Denver Broncos

Michael Woods II

WR

Woods has been dealing with a right leg injury during the offseason program and was cut with an injury designation Tuesday. After going unclaimed on waivers, Woods will now head to Denver's injured reserve. It's very possible, and even likely, that he'll eventually be cut with an injury settlement, which would allow him to find another team and suit up at some point during the upcoming campaign.

Johnny Walker

LB

The 25-year-old was sidelined for all of the Broncos' 2025 campaign due to an injury, but it now appears he's moved past the issue. Expect Walker to compete for a reserve role among Denver's linebacker corps as the offseason progresses.

Nik Bonitto

LB

Bonitto underwent a clean-up procedure on his wrist in early February, but it doesn't appear that the star pass rusher is facing any practice restrictions at mandatory minicamp. The 26-year-old has suited up for all 17 regular-season games in back-to-back years and totaled 27.5 sacks in that span.

Troy Franklin

WR

Franklin missed Denver's loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game due to a hamstring injury, but he now appears back to full health. The 2024 fourth-round pick totaled just 263 receiving yards as a rookie but took a sizeable step forward in 2025, with a 65-709-6 receiving line (on 104 targets) across 17 regular-season appearances. The Broncos traded for Jaylen Waddle earlier in the offseason, providing another alpha receiver atop the depth chart alongside Courtland Sutton, so Franklin faces increased competition for targets entering Year 3. If he can take a step forward in his development and build increased chemistry with QB Bo Nix (ankle), though, Franklin could well be the favorite for the No. 3 receiver gig over Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims.

Bo Nix

QB

Nix returned to individual work at the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and he's already upgraded to 7-on-7 reps. While Nix, who is recovering back from offseason ankle surgery plus a follow-up procedure, isn't set to take part in 11-on-11 team drills at minicamp, he said Tuesday he could be "full-go right now if they wanted me to," as Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports. Head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that Nix will be fully cleared for the start of training camp in July.

Jonathon Cooper

LB

"He's taking this time, obviously, he's got to work on himself,'' coach Sean Payton said Tuesday of Cooper, who was arrested twice during a seven-day span earlier this month on multiple domestic violence charges, including one felony. When asked if the Broncos planned to let the legal process conclude before a decision on Cooper's future with the team is made, Payton said: "There's a process period from the league and that involves the local law enforcement. We'll continue to gather that information.'' Regarding the linebacker's legal situation, a league spokesman said last week only that the NFL was monitoring the case.

Matt Henningsen

DE

Henningsen sat out the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles during a practice in August, but it looks like he's back in shape as minicamp kicks off. He'll be competing for a depth role on Denver's defensive line in 2026.

RJ Harvey

RB

Harvey underwent an offseason procedure to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, but the 2025 second-round pick already appears cleared for all practice activities. Payton said the running back is having a "real good" offseason so far. Harvey projects to be a key playmaker out of the backfield for Denver in Year 2, though he faces notable competition for touches from veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie fourth-round pick Jonah Coleman. While suiting up for all 17 regular-season games as a rookie, Harvey rushed 146 times for 540 yards and seven touchdowns and secured 47 of 58 targets for 356 yards and another five scores.

Hakeem Butler

WR

Denver will bring the 30-year-old pass catcher aboard after he recently concluded a stellar run with the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks. Butler took home UFL Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second time in three seasons after compiling a league-high 641 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 29 receptions over nine games in 2026. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, Butler represents a big red-zone target who could serve in a hybrid role at receiver and tight end if he's able to secure a spot on Denver's 53-man roster coming out of the preseason. Since entering the professional ranks as a 2019 fourth-round pick of the Cardinals, Butler has appeared in just two NFL games, both of which came with the Eagles in 2020.

Caleb Lohner

TE

Klis adds that Lohner's procedure was a routine cleanup and that he'll be fully ready for training camp. The second-year tight end spent his rookie season on the Broncos' practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January. Lohner was lauded by Denver coach Sean Payton as a standout performer while participating in rookie minicamp this May, and he'll look to impress again when he's healthy this offseason.

Pat Surtain II

CB

Surtain is now officially in the first year of the four-year, $96 million contract extension he signed with the Broncos back in September of 2024, so the pay bump is not a huge change. The incentive doesn't appear to be a difficult one for the cornerback to reach, as he's already made four straight Pro Bowls. If Denver is able to again field one of football's top defenses in 2026, Surtain will probably be one of the biggest reasons why.

Joseph Manjack IV

WR

Manjack finished third on TCU in receptions (44), yards (579) and touchdowns (three) through 13 games in his fifth collegiate season. He'll join fellow undrafted rookie wide receivers Dane Key, Kolbe Katsis and Cameron Ross. Five receivers have likely already locked up spots on the team, meaning Manjack is likely heading for the practice squad.

Kolbe Katsis

WR

Katsis was dominant for Northern Arizona of the FCS last season, and he recorded a combined 95 receptions for 1,566 yards and 12 touchdowns over his last two college campaigns. He earned All-Big Sky First Team honors as a wide receiver and as a kick returner, as he averaged 30.6 yards per kick return while scoring once. The Broncos have a deep receiver corps, so Katsis likely will need to produce immediately as a returner to earn a 53-man roster spot.

Dane Key

WR

Key was immediately productive at Kentucky as a freshman, producing a 37-519-6 line. He never meaningfully improved from there, however, as he topped out with a 47-715-2 line in his junior year before regressing to a 39-452-5 mark in his senior year at Nebraska. The 22-year-old has intriguing size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds), but his 4.60 40-yard dash at his pro day was a bit disappointing. The Broncos' top-five wideout roles look locked up, meaning Key will need to flash in the offseason program and training camp to secure a roster spot.

