The Broncos Organized Team Activities (OTAs): May 22-24; May 29-31; June 4-7. A mandatory three-day mini camp June 12-14. Training camp will be in late July.

Transactions The Broncos claimed CB C .J. Smith, a second-year corner back out of North Dakota State, who is likely just a camp body for the Broncos. The Broncos released RB C.J. Anderson and traded K Riley Dixon to the New York Giants for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2019. The Broncos waived K Taylor Bertolet, DL Jhaustin Thomas and did not pick up LB Shane Ray fifth-year option and can move on after this year. The Broncos signed QB Nick Stevens.

2018 Draft Strong work ethic. The right attitude. Maturity. Leadership. This Draft class could have a big impact on the future of the Broncos. Elway's last couple of Draft classes have been "wanting" with developmental players even in the early rounds, but he was not willing to reach on players this year. The team added a lot of good players in this draft after moving 2018 capital to acquire S/LB Su’a Cravens and RT Jared Veldheer. Denver’s first four/five picks are guys who could come in and start as rookies. Their final three picks are players with upside preparing for 2019, while providing special teams play in the meantime(Jones, Bierria, Williams). LB Josey Jewell and TE Troy Fumagalli might not start right away, but they will see significant snaps as rookies. All of these players are not only talented but also bring leadership, football IQ and passion for the game. The Broncos also signed eight college free agents. The undrafted class isn't robust in raw numbers, but features eight players on whom the Broncos had draftable grades. RB Phillip Lindsay plays with unbridled passion that is infectious on the field. He has the ability to handle inside running duties and blitz protection despite his size. His football character and field demeanor give him a good chance of becoming a solid backup in the league. OLB Jeff "Sensei" Mudd, Holland, is an edge rusher, with a relentless approach,.who loves the game, and likes to work. . He was projected for the third to middle rounds, but dropped because of slow 40 (4.79) no bench press (healing Pec). Do not be surprised if multiple undrafted players stick on the 53-man roster after training camp-- and a college free agent has made Denver’s active roster out of training camp in 13 of the last 14 seasons. The Broncos enter the 2018 season with potential solutions for the short term and increased options for the long term.

Back to the Future: ON NOTICE: TE Jeff Heuerman (Troy Fumagalli); OLBs Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett (Chubb, Holland); ILBs Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis (Jewell); Henderson, McKenzie and Taylor (Sutton, Hamilton), Booker and Henderson (Freeman, Lindsay); FB Andy Janovich (Williams); G Max Garcia (Jones)

Offense: The starting offensive line -- LT Garett Bolles, LG Ron Leary, C Matt Paradis, RG Connor McGovern and RT Jared Veldheer - as well as the depth, is in better shape than they were last year. McGovern is the early favorite at right guard. Sixth-rounder Sam Jones (needs time in the weight room) will compete with Max Garcia and Billy Turner and could push for the job. RT Jared Veldheer, if healthy, is a huge upgrade at right tackle, but isn't the long-term solution as his current contract expires in 2019. Veldheer can also play left tackle if Garett Bolles is injured. Menelik Watson and Elijah Wilkinson are competing for spots behind Veldheer and . Turner can also provide depth there. The club is also high on T Elijah Wilkinson and C J. J. Dielman. The Broncos are going to love running to the left side of its line (Bolles & Leary).

QB Case Keenum has been named the starter. QB Paxton Lynch still has an opportunity to grow into a starter. He's not considered a bust, his roster spot is secure and there's optimism regarding his future. Case Keenum has been through some ups and downs in his career, so Paxton can learn from him on how to handle those things. With Keenum being in Denver, Lynch can sit back, relax, and not worry about being ‘the guy’ right now. QB Chad Kelly, who could have better pro tools than Lynch, throws with zip, will challenge Lynch for the backup position behind Keenum. If he has his head on straight, he could end up being the long term answer for the Broncos at quarterback. The Broncos have faith in both young quarterbacks. A mandatory three-day mini camp takes place from June 12-14. There will be a better idea of the QB2 battle around this time. While the Broncos signed former Colorado State QB Nick Stevens he is likely just a camp arm. He went undrafted due to below-average arm strength and questionable pocket footwork. His intelligence and accuracy are his biggest strengths. College quarterback to watch: QB Jarrett Stidham. Stidham has the tools NFL scouts want to see in a QB prospect-- accuracy, efficient play and athleticism. He also takes care of the football (17 TD 4 INT).

