​The Denver Broncos boast a strong roster with very few notable question marks, but the depth chart at safety is a notable area of intrigue as the 2026 season approaches. Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga are slated to be the team’s starting safeties, anchoring the backend of the defense. What happens behind them, however, remains up in the air and worth watching closely.
JL Skinner, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, arrived in Denver with a compelling blend of physical traits, intangibles, and a tenacious on-field demeanor. Since entering the league, Skinner has spent most of his time contributing on special teams, with limited opportunities to contribute defensively in regular-season games. As Skinner enters the final year of his rookie contract, he will face a fierce competition, vying for a backup safety role alongside several notable challengers. Will he manage to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster once again in 2026, or will another player seize the opportunity?
Profile snapshot: Age 25 | Experience: Fourth Year | College: Boise State | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 220 pounds
2025 stats: Appeared in 17 games with no starts, recording 34 defensive snaps and 322 special-teams snaps. Notched 12 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. Jones and Hufanga are expected to hold down the starting roles at safety for the Broncos. All-Pro special-teams standout Devon Key also appears highly likely to make the roster, a common expectation given his track record. Historically, Denver carried five safeties on their initial 53-man roster last season, and the projection for 2026 aligns with continued depth at the position in that same formation.
With the departure of P.J. Locke, opportunities arise for players like Key and Skinner to compete for the third safety job behind Hufanga and Jones. Skinner’s primary challengers for one of the final backup spots are seventh-round pick Miles Scott and free-agent addition Tycen Anderson, who previously made an impact on special teams for the Cincinnati Bengals.
In terms of defensive contribution, Skinner recorded only 34 defensive snaps last season but was a significant presence on special teams with 322 snaps. Across his three-year NFL career, Skinner has accumulated a modest 54 defensive snaps but has reliably logged 643 special-teams snaps, underscoring his value in that phase of the game.
For Skinner to secure a roster spot, he will need to showcase strong performances during the summer sessions. Maximizing his defensive reps in the preseason will be crucial for convincing the coaching staff that he can step into a larger role if injuries arise. While his physical attributes remain enticing, the sample size of game reps is limited as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Skinner remains a player on the roster bubble, yet he also retains a realistic path to becoming the Broncos’ third safety—contingent on his ability to demonstrate coverage savvy and disciplined play throughout the summer. The combinations of Scott’s draft capital and Anderson’s signing add a layer of competition that will intensify the battle for the final backup safeties behind Hufanga and Jones. This is one of the camp battles I’m eagerly anticipating as training camp progresses. The stakes are clear: perform well enough, and Skinner could again prove his value as part of Denver’s safety corps in 2026.