The Denver Broncos still have nine games remaining in the 2022 season and will need to come out focused following their bye week as they still have a chance to make something of what has seemed like a lost season.
But it’s never too early to look to the future, especially if your role is as the general manager of a team.
George Paton already made one major transaction, trading Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins ahead of the league’s trade deadline. Chubb was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, like all of the players on this list.
The biggest name on the team’s list this offseason in terms of unrestricted free agents will be Dre’Mont Jones. Paton will likely work to come to terms on a new deal with him, as he is among the best defensive players on the roster.
However, over the course of the next nine games, these four players will be helping the Broncos to win games but they will also be auditioning for all of the other teams in the league as there is a chance they won’t be included in Denver’s future plans.
Broncos who will be looking for a new team in 2023: Dalton Risner, Guard
Dalton Risner is a big fan favorite due to his local roots, but he hasn’t been all that good since the team used a second-round pick on him in 2019.
Risner is not a lost cause, however. He holds up in the running game and can actually be a punishing blocker if he can get to the next level. He just struggles, often mightily, in pass protection.
The Broncos’ entire offensive line has struggled this season and that is something that team is going to have to address this offseason.
Risner is still just 27 years old and could have quite a bit of appeal from other teams around the league. There is a good chance he won’t be in Denver following this season.
How he can stick around: The Broncos are not deep on the offensive line and another young player, Lloyd Cushenberry, has not been so great either. The Broncos could move on from him as well and may not want to just dump several former high draft picks all at once.
If the Broncos and Risner could come to terms on a low-cost deal, he could be given another shot. But if another team wants to throw a lot of money at Risner, Denver will let him walk.