Broncos finalize minicamp tryout deals, signing OL Reid Holskey and DB Blake Cotton

The Denver Broncos have signed offensive lineman Reid Holskey and defensive back Blake Cotton after both players participated as tryout players during the team’s most recent minicamp practices, according to multiple reports, including The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel, published June 18. The agreements mark a quick turn from evaluation to contract for two players who earned their spot during the club’s offseason workouts rather than arriving through a previously public signing.

For the Broncos, the moves land in a familiar place in roster building: use minicamp and offseason practices to fill remaining depth needs, create competition, and add developmental options at positions where even small upgrades can matter across an NFL season. Holskey’s addition gives Denver another body on the offensive line mix, while Cotton’s signing adds to the defensive back rotation as the secondary continues to be coached and tested against live look periods.

Holskey, listed in the reports as an offensive lineman, is now under contract after the Broncos evaluated him during minicamp. In the modern NFL, late-stage signings like this often serve a dual purpose. They provide immediate practice reps for coaching and conditioning, and they also create a longer runway for the staff to determine whether a player can contribute beyond camp, whether on gameday depth or on special teams. The Broncos’ decision suggests his performance during the team’s offseason process met the organization’s threshold for moving forward.

Cotton’s signing follows a similar pathway. Reported as a defensive back, Cotton earned his contract after participating as a tryout player in minicamp. For defensive backs in particular, the evaluation window can hinge on coverage reads, communication skills, and the ability to execute techniques under speed. A contract after minicamp indicates Denver believes Cotton’s skill set translates at least to the level required for offseason roster status, with further development still very much part of the picture.

The reports also note that there were no corresponding moves announced at the time of publication. That detail matters because it suggests Denver’s transaction work, at least in this first reporting wave, came without immediately pairing the new signings with an announced release or other roster maneuver. In practice, the Broncos could still make later adjustments as camp and the preseason approach, but the initial handling points to the signings being treated as additions rather than replacements.

Roster decisions in late June can also connect to the broader offseason rhythm. Teams often use this period to stabilize depth, improve practice quality, and keep positional groups competitive so that starters and key backups continue to be pushed. By bringing in two tryout players and converting them into contracts, the Broncos are indicating an intent to widen the competition base on both sides of the ball, rather than limiting evaluation solely to known offseason options.

What to watch next is how Holskey and Cotton fit into Denver’s day-to-day plan. Their immediate availability for team meetings, walkthroughs, and further organized team activities will be the first concrete indicator of their role. Over time, the key question becomes whether their minicamp performances translate into larger practice involvement during the lead-up to training camp and whether either can establish a clearer path to the active roster or special-teams contributions.