Broncos: 5 players who won’t be on the roster by Week 1

4. P.J. Locke, safety

Locke played 15 games for the Broncos last year as an undrafted rookie, mostly on special teams. Behind starters Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, the Broncos drafted two promising safeties in Jamar Johnson and Caden Sterns.

Locke and Trey Marshall will be vying for one spot, if the Broncos keep that many safeties. Marshall played 160 defensive snaps in 2019, so that makes Locke the easier cut that’ll come between now and  Week 1.

3. Kendall Hinton, wide receiver

Hinton became a story last season when the Broncos had a COVID-19 situation in their quarterback room and he had to start under center in Week 12. He played quarterback in college at Wake Forest, but the game plan was to expose him as little as possible against a tough Saints’ defense (1-for-9 passing).

Hinton is part of a Broncos’ receiver group that is legitimately four-deep with good players (Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, KJ Hamler). Further down, Hinton’s best case scenario will be competing with Diontae Spencer as well as rookies Seth Williams and Warren Jackson for a couple of 53-man roster spots.

There’s some chance Hinton comes back to the Broncos’ practice squad, if they want him back to fill a spot there. But in time, it feels more likely he’ll be trying to catch on elsewhere.