Bleacher Report released an article on one player each team should trade, and they think the Denver Broncos should part with an EDGE rusher.
The Denver Broncos EDGE performance in 2021 was among the worst in the NFL.
To fix that, George Paton added two bodies to the group, Nik Bonitto and Randy Gregory, and the team decided to move Baron Browning from ILB to EDGE.
The team has clearly taken steps to improve their pass rush, which is needing to be very good in 2022.
The moves on paper were solid, but the Broncos kind of have a good problem now.
It appears as though the team may not be able to keep every EDGE player on their roster.
Because of that, Bleacher Report believes the Denver Broncos should try and trade Malik Reed.
It makes sense as well. The top four players at this position are going to be Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Nik Bonitto, and Baron Browning. If the team wanted to keep another OLB, it’s likely to be Jonathon Cooper, who is on his rookie deal, or Christopher Allen, an undrafted OLB who played for Alabama.
Both Cooper and Allen are younger and have more untapped potential than Reed has or has shown.
Trading Reed would also allow the Broncos to acquire a draft pick in 2023, as they only have a handful of picks at the moment.
Reed has led the Denver Broncos in sacks in two seasons, but those seasons weren’t great in generating pass rush.
Malik Reed is talented enough to enjoy a long career in the NFL as a primary backup option, but it looks like Denver may not have room for him.
A backup pass rusher could have a bit of demand, so I don’t think Denver would have an issue getting something for him, even if it’s a sixth or seventh-round pick in 2023.
Teams who are in a rebuilding state like the Bears, Texans, or Falcons might be willing to take a chance on Reed, who is still young.
Teams who are ready to compete shouldn’t have interest.
Malik Reed has done the most that he can for Denver as an undrafted player, and it’s clear that a divorce is needed.