The 2023 Denver Broncos are entering training camp with seemingly every starting spot locked in place. However, some under-the-radar position battles will not make any major headlines but could be proven important as the season gets going.
Some of these battles may not be battles at all, but the player penciled in as the starter might have a short enough leash that he has to stay on his best game to keep the job. From battle on offense, defense, and special teams, this training camp may have noise surrounding other major circumstances but do not ignore some players fighting for a final starting spot.
2023 Denver Broncos Top Training Camp Position Battles
Starting Center:
Options: Lloyd Cushenberry, Alex Forsyth, Kyle Fuller
After an offseason with the clear number one goal to be fixing the offensive line, it seems as complete as possible going into training camp. With players like Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey joining the team from free agency and Garett Bolles recovering from his broken leg, the only spot with any sort of questions is the starting Center.
For the last two seasons, it has been Lloyd Cushenberry. Cushenberry is coming off a major injury that took away half of his season a year ago. However, he has proven two things throughout his NFL career, he is durable, and he improves every season. After an awful rookie season, with an overall PFF Grade of 40.5 and giving up four sacks, 22 hurries, and 29 pressures, he improved in almost every category every year to only giving up one sack and nine pressures in his eight games before the injury.
He has shown clear improvements every year as a pass blocker. That and the fact that he played 100% of the offensive snaps in his first two seasons make having Cushenberry as the starter a comfortable spot for the team. However, with his clear shortcomings as a run blocker and the team making such an effort to improve the Offensive Line, it is reasonable to assume that his job is not safe.
The first move the team made was the signing of former Seahawks Center Kyle Fuller. This move looks more like a depth role and someone that has a history with Russell Wilson. However, I do not see Fuller really having a chance. He only has 12 career starts in his five seasons and only one season with more than two starts. I would be shocked if he ended up the starter, but he is one of the three true centers in camp and he just needs to perform well to have a shot.
Alex Forsyth is the real competition for Cushenberry. The biggest problem with Forsyth is that he is a rookie and this is a season where the Broncos need to win, so relying on a rookie is a scary thought. However, when you look at what he did in college and how he measures up to Lloyd, he should have a real chance,
The three-year starter at Oregon was one of the best bass-blocking centers in college football. His last season alone was graded at 85.6% by PFF, and he did not allow a single sack and only one pressure all year. In his three seasons as a starter, he only allowed three sacks in almost 955 pass-blocking snaps.
It is not just the pass blocking, though; he was a really solid run blocker too. That could be a big boost for him in the competition if he can be a better run blocker than Lloyd. He had a positive run block grade all three seasons as a run blocker. He may be behind the eight-ball as a rookie, but I do expect him to make it a competition.
Winner: Alex Forsyth
Former Oregon Ducks OL Alex Forsyth (78) – Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire
Cornerback #2:
Candidates: Damarri Mathis, Riley Moss
The Broncos have arguably the best CB in the NFL, and if not at least in most people’s opinions, a top-five CB in the league. They also have one of the better slot/nickel CBs in the league with K’Waun Williams. That leaves a hole as the number two outside CB. This is a position that seems all but locked up with Mathis but do not sleep on Moss as a player to make it a competition.
Mathis, though did have a really good season as a rookie. One of the big numbers is the fact that he only gave up one TD the whole year with 11 starts and playing in 16 games. That is incredibly impressive, especially considering the QBs he plays in his division. It got off to a rough start, giving up 100% completion for 94 yards against the Colts and then giving up four penalties and allowing six catches against the Chargers the next week.
After that, he was downright dominant. He only gave up more than 45 yards one time and never gave up more than five catches in a game after that. He also finished his last three games with six catches and 38 yards, with the last game being against the Chiefs. He went into the offseason with enormous momentum, but after trading back into the third round to take Riley Moss, it caused many to question if Mathis is a lock.
Moss was one of the most athletic CBs in the 2023 Draft, running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and standing at 6’1” tall. He is not just an athletic freak; he was one of the most consistent CBs in college football. As a three-year starter, but a five-year player at Iowa, he has a grade of 75% or higher in coverage by PFF each of the last four seasons. He also finished with 11 INTs and only gave up a completion percentage of 53.6%.
Like Forsyth, he is behind the eight ball, being a rookie behind a player that got better the more he played. However, he should provide quality pressure on Mathis to earn his spot and continue to play well to keep his job.
Winner: Damarri Mathis
Broncos CB Damarri Mathis (27) – Timothy Hurst/The Gazette
Wide Receiver #4:
Candidates: Marvin Mims, Marquez Callaway
While this battle does not seem as big a deal as some fighting for a starting spot, as we saw last year, having quality depth here is important. While on paper, the WR Trio of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and returning from his ACL injury, Tim Patrick looks like one of the more talented trios in the league, they have failed to be on the field together for any significant stretch. Because of this, having a quality option for WR number four is important.
Rookie WR Marvin Mims is the hot name thrown out there, and for good reasons. The team traded up to take him in the second round of the 2023 Draft, and he provides something they were hoping to get out of K.J. Hamler, and that is a real deep threat. He was top-20 in College in depth of target average at 17 yards and fifth in the entire country in deep yards at 602 yards.
He may be set back a little with a reported hamstring injury going into camp, but once he comes back, he is bringing with him a history of being great everywhere he goes. He was the most productive WR in all three years of his college career.
This is the third player that the team may lean on as a rookie, and he may not have the best shot of the group of rookies considering his injury; he should have a great shot to win his spot if he does not miss too much time in camp.
Marquez Callaway is a name to keep an eye on for Broncos fans this year. He has flown under the radar in his NFL career, never really putting up special numbers. The big thing with him is his history with Sean Payton. He played under him for two seasons, and the last time Payton coached Callaway, he led the Saints in receiving with 698 yards and six TDs.
While Callaway may be too much of what the WR Trio already has, being a big body jump ball type player, his production, head start health-wise, and history with Payton may give him too big an edge.
Winner: Marquez Callaway
Former Saints WR Marquez Callaway (1) – Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports
Other battles could go on in the Training Camp for Denver. Battles for spots like Defensive Line, Strong Safety, and Kicker are going to happen and are also huge for the team. I do believe that the other three I mentioned are going to be proven to be bigger throughout the camp and may end up being more important throughout the season.