The RB Royce Freeman pick seems like a reach, but Elway calls him a "bell cow type" and the "thumper" the team needed. Freeman can step in and produce right away as a potential every down player and should have the inside track on early-down duties in the likely committee approach (Booker, Freeman and De'Angelo Henderson).. He has enough speed, power, wiggle, and vision to do some good things, but this is a position battle that should be monitored closely in camp. Freeman offers a workhorse pedigree and will compete for Denver’s lead back job with Devontae Booker. RB Phillip Lindsay (CFA) and De'Angelo Henderson are effective pass-catching backs. Seventh-rounder David Williams, is a good blocking back and dynamic play maker who finds holes and attacks them, breaking tackles, making defenders miss, and being hard to bring down, rounds out the depth chart. He is very physical, powerful and tough nosed with good instincts, size, speed, and vision. FB Andy Janovich is an able blocker and solid special teams contributor, but could be out of work if the team clears an additional roster spot for a RB rather than retain a pure fullback. 74% of the team's running back touches have been vacated, so there is a ton of work available. Booker should be the lead back for the Broncos to begin training camp, however, Freeman is just a better talent and should overtake Booker. Target Freeman with a mid to late round pick. Lindsay or Williams might be stashed on the practice squad, but each back shows promise to some degree.

The club expects 2017 third-round WR Carlos Henderson to step up as the No. 3 wide out. WR Courtland Sutton, a big-bodied, prototypical X receiver and DaeSean Hamilton a technician with a versatile route-running background will factor into the Broncos' short- and long-term planning. In 2018, they have a chance to be the third-fourth-fifth receivers along with Henderson to finally give Denver a play making presence in the slot/ middle of the field. Henderson was a disappointment before he was injured in the 2017 preseason. WR Isaiah McKenzie or WR Jordan Taylor may face the chopping block. WR Kenny Bell and River Cracraft are roster long shots. WRs Jordan Leslie, John Diarse and Tim Patrick are camp bodies. The key to the final WR spots: who does the best job on special teams.

The Tight End position is wide open with a chance for its youngest members to contribute immediately. Both TE Jake Butt (starter) and TE Troy Fumagalli have versatility with their blocking ability to work as in-line tight ends, and the hands and route-running skill to work in a stand-up alignment-the future of the position. TE Jeff Heuerman (the most experienced) will enter training as the starter, but TE Austin Traylor is a dependable blocker. Butt is a quintessential ‘Y’ tight end (block and catch) and runs crisp routes. If the Broncos keep three tight ends, Heuerman, could get the ax.

Defense: OLB .Bradley Chubb is a high-floor edge presence, just as good against the run as he is rushing the passer. He should wind up starting opposite OLB Von Miller at outside linebacker this season. Chubb will work with the strong-side outside linebackers and Miller will work on the weak side. Without a pass rush coach, Miller will be placed with Bill Kollar's defensive-line group for meetings so he can focus on the pass rush. Chubb could also work as an inside rusher on sub-package downs, but more importantly, he can keep some double teams off Miller. Together they will be a fearsome duo. CFA Jeff Holland, is a raw talent, but could stick as a fifth outside linebacker behind Miller, Barrett, Ray and Chubb in the Broncos' three-CB-heavy defense. Holland received a $15,000 signing bonus -- an indication they feel he can stick. CB Isaac Yiadom brings length and physical ability as a press-man corner back that the team lost by trading away Aqib Talib. He will be in the mix for dime duties, along with Brendan Langley. Langley and Marcus Rios are the primary contenders for reserve spots behind starters Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby and potential No. 3 corner back Tramaine Brock. Special teams could be a deciding factor, with Langley, Yiadom and Rios all having a chance to earn extensive roles on punt and kickoff coverage as well as on the punt and kickoff return teams. Langley has struggled but the Broncos may not give up on him yet, while they like Rios and are comfortable with Smith.

