3 players Broncos could cut to create cap space

Broncos could cut Dalton Risner, guard

Cap savings if cut: $2.790 million

Cap savings if cut after June 1: $2.790 million

It would be a wildly unpopular move within the fanbase to cut Dalton Risner, but not one out of the realm of possibilities.

Risner is a fantastic guy on and off the field and his local ties make him a big fan favorite. But how good has he really been in his young career? He started off promising but has certainly taken a step back.

With the Broncos signing Billy Turner and Ben Braden, two players familiar with Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, Risner will have some competition. With Quinn Meinerz entering his second year and Netane Muti still on the team, Risner might not even be a starter in Denver.

Still, he was a second-round pick in 2019 and the Broncos are not likely to give up on him so easily. If they didn’t see him in their future plans, it would be much more likely that they dealt him to another team rather than just cut him, particularly for such a small savings.

But if you look at the team’s current roster, the three players listed, along with Malik Reed, are about the only players that offer the Broncos any kind of salary cap relief. It’s highly unlikely that the Broncos would let Reed go due to his production and the fact that edge rushers are among the most important players on the team.

They don’t want to make the same mistake that they did with Shaq Barrett a few years ago.

Of these, the only move I see as potentially happening would be that of Purcell but they are all options for Paton to consider.