Pat Bryant

WR

Bryant was injured in Denver's season-ending loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The 2025 third-round pick had 31 catches for 378 yards and one TD on 49 targets in 15 games during his rookie regular season. Bryant has regained health but will need to impress the coaching staff throughout training camp and the preseason to earn a prominent role in a deep wide receiver room that Denver bolstered by trading for Jaylen Waddle in the offseason while retaining Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin (hamstring), Marvin Mims and Bryant.

Devon Key

S

Once Denver made the tender offer, the safety had no choice but to remain with the team, or sit out the season. Key also was tendered by the Broncos for the 2025 campaign. He has appeared on more than 200 special-teams snaps in each of the last two regular seasons.

Red Murdock

LB

Murdock (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) is an example of a player with a poor athleticism grade but heaps of football ability otherwise. His skill level as a linebacker is uncommon, because in his last two years at Buffalo he accumulated 298 tackles, including 30 for a loss and 7.0 sacks. Murdock also somehow punched out 17 fumbles in his last three seasons. Very few collegiate linebackers live in the backfield as often as Murdock did. The limitation with Murdock is his athleticism, which grades below average thanks to a 4.79-second pro day 40 and poor jumps (31.5-inch vertical, 114-inch broad jump). Murdock already proved he can play if his athleticism can hold up at a given level of competition, so if he turns out to be a steal for the Broncos it wouldn't be fair to call it a complete surprise.

Dallen Bentley

TE

Bentley's big numbers from the 2025 season were undermined by the fact that he did next to nothing in any of the prior seasons, and by the time Bentley started producing for Utah he already had a big age advantage over most of the competition, cheapening the value of that otherwise noteworthy receiving production (48 catches for 620 yards and eight touchdowns on 80 targets). Even with quality workout metrics at 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Bentley will likely begin his NFL career as a practice squad type yet will turn 26 this winter, so he doesn't have much development time on his side.

Miles Scott

S

Scott (6-foot, 203 pounds) will have his work cut out for him to compete for a depth role in Denver's secondary, but he boasts the size, ball skills (as a former wide receiver) and experience to find a role if he can make the most of his developmental opportunities. The 24-year-old started the final three seasons of his five-year career at Illinois. Expect Scott to kick off his rookie year competing with JL Skinner (shoulder), Devon Key and Tycen Anderson for depth reps at safety.

Justin Joly

TE

Joly spent the last two years of his four-year college career at NC State, and he was named to the All-ACC First-Team in 2025 after catching 49 passes for 489 yards and seven touchdowns across 12 games. Joly was mostly detached from the offensive line with NC State and lined up primarily in the slot, making him a mismatch when lined up against opposing secondaries. His 6-foot-3 frame and large, strong hands helps him finish catches regardless of coverage, and he could earn himself regular snaps on offense if he can be more consistent as a blocker. Evan Engram leads the Broncos' tight end room, so Joly is set to compete against Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins for snaps as the TE2 and in 12-man personnel.

Kage Casey

OT

Casey (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) played four years at Boise State and solidified himself as the team's starting left tackle over his final three seasons, concluding his collegiate career with 41 consecutive starts. While Casey boasts the experience and well-rounded skillset to tentatively contribute as a rookie, he could be more suited to a move inside at the NFL level. Denver's elite offensive line represents one of the few landing spots in the league where Casey could get the luxury of a transitional period to focus on his development, with Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey already locked in as this unit's top tackles.

Jonah Coleman

RB

Coleman is a bruising running back at 5-foot-8, 220 pounds. He led Washington in rushing in each of his final two seasons, combining for 1,811 yards (5.2 YPC) and 25 touchdowns while adding 54 receptions for 531 yards and two scores through 25 games. Coleman is quick but he isn't fast, and he produced more than 10 yards on just 20 of his 156 carries as a senior. He didn't run the 40-yard dash this spring, either. Still, players like Coleman have clear NFL utility, especially if they can catch passes. The 22-year-old can block in the pocket and run routes in the open field, so he projects as a potential short-yardage back who will chip in on passing downs as well. Coleman will battle Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie for a role behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey in 2026.

Tyler Onyedim

DT

Onyedim (6-foot-4, 292 pounds) wasn't especially disruptive in his four seasons at Iowa State, but he posted 8.5 tackles for loss in his fifth year, his one and only with Texas A&M, which is a solid mark for a tackle. He can play standard defensive tackle or end from a three-man front, as he has standout reach (34 and 1/8 inch arms) to pair with standout short-area explosiveness (32-inch vertical, 111-inch broad jump).

Dondrea Tillman

LB

Tillman was a productive part of the 2025 Broncos defense, playing 25 percent or more of the defensive snaps in all 17 regular-season games. The 27-year-old likely will maintain his rotational role for the team heading into the 2026 season on a new $1.075 million contract.

J.K. Dobbins

RB

Payton went on to describe Dobbins as a "compound multiplier" who "brings 10 others along with him in positive light." The glowing comments came three weeks after Denver re-signed Dobbins to a two-year, $16 million contract. It's essentially a one-year deal, with $8 million guaranteed this year and then a team option for around $8 million in 2027. Broncos GM George Paton said last week that Dobbins has made a full recovery from his season-ending foot injury, noting that the RB might've even played in the Super Bowl if Denver had made it, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports. Dobbins and RJ Harvey figure to get most of the first-team backfield reps this spring, with Dobbins the current favorite to start Week 1.