Weigh the pros and cons of buying and selling

If the Broncos were to drop an unacceptable play and then get shellacked against the Ravens, it’s possible they could at least raise the temperature in the trade markets for veterans like left tackle Garett Bolles and wide receiver Courtland Sutton, two players whose names are in the list. the rumor mill dating multiple offseasons since Sean Payton arrived in Denver.

The reality is that, barring an outrageous overture from an opponent, the Broncos aren’t too likely to trade for a roster that vastly exceeds expectations and has a very strong locker room and culture. Furthermore, with Denver likely to compete for a Wildcard well into the season at worst, injuries could increase and completely change which players are needed. What is currently a surplus can quickly become a weakness.

Should the Broncos be aggressive buyers instead? The answer is no.

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The reality is that the Broncos are far exceeding preseason expectations. With just two more wins needed in the last 10 games to surpass Vegas’ over/under predictions before the start of the season, Denver’s defense is much bigger than anyone could have predicted. the special teams let this team win quietly often in the margins.

But is Denver a rent-a-player away from winning any kind of hardware this season? There is no player available who can provide such a boost.

An old veteran at wide receiver, running back or tight end might help the Broncos win another game this year, but it’s worth asking what the big goals were for the Broncos this season. Of course, the goal every year is to make the playoffs, win your division and win a Super Bowl.

However, for a Broncos team so thin on recent top-100 picks and a ton of dead cap, this organization needed to evaluate and develop an abundance of young talent, continue to establish and grow the team culture under Payton, and work hard to fight. to compete in every game.

Trading for an older, injured and expensive veteran like wide receiver Cooper Kupp just doesn’t match up with where this Broncos team is on its team-building journey. That doesn’t mean the Broncos should rule out signings before the deadline.

The Broncos will just have to be a little more refined in what they want to add. Instead of wondering what piece can be added to help the Broncos win in 2024, the front office should be looking for long-term building blocks, preferably just at their peak, that will create an impact over the next three to five years. can make an important contribution.

Looking at the group of teams with two wins or fewer, there are a number of playmakers the Broncos could call on just to check availability. Considering the incredible running back draft class coming next year, Denver could give away a Day 3 pick for another body at running back, such as Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne Jr., New York’s Breece Hall or Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard. Considering the shelf life of an NFL running back, their relative value on the market and the incoming draft class, Denver might be wise to ride on the position this season.

Wide receiver is another area the Broncos could focus on, but since they’ve seen flashes from rookies Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, any move at the position should be a splash move for a young pass catcher, preferably with a rookie contract. .

Would the New Orleans Saints spiraling interested in moving Chris Olave (assuming he clears medicals for Denver)? Or, given the complete chaos the world seems to be Jets from New Yorkwhat would it take to land Garrett Wilson?

These moves could very well be viewed as using the team’s first-round pick on a wide receiver before the draft. And given that the overall receiver class appears to be weaker in the 2025 draft, it’s unlikely that Olave and Wilson will be moved, but it’s still worth inquiring about before the deadline.

Where cost and need easily intersect for the Broncos is at the tight end position. Adam Trautman is the team’s only true inline player, but he’s not special in any way. Lucas Krull offers some possibilities with tools, but these are far from being realized.

Nate Atkins is a useful piece, but is best used as a third tight end with special teams skills and flexibility. Greg Dulcich is missing after one too many drops, and with how much Payton likes to use 12 men, a new tight end is undoubtedly a big need for the Broncos offense.

Tight end is another position that isn’t as easily solved immediately by the draft. Despite looking like a class with poor depth overall, the tight end position (along with running back and cornerback) looks stronger than usual in 2025.

Still, tight end is not typically a position worth picking in the first round, and players drafted to play this position tend to stay in the league for three to four years before being drafted . Tight end has one of the slowest development curves of any position in football. Even an early selection at tight end may not help solve the position’s problems until 2027.

The tight end position may take a while to develop out of college, but it is also a position that also has a longer playing career. Unlike a running back’s career, which quickly declines in value, a tight end can maintain value in his mid-20s to early 30s. It offers a broader cache of options for Denver.

The Broncos would be wise to call on the plethora of serviceable tight ends under the age of 30 on some of the worst teams in the NFL, such as David Njoku from ClevelandFoster Moreau of New Orleans, Austin Hooper of New England, Colby Parkinson of LA and Jake Ferguson of Dallas.

The swing big option, similar to trading for the aforementioned former first-round receivers, would be Arizona’s Trey McBride. All of these players would not only help Denver add another tight end who can function inline and help expand the room, but they should also be players who can help the team over the life of Bo Nix’s rookie contract.

The Broncos will take calls from players and make calls around the league, but since they are likely destined for a 5-4 record at the deadline, there’s a good chance they simply don’t make any moves. That’s not the wrong call for a team still building for the future, trying to evaluate and develop young talent and earn a playoff spot this season.

However, if the Broncos were to make a move, it seems very likely that they could find a tight end that wouldn’t cost much in terms of trade capital and could be a useful piece to the offense both now and in the future.

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