ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos cut 37 players on Saturday, trimming their roster to the NFL-mandated 53 players. Here’s a closer look at the final cuts:
Most significant move: The Broncos’ most talked about move wasn’t a player they released, but rather one they kept. Paxton Lynch teetered on the edge of the end of his time with the Broncos for much of the preseason, but in the end the team elected to keep what is likely the most expensive No. 3 quarterback in the league. Lynch lost battles to be the starter in 2016 and 2017 before losing the battle, to Chad Kelly, to be Case Keenum’s backup this time around. But in the end, the Broncos didn’t cut ties with a player they traded up to get in the first round of the 2016 draft, and he will count $2.584 million against their salary cap but still be cheaper than the $3.184 million he would have counted against the cap had they released him. Unless there are a pile of injuries or Kelly falters in practice it’s unlikely Lynch will appear in any games this season.
Hometown hero: Yes, Phillip Lindsay should have been invited to the league’s scouting combine after his record-setting career at the University of Colorado. And yes, Lindsay certainly should have been selected in the seven-round draft this past April. And yes, Lindsay has now not only made the Broncos roster as an undrafted rookie running back, but the team has big plans for him in their offense and on special teams. The South High School graduate is a Denver native, and he is also the first player to make the team’s roster who was once in the Denver Broncos Futures Program (for middle school football players). For the thousands of fans who came to training camp practices, Lindsay might be the most popular new arrival, even with the team’s front-line rookie class.
The kids are far better than all right: The Broncos’ rookie class will not only be well represented on this roster, but the players will have significant impact on how the season goes. Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (first round), wide receiver Courtland Sutton (second round), running back Royce Freeman (third round), cornerback Isaac Yiadom (third round), linebacker Josey Jewell (fourth round), wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (fourth round), guard/center Sam Jones (sixth round) and linebacker Keishawn Bierria (sixth round) all made the 53-man roster. Tight end Troy Fumagalli would have had an excellent chance at making the roster had he not gone to injured reserve. Add in Lindsay and A.J. Johnson and the Broncos could have the best first-year class in John Elway’s tenure as the team’s top football decision-maker.
Broncos moves:
Released: T Cyrus Kouandjio, DE Clinton McDonald, S Shamarko Thomas.
Waived: LB Zaire Anderson, WR Bryce Bobo, WR Mark Chapman, WR River Cracraft, WR John Diarse, T Austin Fleer, RB De’Angelo Henderson, OLB Jeff Holland, CB Michael Hunter, T Leon Johnson, CB Brendan Langley, WR Jordan Leslie, DE Caushaud Lyons, S Trey Marshall, WR Isaiah McKenzie, DL DeQuinton Osborne, TE Brian Parker, NT Kyle Peko, T Jeremiah Poutasi, OLB Marcus Rush, G Austin Schlottmann, DE Antonio Simmons, CB C.J. Smith, TE Austin Traylor, WR DeAndrew White, RB David Williams, DE DeShawn Williams.
Injured reserve: TE Troy Fumagalli, LB Jerrol Garcia Williams.
Waived/injured: G J.J. Dielman, T Andreas Knappe, S Jordan Moore, CB Marcus Rios.
Reserve PUP: WR Jordan Taylor.