The Denver Broncos are officially kicking off their rookie minicamp for the 2026 season, and as the saying goes, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. With 20 new faces added to the roster, the team needed to trim down to the 90-man limit, and that meant saying goodbye to a couple of familiar names.

On Friday, the Broncos waived offensive tackle Marques Cox and linebacker Garrett Nelson. Both players have had multiple stints with the team, but with a fresh wave of undrafted talent and a new season on the horizon, Denver decided it was time to move in a different direction.

Cox, an undrafted free agent from last season, spent time on the Broncos' practice squad and even had a brief stop with the Arizona Cardinals before returning to Denver on a future deal. But after the recent signings of undrafted rookies Tyler Miller and Gavin Ortega, the writing was on the wall. Cox's journey with the Broncos comes to an end once again.

As for Nelson, his story is one of persistence. An undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2023, he's been on the rosters of four different NFL teams but has yet to see action in a regular-season game. He joined the Broncos last July after an injury opened up a spot, bounced between the practice squad and waivers, and even had a stint with the New Orleans Saints. But with the rookie minicamp bringing in fresh legs and hungry competition, Nelson's odds were simply too steep to overcome.

This is just the beginning of the long evaluation process that will shape the Broncos' roster come September. With rookie minicamp now underway, all eyes are on the new faces—and the veterans trying to hold onto their spots. Stay tuned as Denver continues to build its 2026 squad, one tough decision at a time.