Denver Broncos: Josh Gordon and 4 other free agents to consider

The Denver Broncos are already dealing with some injuries after week one of the 2021 season. Here are five free agents they should consider.

The Denver Broncos are 1-0 after one week of the 2021 NFL season, but that victory came at a cost. Two of the team’s top players — wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Ronald Darby — went down with injuries in week one that landed them on temporary injured reserve.

Although the team is presently going with the “next man up” mentality, it will be interesting to see how aggressive general manager George Paton might be in terms of going after some proven veteran players or guys who might be worthwhile risk/reward propositions either soon or down the line.

Ultimately, you can never have too much depth in the NFL. Injuries happen all the time, and teams need to expect the unexpected.

With one week of the regular season down, veteran contracts are no longer fully guaranteed through the duration of the season. As much as the Denver Broncos would like to carry over their large amount of cap space to the 2022 offseason, there are chances right now to upgrade the roster and fill some holes left by the recently injured players.

Let’s stir the pot and have an open mind for a little bit. Here are five free agents I think the Denver Broncos should consider.

Denver Broncos FAs to consider

1. Josh Gordon, WR

Stay with me here. Remember I said — have an open mind.

Josh Gordon ain’t done with the NFL yet, apparently.

Although Gordon has been suspended by the NFL almost too many times to even count at this point, his talent is undeniable and in a one-year vacuum, he might be worth picking up if you’re a team like the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos kept only four actual receivers on the roster with Diontae Spencer — all due respect to Spence — kept primarily and maybe even strictly for his skill as a return specialst.

Jeudy is slated to now be out for potentially up to six weeks, so maybe you bring in a guy like Gordon first to the practice squad and give him a shot to see what he can do against your starting defense as part of the scout team.

Gordon has outstanding size and speed, and he’s had success with some vastly different quarterbacks and offensive systems.

If anyone in the NFL is picking up Josh Gordon, it will probably involve some prior relational equity or someone vouching for him in the front office or on the coaching staff.

It just so happens that in Gordon’s rookie season in 2012 with the Cleveland Browns that Pat Shurmur was his head coach. I’m just saying.

If I’m the Denver Broncos, for whatever low price it would cost, I would take this risk 100 percent.