Josey Jewell and sixth-rounder Keishawn Bierria are expected to contribute mainly on special teams as rookies and could transform the depth at ILB. They will compete with Zaire Anderson, Jerrol Garcia-Williams and Joseph Jones, with special-teams work likely deciding who earns active-roster spots on game day. With the addition of immediate-impact player (low ILB 1) Josey Jewell, a message is being sent to Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis to step it up and show more consistency at the off-ball linebacker position. Marshall and Davis will be the starters. Jewell should have a backup or rotational spot secured. DEs include Derek Wolfe, Adam Gotsis and DeMarcus Walker with Shelby Harris as a rotational contributor. The Broncos opted to stand pat at safety with Darian Stewart and Justin Simmons as first-teamers. Su'a Cravens should leapfrog Will Parks as the hybrid linebacker in nickel packages. Cravens is projected to handle a sub-package role working alongside an every-down inside linebacker. The second team competition between Will Parks, Jamal Carter and Dymonte Thomas will make for tough decisions on the back end of the depth chart that could be decided by special-teams proficiency. Cravens, Simmons and Stewart (unless traded) are safe bets. If only one spot is left for a safety, Parks has the most experience, but both Carter and Thomas have shown potential. Cravens will take the pressure off Stewart and ILB Todd Davis, both of whom have struggled badly in coverage. The Broncos are looking to get pressure up the middle with DeMarcus Walker's move to the interior and Derek Wolfe, Adam Gotsis and Shelby Harris capitalizing off the attention given the edge rushers to generate more pressure up the middle. Chubb's ability to rotate to the inside will allow the Broncos to use a speed-rush package with at least three of their edge rushers: Chubb, Miller, Barrett and Ray. Wolfe, Harris, Walker, Clinton McDonald (interior defensive line pass-rushing presence) and Domata Peko are probably 5 of 7 D-linemen) with backup nose tackle bearing watching. They also like DeShawn Williams.

Special Teams Competition: Yiadom (gunner), Jewell, Langley, Rios Parks , Carter, Thomas, Anderson, Jerrol Garcia-Williams and Joseph Jones. RB Phillip Lindsay, WR Isaiah McKinzie and CB Brendon Langley will be the focal point of the competition at punt returner. P Marquette King is a massive upgrade who will consistently flip field position if the offense stalls, as well as pin opponents deep for the defense. K Brandon McManus needs to rebound from a terrible 2017.

New Kickoff Rules: 1) Kickoff team must have five players on each side of the ball. This rule will likely have its biggest impact on onside kicks, because teams like to line up six players on one side and four players on the other. 2) Kickoff team cannot line up for more than one yard from the line of scrimmage. (This eliminates running starts and means players would have to line up at the 34-yard line (not 30) for a kickoff from the 35. 3) No wedge blocks. Only players who were initially lined up in the setup zone may come together in a double-team block. 4) The ball is dead for a touchback if it touches the ground in the end zone, even if hasn't been touched by the receiving team. The returner doesn't have to down the ball in the end zone to get the touchback. If the new kickoff rules don't do enough to cut down on injuries, the NFL could eventually do away with the play completely.

Orangeman's Take QB Case Keenum, has a full arsenal of weaponry at his fingertips heading into his first year as a Bronco. He earned his first career NFL Top 100 selection, No. 51. Keenum will take too many chances at times, but he is smart and steady. He may never be a star, but you can win a Super Bowl with him. The running backs are young and will be highly dependant on the new offensive line. Freeman is the back to own in fantasy. Both Thomas and Sanders could have bounce-back years, with Sanders have the most to gain from Keenum's presemce. Keenum will throw to both his tight ends and is running backs. One of the tight ends needs to step up, but I'm not sold on Heuerman. The Broncos improved their special teams with the signing of King and a plethara of new talent. The Defensive line has good depth and all starting linebacker returned. There will be a shake up in the defensive backfield with the trade of Talib, developing players and new talent.

QB Case Keenum is a low end QB2 with some upside.

RB Royce Freeman is a high end RB3 with a lot of upside.

WR Demaryius Thomas is a WR2 potentially with upside.

WR Emmanuel Sanders is a WR3 and a potential comeback player of the year.

The tight ends are ubdraftable, but should be monitored.

PK Brandon McManus is a K2 with upside if the offense produces.

DST is a top 10 defense with the sky the limit.

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