The Denver Broncos traded away Von Miller, so is anyone off-limits? Here are three trades GM George Paton should make to follow up the blockbuster.
The unthinkable has happened. The Denver Broncos have traded Von Miller.
For the last decade, Miller has been the Denver Broncos’ best player and he will be a future Ring of Famer and first-ballot Hall of Famer whenever his playing days are up. For now, though, he is no longer going to be helping the orange and blue win football games. Miller has been traded to the Los Angeles Rams for second-and third-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Those might have been the only selections the Rams had left, to be honest.
3 trades the Broncos should make after trading Von Miller
For the time being, there’s not a lot of time to dwell on the past or lament the departure of Von Miller. The NFL trade deadline is only one day away, and if the Broncos were willing to trade Von Miller for the right price, what other players could be on the move?
There should be no shortage of rumors floating around in the coming hours.
On both sides of the ball, the Denver Broncos have players that could be of interest to other teams with perhaps more realistic playoff expectations this season, especially now that the Broncos have sent up the signal fire that they might be selling anyone who isn’t in the team’s plans beyond just this season.
What other players could be on the move?
What trades should the Denver Broncos make?
Let’s take a look at three.
3 trades the Broncos should make after trading Von Miller
1. Teddy Bridgewater to the New Orleans Saints
The Teddy Bridgewater experiment in Denver is not working out.
Why not send him back to the New Orleans Saints where he had much better success under Sean Payton?
Whether it’s the way he fits with Pat Shurmur or simply just a lack of overall ability, Bridgewater has been a massive letdown for the Denver Broncos in the month of October.
During the team’s 3-0 run in September, there was some talk that maybe Teddy could play his way to a new contract. Efficient QB play is not unwelcome in Denver and Teddy was playing efficient football.
Over the last five games, however, Bridgewater and the offense have been downright terrible.
The New Orleans Saints just lost Jameis Winston to a season-ending knee injury. Former Bronco Trevor Siemian stepped up in his place against the Buccaneers, but for a team with serious playoff aspirations, are the Saints just going to stick it out with Siemian and see what happens?
Teddy Bridgewater, at the very least, would give that team some insurance in case Siemian gets hurt and — heaven forbid — they have to roll for the rest of the year with Taysom Hill as the primary QB.
3 trades the Broncos should make after trading Von Miller
2. Melvin Gordon to the Tennessee Titans
If the Broncos are willing to trade Von Miller to one of the best teams in the NFC, why would they not be willing to trade Melvin Gordon to one of the best teams in the AFC?
Gordon scored his fourth and fifth touchdowns of the season in the Broncos’ win over the Washington Football Team, and he’s proven since he signed in 2020 that he is still one of the better all-around backs in the league.
With the occasional case of fumbleitis.
Gordon’s ability as a three-down workhorse back is desperately needed by the Tennessee Titans right now, as they have just lost Derrick Henry for potentially the remainder of the 2021 regular season.
Why would the Titans hold onto 2022 NFL Draft selections when they are in a possible championship window?
They are currently the top seed in the AFC, and being stingy with draft picks right now would not be overly wise business practice.
Just look at the Rams.
The Titans are now in need of a lead back and the Broncos have one that should be available for the right price. Trading Gordon would allow Javonte Williams to take over the featured back role with Mike Boone as the number two.
3 trades the Broncos should make after trading Von Miller
3. Kyle Fuller to the Buffalo Bills
The Denver Broncos benched Kyle Fuller after the first six weeks of the season where he gave up one big play after another in coverage.
Unfortunately, what appeared to be one of the more fortuitous offseason signings for the Broncos has turned out to be one of the team’s worst moves.
Fuller was a Vic Fangio guy, and he gave the Broncos elite depth in the secondary on paper, but he has not performed up to a $9.5 million deal.
With Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey ready to start practicing again, the reasons for keeping Kyle Fuller around simply are not there.
The telltale sign that Fuller is going to be traded, almost certainly?
When Bryce Callahan went down with a hyperextended knee against the Washington Football Team, Denver inserted Nate Hairston into the game, not Fuller.
That sort of tipped their hand that negotiations have probably been going on behind the scenes, because not playing Fuller in that instance indicated the Broncos did not want him out there getting hurt.
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Denver may have to eat some of Fuller’s remaining salary to get something decent in return, but trading him to a contender should be on the near horizon.