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Denver Broncos: Potential Draft Day Trades

By Chandler Hyler

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAR 01: George Paton, general manager of the Denver Broncos speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAR 01: George Paton, general manager of the Denver Broncos speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 24: College football player Christian McCaffrey of the Stanford Cardinal looks on from the sideline in the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos draft day trade ideas: Christian McCaffrey, RB (Panthers)

I’ve brought up the idea of trading for Christian McCaffrey before. As the draft looms above us all, there is still room for the Denver Broncos to grow at the running back position.

Along with Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley is another name that I would love for the Denver Broncos to inquire about. There have been rumors leaking that the New York Giants may be interested in moving the former second overall pick.

Tossing around the idea of the Denver Broncos adding a former eighth overall pick or second overall pick, who are both electrifying playmakers when healthy, to this already talented offense, brings a lot of excitement.

Both of these guys could come in and share the backfield with Javonte Williams as well as being fantastic third-down backs as they both possess elite pass-catching abilities. Brining in either one of these guys would be adding sprinkles on top of a three-layered iced cake that already has multiple flavors that can entice anyone.

Having the deep threat in K.J. Hamler, route running aficionado in Jerry Jeudy, two 50-50 ball kings in Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick, a hyper-athletic tight end in Albert Okwuegbunam paired with Javonte Williams’s resilient running style and the dual-threat or Barkley or McCaffrey would place Russell Wilson in heaven.

Imagine an offensive set where McCaffrey or Barkley is lined up on one side of Russell Wilson and Javonte Williams is on the other, with the fantastic trio of Sutton, Patrick & Hamler outside, profit!

McCaffrey would require less draft capital due to his contract and injury history, but in a deal where the Denver Broncos send a sixth-round pick where the Carolina Panthers could avoid eating his future salary could provide massive dividends for the Denver Broncos in 2022.

However, in 2023, his hit on the salary cap jumps significantly, so this move would require some maneuvering in the future but would make the Denver Broncos’ offense even more potent in the upcoming season.

With the way his contract is set up, the Carolina Panthers wouldn’t clear much cap in 2022, but with a post-June 1 designation, it would help in 2023 & beyond.

Barkley, like McCaffrey, is just still 25 years old. By trading Barkley, the New York Giants could save roughly seven million in cap space in 2022. Barkley will be a free agent after this season, so if the Denver Broncos were to strike a deal with the Giants and Barkley hits free agency, George Paton could even be in line for gaining a compensatory pick, if Barkley plays well and signs a major deal.

Barkley & Javonte Williams would be one helluva one-two punch in the backfield. This move would require a higher cost in regards to draft capital, but it could also pay itself off with the compensation if he were to sign a large deal after this season.

Unlike the scenario with McCaffrey, Barkley could be a mere rental for the Denver Broncos, but he is such a talented player when healthy it may be enough to boost the Broncos over some of the rivaling teams in the AFC.

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