5 trades the Denver Broncos could make before the roster is set

Denver Broncos trade idea no. 3: WR Seth Williams to the Dallas Cowboys

Broncos get: 

• 2023 6th-round pick

Cowboys get:

• WR Seth Williams

The Denver Broncos are going to have to do some serious maneuvering at the wide receiver position in the coming days. The loss of Tim Patrick this season certainly has paved the way for a completely different strategy when it comes to roster construction at one of the most important positions on the roster.

As of right now, I think six spots on this Broncos roster are absolutely locked in at receiver.

• Courtland Sutton
• Jerry Jeudy
• KJ Hamler
• Kendall Hinton
• Montrell Washington
• Brandon Johnson

That’s two rookies making your final roster including an undrafted free agent in Brandon Johnson, who has been absolutely lighting it up this offseason. There’s nothing set in stone here, but the way the team has approached the first couple of preseason games, you can tell that Hinton and Johnson are the favorites over other players at receiver right now, which will leave some good-looking players on the outside looking in.

That includes 2021 sixth-round pick Seth Williams, a personal favorite who has shown he’s capable of making big plays in his short time with the Broncos. Despite that, and despite the fact that he’s an ideal “replacement” for Tim Patrick in terms of his size and catch radius, it’s hard to ignore what players like Hinton and Johnson have done by comparison so far this offseason.

Even if the Broncos choose to keep seven receivers, I think rookie free agent Jalen Virgil has shown more to stick around at this point, which begs the question — do you think you’re going to get Seth Williams through waivers, or is some team going to claim him?

The Broncos had joint practices earlier this month with the Dallas Cowboys, and the Cowboys are undoubtedly in need of some receiver help at this point. A player like Seth Williams could be exactly the type of late-round dart throw they want — a low-risk, potentially high-reward type of move — without breaking the bank.

If Williams isn’t in the Broncos’ top six, and they feel like they would lose him on waivers, then trading him to the highest bidder makes a lot of sense so they don’t lose value. There’s a calculated risk involved in sending guys like Williams to waivers, and he did make it through last year, but the Broncos essentially had to block other teams from taking him near the end of last season.

Williams had a nice touchdown against the Cowboys and they certainly got the chance to scout him up close and personal. I think this is a mutually beneficial trade for both sides to consider.