Despite a midseason rally, the Denver Broncos (8-9 in 2023) fell just short of the postseason in Sean Payton’s first season as head coach.
The team is in salary-cap purgatory and the roster is in need of some serious revamping. Obviously, what happens with quarterback Russell Wilson is the key to Denver’s offseason. General manager George Paton hasn’t ruled out keeping Wilson in the mix, but it appears Payton is ready to move in a different direction.
Between Payton being threatened with legal action by the NFL Players Association and being accused of threatening Wilson, the damage has already been done and it’s in everyone’s best interest if both sides move on.
Dan Graziano on Russell Wilson's future: "I still think there's a possibility that come September, he is in fact sitting right there [on Get Up]." pic.twitter.com/XoQKBw1V09
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 16, 2024
Aside from what happens with Wilson, it also wouldn’t be surprising if the Broncos, who had no second- or seventh-round draft picks, parted with either of their top two receivers, Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton, to add more draft capital.
Here’s what you need to know about Denver’s offseason:
PROJECTED 2024 CAP SPACE: -$25.9M (fifth-least in NFL)
FREE AGENTS | Offense: FB Michael Burton; TE Adam Trautman; OTs Cameron Fleming, Quinn Bailey; Center Lloyd Cushenberry
Defense: DE Mike Purcell; DT Jonathan Harris; LBs Josey Jewell, Justin Strnad; CBs K’Waun Williams, Fabian Moreau; Safety P.J. Locke
Special teams: Kicker Will Lutz
Outlook: Denver doesn’t really have too many free agents of its own to worry about retaining. Cushenberry was the Broncos’ starting center this season, playing 1,069 of the team’s 1,072 offensive snaps, allowing just one sack, 14 pressures and nine hurries. He’s one of the better centers in the NFL and if Denver is breaking in a new quarterback, bringing back Cushenberry should be a priority.
The Broncos possibly flirted with trading Jewell at the trade deadline, but if they can bring him back at a reasonable price, they should jump all over it. His 107 tackles were the second-most on the team, and he’s topped 100 or more tackles three of the last four years.
2024 DRAFT PICKS: Round 1 (No. 12 overall) | Round 3 (via New Orleans) | Round 4 (via Miami) | Round 5 | Round 5 (via NYJ) | Round 6 (via San Francisco)
TOP DRAFT NEEDS (in order): QB, DT, Edge-rusher, C, CB — It’s expected the Broncos will make a push for a QB at some point during the draft and if they do, there’s a lot of smoke around Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. Given Payton’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer, Denver may be the best possible landing spot for McCarthy.
Illinois DL Jer’Zahn Newton could go in the top 10, but if he falls into Denver’s lap it may be too tempting to pass him up given the help it needs bolstering the defensive line. Edge rusher shouldn’t be ruled out either, and if Dallas Turner or Laiatu Latu are still on the board at No. 12, either could be the pick.
DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina; J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan; Bo Nix, Oregon, QB; Jer’Zahn Newton, DT, Illinois; Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan; T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas; Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama; Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA; Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State; Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon; Zack Frazier, C, Michigan; Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa; Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson; Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
