3 trades the Denver Broncos could make before the 2022 NFL Draft

Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; George Paton general manager of the Denver Broncos talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; George Paton general manager of the Denver Broncos talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Broncos and general manager George Paton may not be done wheeling and dealing before the 2022 NFL Draft. What trades could be made?

With just a couple of weeks and change before the 2022 NFL Draft, what moves could we see Denver Broncos general manager George Paton pull off?

At this point, it seems like his free agency spending spree is over, for the most part. The Denver Broncos could make modest additions prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, but don’t be surprised if Paton has some moves up his sleeve that nobody really knows about at all at this point.

This guy operates in complete silence, it seems.

One thing we know Paton loves to do? Make trades. As fans of the team, it makes the day-to-day for the organization all the more enjoyable that the general manager is “in on every deal” and seemingly enjoys getting his hands dirty as it relates to the NFL trade market.

Not just for the sake of making a trade, but Paton has consistently made good and beneficial trades for the Denver Broncos and before the 2022 NFL Draft, I think he could make some more.

Let’s take a look through some options that fans of the team may not necessarily see coming but trades that could make some sense based on where the Broncos’ roster is currently at.

Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos guard Dalton Risner (66) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Broncos pre-draft trades: Dalton Risner to the Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams’ 2022 NFL Draft capital is bordering on depleted at this point, but they have a variety of selections throughout day three of the 2022 Draft, many of the compensatory variety.

Thankfully for Rams general manager Les Snead, the compensatory selections are now allowed to be used in trades.

While I don’t think the Denver Broncos are going to be actively shopping Dalton Risner, I can’t help but wonder if he will be one of the players that other teams might covet in a trade.

Risner has one year remaining on his rookie deal. Given the upcoming expiring contracts for Dre’Mont Jones and Bradley Chubb as well as the possibility of an extension on the near horizon for Russell Wilson, could the Broncos justify paying Risner $11 million per year or more on a new deal?

I know that’s a lot to think about right now, but this is the kind of forward-thinking general managers have to do to build the roster.

The Broncos restructured Graham Glasgow’s deal to lower his cap hit in 2022 and I think between Glasgow, Quinn Meinerz, Netane Muti, Tom Compton, and the plethora of interior linemen the Broncos have brought in for visits prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, we could see some type of move here.

The Rams lost Austin Corbett in free agency and don’t have the ability to go out and sign a big-money player at the moment, so getting a solid player like Risner who could start and be a second-contract player for them? That would be a nice move for Les Snead before the 2022 NFL Draft.