The Defense

The Broncos acted accordingly to their worst finish in points per game allowed (25th) since 2010: They loaded up on defense. New general manager George Paton re-signed defensive end Shelby Harris and safety Justin Simmons, retained outside linebacker Von Miller and safety Kareem Jackson and drafted cornerback Pat Surtain II ninth overall. All in the effort to slow down AFC West quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) and Derek Carr (Las Vegas).

Defensive end

Dre’Mont Jones | 93

6-3, 281, 24, 3rd season, Ohio State

Ask around the Broncos facility who the biggest breakout player’s going to be in 2021, and the answer is usually Jones. After 6 1/2 sacks in a reserve role last year, Jones is a starter and Von Miller believes the third-round pick can be a “great” pass-rusher.

Shamar Stephen | 99

6-5, 309, 30, 8th season, Connecticut

One of several ex-Vikings that GM George Paton signed this offseason, Stephen brings plenty of experience as Jones’ backup. Stephen started 16 games for Minnesota last year and has 173 tackles and 4.5 sacks across 98 games.

Nose tackle

Mike Purcell | 98

6-3, 328, 30, 6th season, Wyoming

Purcell was rewarded with a three-year, $11.5 million extension last October, but he suffered a season-ending foot fracture a few weeks later. Denver is counting on Purcell to be the disruptive, run-stuffing force that earned him the starting job early in 2019.

DeShawn Williams | 90

6-1, 291, 28, 4th season, Clemson

Williams signed with the Broncos last year as a free agent and came on to fill in after Purcell’s season-ending injury. A solid preseason this year cemented his roster spot and gives the Broncos confidence in their depth at nose tackle.

Defensive end

Shelby Harris | 96

6-1, 299, 30, 7th season, Illinois State

Harris signed a three-year, $27 million contract that will pay him $10 million in 2021, so the Broncos expect him to be a force. His pass-batting skills are among the best in the league, and he had 2.5 sacks in 11 games in 2020.

McTelvin Agim | 95

6-3, 300, 23, 2nd season, Arkansas

Despite disarray on the Broncos’ D-line last year, Agim played 13% of defensive snaps, an indication Fangio & Co. didn’t fully trust him. But Agim showed huge growth during camp and the preseason, and he’ll called on as a backup in 2021.

Jonathan Harris | No. 92

6-5, 295, 25, 2nd season, Lindenwood

The Broncos claimed Harris off waivers in 2019 and though he appeared in three games that season, he was on the practice squad for all of 2020. He clearly impressed Broncos coaches enough during training camp to make the roster as a D-line reserve.

Outside linebacker

Bradley Chubb | 55

6-4, 275, 25, 4th season, N.C. State

Chubb is coming off his first Pro Bowl season after registering 7 1/2 sacks and nine tackles for loss across 14 games last year. His ankle seemingly healed from May surgery, Chubb expects himself to be a double-digit sack force.

Jonathon Cooper | 53

6-4, 257, 23, Rookie, Ohio State

The Broncos drafted Cooper in the seventh round this year and he underwent three heart ablation surgeries that cost him most of the offseason. Now healthy, Denver is expecting the high-motor Cooper to contribute in the pass rush.

Andre Mintze | 91

6-3, 246, 22, Rookie, Vanderbilt

The versatile and athletic Mintze proved his value on special teams and as a backup edge rusher in the preseason. By making the team, the Broncos have had at least one undrafted free agent on the initial active roster in 17 out of the last 18 seasons.

Inside linebacker

Josey Jewell | 47

6-1, 236, 26, 4th season, Iowa

Jewell is coming off his best pro season yet, starting all 16 games while making 113 tackles and two sacks. The Broncos will rely on him to lead the defensive calls, and Jewell will be pushed by the younger and capable Strnad.

Justin Strnad | 40

6-3, 235, 24, 2nd season, Wake Forest

Strnad missed his entire rookie season because of a wrist injury, but came back healthy for 2021 and got plenty of reps with the No. 1 defense throughout training camp. His length and athleticism give him upside at the position.

Inside linebacker

Alexander Johnson | 45

6-2, 255, 29, 4th season, Tennessee

After racking up a team-leading 124 tackles in his first full year as an NFL starter, the dinosaur roar is back. Johnson has the talent, but the Broncos need him to continue to make strides in his reads and overall discipline.

Baron Browning | 56

6-3, 240, 22, Rookie, Ohio State

Another reason for the Broncos’ optimism regarding inside backer depth is Browning, a third-round pick this year. A leg injury delayed Browning’s debut, but he finally got healthy in training camp and played well in the preseason.

Jonas Griffith | 50

6-4, 250, 24, 2nd season, Indiana State

Acquired via trade from San Francisco in a moved that involved swapped draft picks, Griffith spent time on the 49ers’ practice squad last year but has yet to appear in a regular-season game. His arrival is an attempt to boost special teams coverage.

