DENVER — The Denver Broncos capped off a good run on Sunday with a 38-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos finished 3-0 during their exhibition schedule and have seen buzz grow around rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who was named the team’s starter last week.

Of course, the work so far guarantees nothing. The real work begins on September 8 with the season opener in Seattle.

But the good vibes won’t last much longer for the three dozen or so players cut before Tuesday’s 2 p.m. MT deadline. Even players who make the first roster may have to sweat it out a little longer. The Broncos may consider waiver-wire additions at multiple positions, coach Sean Payton said after Sunday’s game.

“This process is never easy,” Payton said. “Part of it is managing the roster. I think we’ve got it pretty well under control.”

Let’s jump straight into our final 53-player season forecast, which includes a number of changes to the defense:

Quarterbacks (3)

Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson

Payton said Friday that there wasn’t much that could happen in the preseason finale to change the equation at quarterback. It still didn’t hurt to see Wilson complete 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. It wasn’t a perfect performance. Wilson was sacked four times by Arizona’s second- and third-team defenses. But Wilson’s big arm has continued to mesh with a deeper understanding of Denver’s offense, and the results have been encouraging for Payton and his staff.

🎯🎯🎯

Zach Wilson ➡️ @_bj7_ for SIX!

📺: CBS photo.twitter.com/rV9VJaJwSz

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 25, 2024

“He’s got a live arm on the field,” Payton said of Wilson. “He threw it away when he wasn’t there. There were a couple sacks, but for the most part he moved the ball. You try to gauge how the offense performs when he’s there. There was plenty of time on the play clock. He’s been (strong) for the better part of 2 1/2 weeks. You’ve seen his drills.”

Perhaps a trade offer for Stidham or Wilson will come along that’s too good for the Broncos to pass up, but if that doesn’t happen, all three will be on the roster for the season opener on Sept. 8.

“I think I’ve told you before, I see all three (quarterbacks) making it,” Payton said.

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Walking back (3)

Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé

Samaje Perine did not play in Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. The Broncos didn’t really need another data point in their evaluation of the eighth-year veteran, but could his absence be seen as a way to guard the Broncos against injury to a player who could be released or traded before Tuesday’s draft deadline? Perine was one of the engines behind Denver’s two-minute offense last season, a key figure in wins against the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings during a five-game winning streak. But McLaughlin could take on a bigger role in that two-minute work this season, and the Broncos drafted Estimé in the fifth round. They’re pleased with the rookie’s progress after he missed the offseason with a knee injury. Ultimately, I don’t see the Broncos keeping four running backs And fullback Michael Burton, which makes Perine the odd one out.

Full back (1)

Michael Burton

An alternative to keeping Burton would be to push tight end Nate Adkins more into a fullback role. That could theoretically help the Broncos keep four running backs. But the Broncos rely on special teams as a strength after making a big leap in that department last season. That makes it tough to lose Burton, a core player for special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica.

Wide receiver (6)

Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin

Lil’Jordan Humphrey played in all 17 games for the Broncos but was left off the team’s original 53-man roster. The same scenario could play out again this season, with the Broncos cutting Humphrey — he would immediately become a free agent — and then signing him back to the practice squad. From there, Humphrey could be promoted on game days as the Broncos potentially let Franklin learn behind the scenes. The starting six spots on the roster at the position appear to be set, however. Any concerns about Vele after the rookie missed last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers with an undisclosed injury went out the window on Sunday when he hauled in a big third-down pass from Stidham on Denver’s first offensive possession.

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Tight end (4)

Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, Nate Adkins

While I think the Broncos keep Burton, I think they’ll eventually find room for Adkins, who caught a touchdown in the second quarter on Sunday. The second-year player has gotten a lot of work in camp playing multiple spots and has been a regular on multiple special teams teams. Adkins was on the Broncos’ opening roster as an undrafted rookie last season and has only seemed to be more involved in the offense now.

