The Denver Broncos could make any number of fun trades before the 2020 season starts.
The Denver Broncos will always be tinkering with the roster, whether it’s to upgrade positions or address the loss of an injured player.
In the 2020 season, having depth is going to be especially critical considering a positive COVID-19 test could put a key player on a reserve list for at least a few days, if not a couple of weeks.
With that being the case, teams will undoubtedly explore every way possible to get the best 53-man roster they can assemble, and one way to do that is by making trades.
John Elway is usually good for a few trades every year, and he’s shown a willingness to bring in young players via trade as rosters are being whittled down in late August/early September as well.
Not every player that gets traded is going to be blatantly posted on the proverbial ‘trade block’ by NFL teams. A lot of times, NFL clubs with coaching changes or coordinator changes will trade certain players, or they could trade guys who have potentially been replaced by other breakout players.
Another thing to look for in potential trade candidates? Contract situations. Not only do NFL teams like to dump salary in trades, but players with just one year left on a contract are more often on the trade block if they have no long-term future with their current teams.
Considering the Broncos have nearly $30 million in available cap space (don’t expect them to be frivolous), what trades could they try to make ahead of the 2020 season?
The Denver Broncos certainly won’t make all of these trades, but I want to look at potential moves at just about every position group on the roster that could be intriguing in the coming weeks.
1. Trade for Dolphins QB Josh Rosen
Before anyone has a fit about it, this has nothing to do with Drew Lock.
Again, this has absolutely nothing to do with Drew Lock.
This trade would be about adding the best possible depth the Broncos could have at the quarterback position, and Rosen represents an upgrade over Brett Rypien and certainly has higher upside than Jeff Driskel.
Far too often, NFL teams seem to fear the public opinion when it comes to having quarterback depth, as if they are forcibly swayed by the fan base calling for a backup QB whenever the starter struggles.
Football is not baseball, but there is value to having a good ‘bullpen’ in both sports.
In football, teams prove year after year the value of having a backup quarterback who is capable, whether for better or worse.
Teams that intentionally have a quarterback who is above the age of 30 and is clearly not going to be a full-time starter in the NFL are falling in line with an age-old strategy that I think needs to change.
I am much more inclined to be on board for the idea of having at least two, preferably three, quarterbacks who have some youth and starter upside.
This doesn’t mean you need to have a quarterback competition with three high draft picks at quarterback every year, but QBs are assets and there are not enough teams developing more than one guy properly.
I was a big fan of Josh Rosen coming out of UCLA, and he’s had perhaps the worst possible career trajectory since he came into the NFL.
The Cardinals drafted him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and let him struggle behind a horrible offensive line and probably the worst all-around roster in the NFL at the time.
After hiring Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals shipped Rosen off to the Miami Dolphins where nobody knew which part of the team — front office or coaching staff — actually wanted him.
The Dolphins certainly didn’t invest in Rosen’s development last season, and now drafted Tua Tagovailoa to be their long-term QB with Ryan Fitzpatrick cemented as his backup.
Rosen is an afterthought in Miami at this point, and some NFL team could wisely take a shot on him, get him in their program, and develop him as a long-term option.
The Broncos could do worse for a ‘quarantine’ QB in 2020.
Rosen still has that upside in him, it will just take a good staff to pull it out. Mike Shula and Pat Shurmur could be excellent mentors and coaches for him.
2. Trade for New England Patriots RB Damien Harris
The Patriots used a third-round pick on former Alabama running back Damien Harris in the 2019 NFL Draft, so why would they trade him away?
The same reason they might trade away second-round pick Duke Dawson after just one season with the team.
It would be wild to see New England send Denver two players who were day two picks in consecutive years just one year after they were drafted, but Harris is someone they might be willing to part with.
The Broncos are not currently in desperate need of running back help with a strong, solidified top three in Phillip Lindsay, Melvin Gordon, and Royce Freeman, their own former third-round pick.
With that said, Harris is a player I personally really liked a lot coming out of Alabama, and if the Broncos felt like he had starter characteristics at one point, he would be a worthwhile investment if the price is right.
