Editor’s note: Sixth in a series previewing the Broncos’ position groups entering training camp. Today, the defensive line.
On the roster (11): Zach Allen, Elijah Garcia, Jonathan Harris, Matt Henningsen, Jordan Jackson, D.J. Jones, Tyler Lancaster, P.J. Mustipher, Haggai Ndubuisi, Mike Purcell, Eyioma Uwazurike.
How many on the 53?: Five or six.
Most impactful offseason move: Signing Zach Allen and losing Dre’Mont Jones.
Denver lost Jones via free agency but agreed to a lucrative three-year deal with Allen on the first day of negotiations in March. The Broncos think they’re getting an ascending player in the 25-year-old who recorded 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits in 13 games last year. Allen also has the benefit of having played for defensive coordinator Vance Joseph the past four seasons in Arizona. He’ll be counted on to not just be a disruptive player, but also a mentor for a group that’s got several young players.
Biggest question to answer in camp: Are the second-year guys really ready?
Uwazurike and Henningsen each experienced life as a rookie in the NFL trenches in 2022, but both showed enough to suggest they could be in line for a bigger role this fall. Could be ready and emphatically are ready are very different and camp will be key. Allen and D.J. Jones make a stout pair to start a room with. Most of the rest, beginning with this duo, are in prove-it mode.
Battle to watch: Purcell vs. Lancaster.
The two veteran interior players could well be competing for a spot on the final roster. Purcell, 32, played all 17 games for Denver last year and provided steady, under-appreciated snaps. The 28-year-old Lancaster, meanwhile, played in 59 games between 2018-21 with Green Bay, but was hurt preseason last year and missed the entire year. If Allen, Jones, Uwazurike and Henningsen are the first four in the room, who’s No. 5? Barring a surprise move, this could be a good battle.
Under the radar player: Harris.
Don’t count out Harris, either, when thinking about the final roster. The 26-year-old appeared in a career-best eight games and logged his first four starts down the stretch for the Broncos in 2022. He’s got length at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, and he got a ton of work in the offseason program with Purcell and Jones limited at different times. He missed the cut last year and played from the practice squad before a late-season signing. Can Harris make the jump this summer?
Tuesday: Outside linebackers
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.