Offensive line (8)

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Forsyth, Alex Palczewski, Matt Peart

This is probably the toughest group on the roster to put together. Somewhat surprisingly, Forsyth was drafted behind veteran Sam Mustipher at center on Sunday, but Payton touted Forsyth’s versatility as someone who can play both center and guard during training camp. So one way to look at it is that Forsyth could provide in one player what you might get in two with Mustipher (center) and Calvin Throckmorton (guard). Peart is likely viewed as the best backup offensive tackle given his prior NFL experience. Palczewski played both guard and tackle in the preseason, which could also give him an edge in pursuing a roster spot.

The bottom line is that this could be a fluid position after roster cuts. The Broncos will certainly evaluate the crop of offensive linemen cut by other teams.

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Defense Line (5)

Zach Allen, DJ Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach, Angelo Blackson

There are several candidates here if the Broncos retain a sixth defensive lineman, including Eyioma Uwazurike, the 2022 fourth-round pick who returned this month after a one-year suspension for NFL gambling violations and played significant snaps Sunday. Matt Henningsen was in the same 2022 draft class for the Broncos and played in each of Denver’s 34 games over the past two seasons. Jordan Jackson, a former Air Force star, had two sacks in Sunday’s final preseason game and has seen his second-team work increase as camp progresses. There are tough decisions to be made here, but the Broncos feel good about the top five in this room and may decide to use the extra spot elsewhere.

Inside linebacker (4)

Alex Singleton, Cody Barton, Justin Strnad, Levelle Bailey

Notably, Strnad started ahead of Jonas Griffith in Sunday’s finale. Cody Barton appears to have won the starting job alongside Alex Singleton. Strnad was re-signed to a one-year deal this spring because he’s a regular on special teams, but he was also higher on the linebacker depth chart than Griffith on Sunday and forced a fumble with a big hit in the red zone. So the final spot in this group, if the Broncos keep only four, could come down to Griffith and undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey. In a battle this close, a 94-yard pick six like Bailey had in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game goes a long way. Payton also noted after Sunday’s game that players at the end of this position battle need to remain more “instinctive,” so keep this group in mind as a potential landing spot for a would-be outside player.

The Broncos were SO excited about undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey after his 94-yard pick-6!

(🎥NFL, CBS) photo.twitter.com/s0fYZE3Qy0

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 25, 2024

Outside linebacker (5)

Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman

There are a few candidates if the Broncos decide to keep a fifth edge rusher, including Thomas Incoom and Durell Nchami, who played well in camp but left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. Tillman, who helped the Birmingham Stallions win USFL championships the past two seasons before signing with the Broncos in June, has been the most consistent bubble player during the preseason. At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, he’s a good size against the run but is also quick as a pass rusher, as evidenced by his long chase of Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune on Sunday, which led to a sack. He also knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage on Sunday and forced a fumble in the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Corner defender (6)

Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Levi Wallace, Kris Abrams-Draine, Damarri Mathis

Mathis suffered a right ankle injury on the first possession of Sunday’s game and had to be carried off the field, but Payton said afterward that the injury was not believed to be serious. If that is the case, I think Mathis will be on the roster. The big question I have here is whether the Broncos will keep a seventh corner. Tremon Smith was a regular on special teams last year, but the Broncos could save $2.5 million by letting him go. Reese Taylor has played a lot of nickel in recent weeks and could be seen as a needed backup to Ja’Quan McMillian.

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Safety (5)

Brandon Jones, PJ Locke, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Keidron Smith

Keidron Smith had a takeaway in each of Denver’s three preseason games, including a fumble recovery in the second quarter on Sunday. He also applied pressure on a third-down pass play in the third quarter that forced the Cardinals to settle for a field goal. Given that Jones has been battling a hamstring injury for the past month and hasn’t played in the preseason, it might make sense for the Broncos to have an extra player at that spot early in the season.

Specialists (3)

Wil Lutz (kicker), Trenton Gill (punter), Mitchell Fraboni (long snapper)

Give me the bigger leg. It was neck-and-neck all camp between Gill and incumbent Riley Dixon, but Gill’s 73-yard punt in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game gave him the upper hand — at least on my scorecard.

(Photo by Zach Wilson: Ron Chenoy/USA Today)