Denver’s front office made 38 moves in two days to get down to their initial 53-man roster, and GM George Paton straight up said it was a “tough roster to make.” You know it’s always brutal, but this year was different, with Paton admitting they “spent more time on this roster going through a lot of different scenarios” for the guys who got cut. This ain’t just paperwork, folks, it’s a brutal puzzle that shapes the entire season.
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The roster puzzle wasn’t just about who *made* it, but who got shelved. Offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo got moved from the active/physically unable to perform list to the reserve/PUP list. Tight end Caleb Lohner and offensive tackle Frank Crum landed on short-term injured reserve. All three could technically return after four games, but Lohner might not be back until October. Talk about a gut punch when you’re trying to build your squad for day one.
Even more surprising? Three of their own 2026 NFL draft picks got shown the door: fifth-round tight end Justin Joly, and seventh-rounders Red Murdock (linebacker) and Miles Scott (safety). Paton knows the risk, saying they “worry about the guys you want to bring back that they could get claimed.” That’s the cold reality of the NFL, man, you put talent out there and hope no one else snatches it up for their active roster.
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But let’s talk about the QB room, because that’s where things got spicy. Sam Ehlinger, who didn’t even make the initial 53 last summer, is officially back as QB3 this year! George Paton was crystal clear: “We didn’t want to lose him, and we felt we were going to lose him [if he was cut]. He’s too important to our team.” Apparently, that “outstanding” game he played recently sealed the deal. They weren’t willing to risk another team snatching him up off the waiver wire for their active roster. That’s a huge vote of confidence for a guy in that spot.
The ripple effect? Tough goodbyes. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin got waived, and it looks like his time in Denver is done after he posted a goodbye message on Instagram. Paton admitted the choice between McLaughlin and Tyler Badie was one of the hardest calls, coming down to “special teams and ‘third-down ability.’” Badie’s a rock in the kicking game and a reliable pass blocker, which made him the pick. It’s brutal, but that’s how rosters are built.
They also played a smart game with vested veterans fullback Adam Prentice and long snapper Mitchell Fraboni. Cutting them means they aren’t subject to the NFL’s waiver wire, so the plan is to re-sign them to the practice squad, elevate them when needed, and eventually promote them. That’s some serious early-season roster flexibility, a genius move really.
So, with the initial 53 set, the real work begins. The front office is already diving into building that practice squad and scanning the waiver wire, because as Paton said, it’s “ongoing.” It’s a puzzle, folks, and every piece matters as they gear up for what’s next. Get ready, because the season is right around the corner!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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