The Denver Broncos surprised pretty much everyone by passing on both Von Miller and Chandler Jones for Randy Gregory. What’s next for George Paton?
Just over one day into the NFL’s legal negotiating period for teams and free agents, the Denver Broncos have made some significant noise.
One week ago today, the Broncos made the shocking trade to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks.
The outlook for the Denver Broncos in the 2022 season and beyond has changed significantly in a week’s time.
The Broncos have now acquired free agent defensive lineman DJ Jones from the 49ers as well as pass rusher Randy Gregory from the Cowboys. General manager George Paton also brought back starting linebacker Josey Jewell on a two-year deal.
Although it’s not everybody’s personal brand, the Denver Broncos are off to a roaring start this offseason with plenty of room left to improve and keep upgrading the roster.
What’s next for the Denver Broncos after the Randy Gregory deal?
The Broncos made the decision to prioritize Randy Gregory over other perceived top pass rushers on the free agent market like Von Miller, Chandler Jones, and even others like Haason Reddick.
Gregory has a history of being suspended by the league but has apparently changed significantly over the last couple of years.
Still, signing him to a five-year deal worth $70 million in total money ($28 million in guarantees) feels like a big risk for Paton, one that he and the front office apparently felt was worthwhile considering the presence of Russell Wilson under center.
Because at this point we don’t know exactly how the contracts are structured, it’s hard to know where the Denver Broncos are at exactly with their salary cap space, but because the cap is expected to continually rise in the coming years, it’s reasonable to assume the cap hits for 2022 will be plenty low so the Broncos can keep adding pieces to the roster.
After the decision to sign Randy Gregory and re-sign Josey Jewell on Tuesday, what moves could be up next?
The Broncos still have needs at right tackle, tight end, safety, and cornerback.