Harris is a big back who can break tackles and grind out tough yards. He doesn’t have elite long speed, but the Patriots don’t seem to value him super high with the fact that he only played five snaps last season behind Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, and Brandon Bolden.
Now they’ve added Lamar Miller to the mix, so there’s no question that for the right price, Harris is probably available.
Again, the Broncos don’t really need a back, but if anything happens to one of their top three, this would be an option to consider.
3. Trade for Pittsburgh Steelers OT Chukwuma Okorafor
I mentioned this possibility for the Denver Broncos after the team learned that Ja’Wuan James was opting out of the 2020 season.
Even with the acquisition of free agent tackle Demar Dotson, I would still not hate seeing the Broncos make this kind of trade.
Chukwuma Okorafor was a third-round pick by the Steelers in 2018, the final year Mike Munchak was offensive line coach with the team.
Not that Okorafor was Munchak’s most prized developmental prospect or anything, but certainly he had input in the selection when it was made and with two years remaining on his rookie deal, there would be plenty of merit to the idea of getting Okorafor into the Broncos’ program and letting Elijah Wilkinson still be the primary backup at either tackle or guard spot.
Trading for Okorafor would give the Broncos an option beyond the 2020 season potentially even at left tackle if Garett Bolles is let go.
4. Trade for Cowboys EDGE Aldon Smith
The Cowboys just signed Aldon Smith, so what gives?
Well, the Cowboys have signed about as many players as you can possibly sign in one offseason for your defensive line.
Although Dallas has a great connection on their coaching staff for Smith in Jim Tomsula, the Cowboys were not the only team interested in acquiring the former star 49ers pass rusher this offseason.
The other team that showed significant interest?
The Denver Broncos.
The Broncos’ interest in Smith was obviously not enough to give him a $2 million contract with incentives up to $4 million, but if Dallas isn’t going to keep him on the roster, Denver could throw them a player on their own roster who isn’t likely to make it, or a conditional late draft pick.
Some might prefer the alternative of just keeping Jeremiah Attaochu and rolling with Malik Reed, Justin Hollins, or Derrek Tuszka, but the idea of reuniting Smith and Vic Fangio — his coordinator during his prime years with the 49ers — is enticing.
Seven years ago, the idea of having Von Miller and Aldon Smith on the same team was not only impossible but would have been ridiculous.
To imagine him, even having been out of football since 2015, as the third option behind Miller and Bradley Chubb? That’s a worthwhile risk, in my opinion.
With Dallas signing Everson Griffen to a group that already included DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, rookie Bradlee Anae, and other developmental players, it’s possible that Smith could be had in a trade.
5. Trade for Washington LB Reuben Foster
Another talented player with some off-field history is Washington linebacker Reuben Foster, who missed all of the 2019 season due to injury.
The 2017 first-round pick has been outstanding on the field when he is healthy and not suspended, but since he was selected 31st overall by the 49ers that year, he’s only played in 16 games.
The Washington Football Team picked him up off of waivers in hopes that they could get him on track and revive his career, but there’s no telling what’s going to happen with him there with a new coaching staff and infrastructure with the team.
Even with some other veterans on their roster at inside linebacker, Washington may not be rushing to send Foster away via trade, but every player’s got a price.
With Washington’s roster hurting at both running back and receiver, the Broncos could potentially send them something enticing to take a shot on Foster.
6. Trade for Green Bay Packers CB Josh Jackson
The Broncos have plenty of young, talented players at the cornerback position — why not add another?
Especially considering the fact that Josh Jackson could potentially develop into a safety in the future, there would be a couple of reasons to make this deal happen.
Jackson seems to have fallen out of favor with the Packers’ coaching staff, and the former All-American out of Iowa and second-round pick could be a buy-low proposition for Denver leading up to the 2020 season, similar to Duke Dawson a year ago.
With Jaire Alexander and Kevin King taking the top two positions at corner for the Packers, Green Bay could have interest in getting the best possible value in return for a guy like Jackson, who is going to be an outside corner full-time in the NFL playing primarily in zone with his eyes on the QB.
The Broncos’ defensive scheme would allow him to do that.