In 2022, the Denver Broncos forfeited a significant portion of their future in order to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks.
In exchange for Wilson receiving a five-year, $245 million contract extension, Denver gave up two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick. The transaction also left the Broncos in dire financial circumstances.
Two years later, with Wilson gone and a new coach in Sean Payton, the Broncos may be seeking to make trades to reclaim part of that potential.
Regarding trades, Bill Barnwell of ESPN predicted that the Broncos would be the AFC team “most likely to be working the phones in August.”
Barnwell noted, “The Broncos are on a roller-coaster with their roster.” “The team’s decision to move on from quarterback Russell Wilson and start over with rookie Bo Nix leaves it in a difficult bind, especially after trading away years of draft capital to acquire Wilson and coach Sean Payton and going on an offseason spending spree last year.” Similar to many who sold their home and downsized as empty nesters, the Broncos own too much stuff.
Broncos Have Too Many Offensive Skill Players
In the 2024 NFL Draft, Denver selected quarterback Nix from Oregon with the 12th overall pick. Nix is one of several positions where the Broncos have an abundance of talent and may consider making a trade.
“At receiver, Payton signed Josh Reynolds in free agency in March, traded up in the 2023 draft to select Marvin Mims, and inherited Courtland Sutton,” Barnwell wrote. Is Tim Patrick, who missed two years due to injuries, really back for this? Will Denver field Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Audric Estime, and promising 2023 rookie Jaleel McLaughlin at running back for the whole of the season?
What happens if Blake Watson succeeds in camp?Out of that bunch, only Williams and Sutton appear unbeatable.
Two Draft Options for the Broncos
Three-year tight end Greg Dulcich and third-year cornerback Damarri Mathis were the two specific draft prospects that Barnwell singled out for the Broncos.
Barnwell stated that players like tight end Greg Dulcich and cornerback Damarri Mathis, who joined the team before Payton, “may be traded away, especially if they haven’t shown much since he arrived.” The Broncos should aim to recover some much-needed draft money for 2025 and beyond as they try to reinvent themselves in Payton’s image. Though none of the players on this roster are expected to command huge returns.
In 2022, Dulcich was selected in the third round (number 80 overall) while Mathis was selected in the fourth round (number 115 overall). Mathis made seven starts in 2023 after starting eleven games as a rookie, although his stats declined dramatically the previous two seasons. He also failed to record an interception.
Dulcich has struggled with injuries in his first two seasons, but in just 10 games as a rookie. He showed a great deal of promise with 33 receptions for 411 receiving yards and two scores. Dulcich only appeared in two games in 2023 as a result of a hamstring injury.
