Five Denver Broncos players other teams might try to trade for.
The Denver Broncos don’t have historic depth on their roster in 2020 by any stretch, but there is plenty of talent on both sides of the football and as a result, there could be teams trying to trade for players before roster cuts are ultimately made in less than three weeks.
What position groups do the Broncos have a lot of depth right now?
Looking over the roster, it’s clear the Broncos have more guys than they can keep at wide receiver, tight end, defensive line, and potentially off the edge. Depending on how the Broncos feel about some younger, more unproven guys, you could also look at positions like running back and cornerback.
Teams may be looking to take a shot on upside, or maybe they think they can resurrect a failed draft pick for the Broncos.
The Broncos may be looking to shed salary, or they may be so impressed wit ha certain player in training camp that another guy has earned the opportunity to surprisingly take someone’s roster spot.
Trades can happen for so many different reasons but teams will be talking, and the Broncos have some players who are probably too valuable to just let hit the waiver wire. Which players could be the likeliest on the trading block for the Broncos ahead of 2020 roster cuts? Which players might teams come calling for?
Let’s take a look at five names.
1. Royce Freeman, RB
Now, let me start this off by saying I’m not so certain the Broncos would actually trade Freeman to another team at this point in time.
There are a number of reasons to think he won’t get traded, including the fact that he’s under contract for two more years, is a capable starting back, and is really, really good depth for your RB3 spot.
The Broncos have also been talking about Freeman as though he’s definitely in the offense’s plans for 2020.
The ideal situation for Denver is to keep Freeman and try to sneak Le’Vante Bellamy onto the practice squad, and no preseason games could certainly help them do that. But what if the Broncos feel like Bellamy is ready for RB2 duties? Because, essentially, that’s what they would be one injury away from.
There are teams out there looking for running back help, one specifically being the Chicago Bears, and if the Bears are willing to part with a valuable asset for a guy like Freeman, it might be worth the Broncos entertaining the idea or at least listening to the call.
With Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay poised for the lion’s share of snaps this year, Freeman is a guy the Broncos might field some calls about.
2. Troy Fumagalli, TE
Believe it or not, in limited reps in 2019, Troy Fumagalli ‘started’ five games for the Denver Broncos.
Fumagalli is one of a couple of players at the tight end position the Broncos could be asked about in a trade.
The Broncos have Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, and Albert Okwuegbunam seemingly entrenched in roster spots. Beyond those guys, it’s hard to ignore what Jake Butt has been doing in camp and the team obviously really likes TE/FB Andrew Beck, who also plays a crucial role on special teams.
Fumagalli is a stronger receiver and blocker, but he’s been having a good camp for the Broncos and Vic Fangio recently stated that he’s definitely in the mix at a deep position group.
It’s feeling more and more like the Broncos will keep four tight ends, but even if that’s the case, there are going to be two guys on the outside looking in.
Fumagalli has practice squad eligibility but would he really make it through waivers?
Teams low on the waiver order might ask the Broncos about Fumagalli or even Andrew Beck to see how willing they might be to part with one or both of them.
3. DaeSean Hamilton, WR
It would be tough to stomach a DaeSean Hamilton trade, no matter what passes he dropped in 2019.
The 2018 fourth-round pick has had a tougher start to his NFL career than many assumed, but things could be looking up for him in year three. Hamilton’s play took a turn for the better after a drop late in the 2019 season led to a meeting in Vic Fangio’s office.
Fangio reminded Hamilton that even the best receivers in the league have dropped easy ones.
Hamilton became one of the most targeted receivers on the team over the final five games of the season.
His value to the Broncos may simply be too high to trade him to another team with KJ Hamler nursing an injury, but that may not stop other teams from trying to come and get him.
Hamilton is a tremendous route runner and a perfectionist at the position, capable of working the short-intermediate of course but he has underrated downfield ability as well.
Some consistency at quarterback for the Broncos could bring out the best in Hamilton, but some team might try to entice John Elway to trade him so they can get the best out of Hamilton before Denver does.
With KJ Hamler on the mend, Hamilton’s future role in the offense is a bit of a question mark. Still, with two years left on his rookie deal, Hamilton is tremendous depth for a team looking to run a lot of 3WR sets.
4. Tim Patrick, WR
Another wide receiver teams might be calling the Broncos about is Tim Patrick.
Patrick has opened camp with the starting unit, and he seems to be the WR2 or WR3 after 10 days of practice, so the Broncos are obviously looking to factor him in with the number one offense.
With that said, Patrick is on a one-year contract, he’s familiar with the Kubiak version of the West Coast offense, and he could be coveted by teams out there running it who need receivers like the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and even Kubiak’s Minnesota Vikings.
How confident are the Broncos in their young guys here? Is Patrick a starting type along with Courtland Sutton, or is he more of a backup to Sutton?
If the answer is the latter, the Broncos might entertain a trade for Patrick. Tyrie Cleveland has had a strong training camp and should be an instant contributor on special teams, and other players on the back of the roster like Fred Brown and Trinity Benson have been making a lot more of the ‘highlight reel’ types of plays at camp by comparison to Patrick, at least from what we’ve seen.
Patrick is a guy with regular-season experience and some big-time catches in his limited chances for the Broncos, but every player has a price and if some team is willing to pay up, the Broncos might have to at least listen.
5. DeMarcus Walker, DL
A former second-round pick out of Florida State, DeMarcus Walker has simply not found his footing in Denver with the Broncos.
With that being said, he’s coming off of the best year of his NFL career with four sacks in limited action in 2019.
Walker is in the final year of his rookie contract, and even with a number of other defensive linemen on one-year deals, it appears the Broncos are moving forward with a top trio in 2021 of Jurrell Casey, Dre’Mont Jones, and McTelvin Agim at the very least.
The Broncos have seven guys right now who will probably be on an NFL roster in 2020 if you include 2020 free agent signing Christian Covington, who has been a more consistent performer over the last three years than Walker.
As difficult as it would be to move on from a former second-round pick, the Broncos might be willing to roll with Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell, Casey, Jones, Agim, and Covington for this season.
Walker could still be viewed as great depth for the team and a worthwhile wild card on the roster as someone who can provide pass rush at a moment’s notice, but consistency is going to be key.
Teams are always looking for pass rush help and if the Broncos intend to let go of one of Walker or Covington, it wouldn’t be surprising for teams around the league to call John Elway and ask what he wants for one of them (or both).