The Denver Broncos face the New Orleans Saints on Saturday in what will be their final preseason game. After that, the team will have to knock its roster down to the league-mandated number of 53 players.
The team has likely determined many of the players who will make up that final number, but a few spots could still be hanging in the balance. These four players will have to leave it all on the field in New Orleans if they want to have a chance of making the team.
The biggest name on that list might be second-year running back Audric Estime.
Last year's fifth-round pick came onto the team with a lot of promise. But a fumbling issue was evident during his rookie season and falling down the depth chart this summer may have created some attitude issues, so he seems to be on his way out in Denver.
The Broncos have a solid stable of running backs in front of him and if you were going to rank those six running backs in order, you're probably putting Estime at six. The Broncos could look into trading him (even though the return would be low) but there is a high probability that he is going to be cut.
Damarri Mathis, CB
Damarri Mathis is still a young player in Denver's system, but he has shown struggles in the early part of his career and looks like he will be a victim of the numbers game this year.
He was listed as a cut candidate by NFL.com largely due to the fact that the Broncos just have great options at the cornerback position in front of him. A fourth-round pick in 2022 who is still only 26 years old, it won't be an easy decision for the Broncos to pull the plug on Mathis so soon, but there is just too much depth in front of him.
It makes sense for his career to continue with another team. He, too, could be a trade candidate and if the Broncos were able to get anything for him, rather than just cut him, that would be a win.
Lucas Krull, TE
It's difficult to fully assess what the Broncos are going to do at tight end.
Evan Engram is the starter and Adam Trautman is most likely going to be his top backup. The injury to Nate Adkins might have convoluted matters, but he is going to be on this team. It's just a matter of where he will start the season.
Seventh-round pick Caleb Lohner is a raw prospect, but one Sean Payton seems to really like and may not be willing to expose him to waivers. All of this seems to make it seem difficult for Lucas Krull to find a spot on this team.
READ: Broncos undrafted WR may have just made team following big trade
Eyioma Uwazurike, DL
All signs point to the Broncos keeping six defensive linemen on the final roster, with five of those being Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach and Sai'vion Jones. The sixth spot seems like a toss-up between Eyioma Uwazurike and Jordan Jackson.
Uwazurike was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft and, after overcoming some off-the-field issues, is looking to get his career moving in the right direction. But the Broncos like Jackson, who made the roster last season as a bit of a surprise, so this one is tough to call.
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