Outside linebacker

Von Miller | 58

6-3, 250, 32, 11th season, Texas A&M

Denver’s longest-tenured player had his option picked up for the final season of a six-year deal. The team’s all-time sacks leader (106) missed last year with an ankle injury and is out to prove he still has plenty left in the tank.

Malik Reed | 57

6-2, 235, 25, 3rd season, Nevada

After making the Broncos with a strong training camp as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Reed has continually improved over the last two seasons. He’s played in 31 games, with 21 starts, while stepping up to fill in for the injured Chubb and Miller.

Cornerback

Ronald Darby | 21

5-11, 193, 27, 7th season, Florida State

Darby signed a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason to be the team’s top cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller. Expectations are high for Darby, who has eight career interceptions across six years in Buffalo, Philadelphia and Washington.

Bryce Callahan | 29

5-9, 188, 29, 7th season, Rice

Callahan’s first season in Denver was a bust after he missed the entire 2019 slate with a foot injury. Another foot injury limited him to 10 games last year, but he had two picks. He projects to be the Broncos’ fourth cornerback and top nickel back.

Kary Vincent Jr. | 35

5-10, 189, 22, Rookie, Louisiana State

Vincent began training camp on the Reserve/COVID list, but made up for the late start with consistency down the stretch of the preseason. The rookie opted out of the 2020 college season, but was the starting nickel back on LSU’s 2019 national title team.

Cornerback

Kyle Fuller | 23

5-11, 194, 29, 8th season, Virginia Tech

Another one of the high-profile offseason additions to the Broncos secondary, Fuller signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal. The veteran’s played in all 96 games of his NFL career, starting 94 of them, with 19 interceptions and 390 tackles.

Mike Ford | TBD

6-0, 198, 26, 4th season, Southeast Missouri State

Acquired via waivers from Detroit on Sept. 1, Ford played in 31 games for the Lions over the past three seasons. He had 49 tackles and four passes defensed over that time. A core special teams player in Detroit, he’ll take on that same role in Denver.

Pat Surtain II | 2

6-2, 202, 21, Rookie, Alabama

Drafted ninth overall this year, Surtain lived up to the billing of a future franchise cornerback throughout training camp. With a unique combination of size and speed, Surtain has the talent to be Denver’s best defensive player by season’s end.

Michael Ojemudia | 13

6-1, 200, 23, 2nd season, Iowa

Ojemudia had an up-and-down rookie season in which he was thrown into the fire because of Denver’s depth issues. He sustained a hamstring injury in the Seattle preseason game and will begin the year on injured reserve (out a minimum of three games).

Free safety

Justin Simmons | 31

6-2, 202, 27, 7th season, Boston College

Considered by many to be the NFL’s best free safety, Simmons racked up five interceptions and 96 tackles last year, plus his first Pro Bowl nod. A locker room leader and ironman, Simmons hasn’t missed a defensive snap in three seasons.

Caden Sterns | 30

6-1, 207, 21, Rookie, Texas

He had perhaps the best training camp out of all the rookies minus Surtain, impressing coaches with his ballhawking, physicality and football IQ. Sterns may see a few snaps on defense, but he’ll mostly play on special teams while watching and learning as a rookie.

Strong safety

Kareem Jackson | 22

5-10, 183, 33, 11th season, Alabama

The hard-hitting Jackson, who has always played much bigger than his size, re-upped with Denver on a one-year deal to return in 2021. Alongside Simmons, Jackson (one INT in 2020) completes one of the best safety tandems in the league.

P.J. Locke | 37

5-10, 202, 24, 3rd season, Texas

Locke spent the last two seasons on the Broncos’ practice squad, grinding his way to an opportunity. That opportunity has come in 2021 as Locke serves as positional depth and figures to be a substantial contributor to special teams.

Jamar Johnson | 41

6-1, 197, 21, Rookie, Indiana

One of Denver’s fifth-round picks along with Sterns, Johnson missed part of the offseason and camp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. That delayed his assimilation into the NFL, but Denver is still counting on him as a reserve and on special teams.

Punter

Sam Martin | 6

6-1, 211, 31, 9th season, Appalachian State

Martin had a productive debut season in Denver last year, averaging 46.8 yards on 65 punts. The ex-soccer player’s ability to consistently directional punt to the edges will again be key to the Broncos limiting big plays from opposing returners.

Long snapper

Jacob Bobenmoyer | 43

6-2, 235, 24, 2nd season, Northern Colorado

He beat out Wes Farnsworth for the long snapper job last camp and never looked back, starting all 16 games in 2020. He gives the Broncos above-grade snap velocity as well as a snapper who can be physical (three tackles last year).