The Broncos parted ways with 24 players to trim their roster to the 53-man regular-season limit. Here are the players the team cut to get to 53.
Waived:
- T Quinn Bailey
- RB LeVante Bellamy
- WR Trinity Benson
- WR Fred Brown
- LB Malik Carney
- S Douglas Coleman
- RB Jeremy Cox
- TE Troy Fumagalli
- WR Kendall Hinton
- S Alijah Holder
- LB Justin Hollins
- OL Tyler Jones
- S P.J. Locke
- C Pat Morris
- T Darrin Paulo
- T Jake Rodgers
- QB Brett Rypien
- LB Derrek Tuszka
- LB Josh Watson
- T Hunter Watts
- WR Cody White
- DL DeShawn Williams
- WR Juwann Winfree
Released:
Placed on IR:
- TE Austin Fort
The Rypien cut will leave the Broncos with two active-roster QBs — Drew Lock and Jeff Driskel — while the Fumagalli and Fort decisions mean Jake Butt made Denver’s active roster. Viewed as a long shot to do so after the team made multiple tight end additions this offseason, Butt made it through camp healthy to start his contract year. The former Michigan standout has suffered three ACL tears in his career.
Denver drafting three wideouts made matters difficult for their lesser-known holdovers, but Winfree — a 2019 sixth-rounder — profiles as a practice squad candidate. The Broncos will carry rookie seventh-rounder Tyrie Cleveland onto their active roster.
Bausby has bounced around the league for several years now, and the former Division II standout joined Mike Purcell in vaulting from the Alliance of American Football to a Broncos role last year. But the team kept UDFA Essang Bassey over Bausby this year.
Fumagalli is the only surprising cut to me. He played well (likely the best of Denver’s current TEs when adjusted for snaps played and Fant’s mistakes), and was said to be liked by the staff.
That said, I have literally no idea why ANYONE would sign Jeff Driskel as a quarterback. The guy simply is not an NFL quarterback. He just isn’t. I don’t enjoy tagging on anyone, but Driskel is truly uninspiring, has no upside, and little veteran experience to impart. There is a very good reason he transferred from Florida, and he has not shown much in the NFL to suggest that his game will evolve further, especially with the backup options available in the NFL.
I don’t think Driskel is the worst option. He does have a ridiculous 152.5 passer rating in game situations where it is 2nd & 4-6.
Agree AK, I think they will resign Rypien to pta twice squad and hopefully someone is cut who they like better than Driskill.
Perhaps they could bring back Siemian. He’s not starting material, but he’s an intelligent backup that can hold the fort if surrounded by enough talent. He seemed to handle himself well in Denver and could serve as a Chase Daniel type of mentor for Lock
Fumagalli the best of Denver’s TE’s? You’re out of your mind. Fant, while he had some mistakes, still posted near record numbers for a rookie TE last year. And fumagalli played how many pro snaps? 38 career yards gained isn’t putting him in the hall buddy.
Fair, I exaggerated. But Fant just cannot block and made quite a few mistakes last year as well. Fumagalli was supposedly a coaches’ favorite because he was reliable when called upon. I suppose I expected to see him come out of the pack behind Fant in the TE room.