The Denver Broncos’ 2023 free agency period figures to be interesting based on their head coaching hire. Who are some early targets? If the team is willing to part with draft capital to land Sean Payton, just imagine how aggressive they’d be in free agency.
Having limited draft picks means that the free agency pool becomes more heavily used, which would likely be the case for the Broncos. The team was active in free agency last year, signing some offensive linemen and handing out deals for DJ Jones, Randy Gregory, and K’Waun Williams.
The team can easily clear $30 million of cap space if they needed to spend more money in a couple of months once free agency starts. With limited needs on defense but more glaring needs on offense, the team’s free agency period may reflect that.
Who are some early targets for the team in the 2023 free agency period?
Way too early 2023 free agent targets for the Broncos
Connor McGovern, C
Connor McGovern was a Denver Broncos’ draft pick a while ago and started a few years for the team before leaving on a three-year deal for the New York Jets. He played out the entirety of that deal and is set to hit the open market.
McGovern is pretty stinkin’ good at what he does and would serve as a massive upgrade over the Lloyd Cushenberry/Graham Glashow experiences at center, which have been awful.
He’s also a former Bronco, so perhaps he’d be interested in returning to his original team. McGovern is good at what he does and stays on the field–he’s been arguably the most consistent part of an ever-changing Jets’ offensive line.
McGovern would be a savvy target for George Paton in 2023, and he isn’t going to cost top-of-the-market money.
Way too early 2023 free agent targets for the Broncos
Jacoby Brissett, QB
The Broncos need to have a viable backup quarterback in 2023. Brett Rypien is not cutting it, and bringing in Josh Johnson last offseason to compete for the spot behind Russell Wilson was embarrassing.
If Wilson continues to struggle in 2022 or needs to miss some time with injuries, having someone like Brissett could help save the season, literally. He’s exactly what you’d want in a backup quarterback. He has shown the ability to be serviceable and comes with 48 career touchdown passes, 23 interceptions, and a rating in the mid-80s.
That is precisely what Denver needs from this position. Some may argue that the backup QB should perhaps be a rookie draft pick who has a higher ceiling, but I am of the opinion that the team will not need to dabble in drafting a quarterback in the near future as I do think Russell Wilson is just fine and will bounce back.
Bringing in someone like Brissett who comes with 48 career starts would be another very smart move. This is all about elevating the floor of a potentially shaky QB room in 2023.
Way too early 2023 free agent targets for the Broncos
Parris Campbell, WR
The Broncos need to get a consistent speed threat in their offense, as KJ Hamler has proven he cannot serve in that role. I would expect the team to trade or cut him, or at least not rely on him in 2023 and bring in someone else who can provide the needed speed.
Parris Campbell was a second-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts back in 2019, and for the first three years of his career, he played in just 15 games. However, in 2022, he finally put a competent product on the field, as he played in all 17 games, starting 16 of them.
He caught 63 passes for 623 yards and three touchdowns. Not only that, he ran a 4.31 at the scouting combine before he got drafted. He’ll turn just 26 over the summer and could be a nice option for the team in the passing game.
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With Tim Patrick returning from an ACL injury, and Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton likely returning, Campbell could slide right in and have his own niche role in the offense. This would be a great get for the Broncos, as an offensive head coach would have quite the stable of receivers to work with who all have unique skillsets to work with.