The Broncos’ first unofficial depth chart of training camp is out, and Jarrett Stidham is listed first at quarterback.
There’s one small caveat.
No rookie, not a single one, is listed on the two-deep. That includes quarterback Bo Nix, who is squarely in contention for the starting job but listed third on the depth chart behind Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Head coach Sean Payton borrowed the “no rookies” page — along with many others — from the old Bill Parcells playbook.
“Rookies are at the back of the line,” Payton said Tuesday.
So what does it tell us about where Nix stacks up in the quarterback race? Not a whole lot. Does it mean a decision’s been made to start Stidham in Sunday’s preseason opener at Indianapolis?
“Not yet,” Payton said, noting the staff has meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to make the playing-time plan.
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Here’s what it does mean: Payton is very much not a fan of putting a depth chart out at this stage of training camp. But each team had to by 2 p.m. Tuesday.
“I’m not ready for a depth chart, but I have to give a depth chart, so it’s easy to push the (rookies) to the back of the line,” he said flatly, noting that doing so helps the project take five minutes instead of 40.
He did allow, though, that outside of the newcomers, the unofficial depth chart is, “kind of where we sit right now.”
That makes a couple of entries at least modestly interesting: Riley Moss and Damarri Mathis are listed as competing for one cornerback job while veteran Levi Wallace is listed as Pat Surtain II’s backup. At inside linebacker, Cody Barton and Jonas Griffith are battling for a starting job with rookie Levelle Bailey behind. At receiver, veteran Tim Patrick is listed as a starter.
Any more than that, though, and Payton starts to bristle a bit.
“We’re spending too much time on the depth chart,” he said a handful of questions into his Tuesday news conference.
Broncos’ initial depth chart
Here’s the full unofficial chart as distributed by the Broncos. Rookies are in italics.
Offense
QB: Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson, Bo Nix
RB: Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Audric Estime, Blake Watson
FB: Michael Burton
WR: Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims Jr., Brandon Johnson, Phillip Dorsett, Jalen Virgil, Troy Franklin
WR: Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, David Sills, Michael Bandy, Devaughn Vele
TE: Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull, Nate Adkins, Hunter Kampmoyer, Thomas Yassmin
LT: Garett Bolles, Matt Peart, Demontrey Jacobs
LG: Ben Powers, Calvin Throckmorton, Nick Gargiulo
C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Sam Mustipher
RG: Quinn Meinerz, Will Sherman, Oliver Jervis
RT: Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum
Defense
DE: Zach Allen, Angelo Blackson, Jordan Jackson
DT: D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Matt Henningsen, Jordan Miller
DE: John Franklin-Myers, Elijah Garcia, Eyioma Uwazurike
SLB: Jonathon Cooper, Thomas Incoom, Jonah Elliss, Jaylon Allen
WLB: Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Durell Nchami, Dondrea Tillman
ILB: Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Andre Smith
ILB: Jonas Griffith OR Cody Barton, Levelle Bailey, Alec Mock
CB: Pat Surtain, Levi Wallace, Tremon Smith, Kris Abrams-Draine
CB: Damarri Mathis OR Riley Moss, Art Green
Nickel: Ja’Quan McMillian, Reese Taylor, Quinton Newsome
S: P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Tanner McCalister, Omar Brown
S: Brandon Jones, Devon Key, Keidron Smith
Special Teams
PK: Wil Lutz
KO: Wil Lutz, Trenton Gill
P: Riley Dixon OR Trenton Gill
H: Riley Dixon OR Trenton Gill
PR: Marvin Mims Jr., Tremon Smith, Michael Bandy
KO: Marvin Mims Jr., Tremon Smith, Jaleel McLaughlin
LS: Mitchell Fraboni
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Originally Published: August 6, 2024 at 9:44 a.m.
