting him through waivers than the other two players we’re leaving off here. An 88-yard touchdown reception from Ehlinger in the fourth quarter Friday certainly didn’t hurt Joly’s case.Offensive line (10)Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Kage Casey, Alex Forsyth, Matt Peart, Frank CrumOthers: Frank Crum, Tyler Miller, Lecitus Smith, Gavin Ortega, Reid Holskey, Calvin Throckmorton, Foster SarellCrum, who was the sixth lineman in jumbo sets for the Broncos during the second half of last season and caught a touchdown pass out of that personnel grouping against the Bills in the playoffs, is part of Denver’s plans on the offensive line. He’s also missed the past week of practice, which could signal a stay on injured reserve to start the season, but we won’t assume a long-term injury here since Payton hasn’t given a firm update on his status. Another roster candidate to watch here is Miller, the undrafted rookie out of Iowa State. You don’t find 6-foot-9, 335-pound offensive tackles around every corner, and Denver has made it a priority to keep developmental linemen when it can.Defensive line (7)Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson, Sai’vion JonesOthers: Jordan Miller, Kristian Williams, Israel AntwineThis may be the best and deepest position group on the team, and that’s reflected in the numbers here. Jackson has made the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster each of the past two seasons and may have turned in his best training camp yet. Sai’vion Jones, meanwhile, was a third-round pick just a year ago who produced an 11.5 percent pressure rate in three games played. The Broncos kept seven defensive linemen on the initial roster last season, and I see it shaking out that way again.Outside linebacker (5)Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Dondrea TillmanOthers: Drew Sanders, Ron Stone Jr., Dasan McCullough, Johnny WalkerCooper was one of the only Broncos starters who played in Friday’s preseason finale. When he sees the field again remains an open question. The veteran is under investigation by the NFL after he was arrested twice in June following domestic incidents with his then-girlfriend. Cooper is facing multiple charges, including one for second-degree felony assault, and is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing Monday. Payton said earlier this week he believes the Broncos will “find out soon” whether the league will levy a suspension. Until there’s a concrete ban in place for Cooper, though, the Broncos will have a heavier number at this position. Still, it’s hard to see the group including Sanders, the fourth-year player who simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy.Inside linebacker (4)Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Karene Reid, Red MurdockOthers: Jordan Turner, Taurean YorkReid made the initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie out of Utah last season and has called the defense for the second unit throughout the offseason. He also made one of Denver’s top defensive plays of the preseason when he broke on a short route in the red zone against the Falcons, deflecting a pass that was intercepted by Jahdae Barron and returned 97 yards for a touchdown. It would be a surprise if he were left off the roster. The decision here may be between Turner, the second-year player who saw action in seven games last season, and Murdock, the rookie taken by the Broncos with the final pick in April’s draft. I’m giving Murdock the edge, given his developmental upside.Karene Reid tackles Vikings tight end Marshall Lang in Friday’s preseason finale. (Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)Cornerback (5)Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-DraineOthers: Reese Taylor, Brent Austin, Sean Fresch Jr., Ricardo HallmanIt would not be a surprise to see Taylor land on this list. He has had a strong camp, mostly serving as backup nickel behind McMillian, and he saw action in four games for the Broncos last season. Taylor, though, suffered a concussion in Friday’s game. Austin, an undrafted rookie out of California, also had encouraging flashes during camp and figures to be a player Denver wants to continue developing on the practice squad.Safety (5)Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Tycen AndersonOthers: Miles Scott, Parker RobertsonThis position was thrown into flux earlier this week when the Broncos released veteran Taylor Rapp less than a week after signing him with an apparent reserve role in mind. Rapp needed to leave the team for a personal matter, Payton said, and could return to the roster later. For now, that has me penciling in Anderson, another veteran signed by the Broncos this offseason, as the final safety because of his special teams experience.Specialists (3)Wil Lutz (kicker), Jeremy Crawshaw (punter), Mitchell Fraboni (long snapper)Other: Luke Basso (long snapper)The Broncos keep the same specialist group together for the second straight season.