Denver Broncos: 5 trades that could happen before 2021 season
5. Tim Patrick to the New Orleans Saints for draft pick(s)
The Denver Broncos are at a very important fork in the road with Tim Patrick.
1. You commit to him for the 2021 regular season and keep the option on the table to trade him at the deadline if the team’s record stinks.
2. You commit to him for 2021 come hell or high water and let him walk in free agency, maybe or maybe not recouping compensatory draft assets in 2023.
3. You trade him for maximum value before the 2021 regular season.
None of these options are off the table at this point, nor should they be. The Denver Broncos are exceptionally deep at the wide receiver position right now, and even considering the fact that Tyrie Cleveland has had a tough camp, the team has invested in his long-term potential.
Trinity Benson is balling at camp and so far through one preseason game.
Kendall Hinton has had a great offseason.
You’ve got sixth-round pick Seth Williams waiting in the wings to one day take Patrick’s role over anyway.
If the Denver Broncos do not view Tim Patrick as being part of their long-term plans, there is zero reason not to trade him for the most they possibly can right now.
What happens if you get to the regular season and he gets hurt, and you can no longer trade him during the year?
There are multiple teams in the NFL right now where Tim Patrick would be WR1 or WR2, including the New Orleans Saints. They should not be considered the only potential landing spot, but they may have the most desperate need.
With Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, and Noah Fant set to take on a lot of targets in 2021, George Paton should be confident if he can get a strong asset — 2nd or 3rd-round pick or an equivalent — in exchange for a very valuable asset in Tim Patrick.
Patrick is coming off of a huge year, he’s entering his prime age territory, and he’ll be motivated to earn a big-money contract.
If you’re a contending team or even borderline contending team that needs a receiver, you should be almost bothering George Paton to get Tim Patrick at this point. As much as we all love him in Denver, he may have the best chance to have success elsewhere.