Broncos Release First Unofficial Depth Chart of 2023 Preseason

Written in "pencil," per HC Sean Payton.

The Denver Broncos have unveiled their first unofficial depth chart prior to Friday night's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Emphasis on "unofficial."

Broncos release their first depth chart of preseason in the pregame release: pic.twitter.com/4dEPMssafK

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 9, 2023

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As one can discern, the depth chart features more than a few surprises, including (but not limited to):

• Caden Sterns and Kareem Jackson as co-starting safeties.

• Tyler Badie ahead of training camp darling Jaleel McLaughlin for the third running back spot.

• Tight end Adam Trautman "starting" over Greg Dulcich.

• Albert Okwuegbunam dropping to fifth-string TE behind undrafted rookie Nate Adkins.

• Rookie wide receiver Marvin Mim as the primary kick and punt returner.

• Second-year former UDFA Brandon Johnson as Courtland Sutton's direct backup, leapfrogging ex-Saints WRs Marquez Callaway and Lil'Jordan Humphrey.

However, one should also take these developments with an industrial-sized grain of salt. NFL teams are forced to issue preseason depth charts, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton cautioned that it's being written in "pencil" rather than Sharpie.

“We have to, so it starts with that. We have to," Payton said Monday. "[Chief Communications Officer] Patrick [Smyth] will put it together, hand it to the coordinators. They’ll hand it to me, and we’ll tweak it. Just understand, we can’t write it in pencil, but it’s in pencil.”

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