4 players that could join forces with Sean Payton and the Broncos

Sean Payton is leaving the New Orleans Saints for the Denver Broncos, who else could follow suit?

Rob Walton and Greg Penner solved one massive need for the Denver Broncos in their acquisition of Sean Payton, but there are still several to go on the roster side of the franchise. How might the Denver Broncos fill some of these holes?

There are several free agents in this year’s crop from New Orleans that are worthy of a look. C.J. Gardner Johnson, although no longer a New Orleans Saint, is expected to be another candidate who draws attention.

Could we see someone like Taysom Hill wind up in Denver as the backup to Russell Wilson and as an offensive weapon? Andy Dalton is more of your prototypical backup quarterback, but the Denver Broncos could use that type too.

Who will reunite with Sean Payton in Denver?

4 players that could join forces with Sean Payton on the Denver Broncos

1. Latavius Murray, RB

Start off with the one guy who deserves some love for his reliability last season with the Denver Broncos, Latavius Murray. While he wouldn’t be new to the Denver Broncos, he and Sean Payton as a duo in Denver would be.

Javonte Williams is expected to miss some time next season after his devastating season-ending knee injury. Denver signed Murray off of the Saints’ practice squad last season. Filling in for a later realized Melvin Gordon and injured Javonte Williams, Murray rushed for 703 yards on 160 carries, good enough for 4.4 yards per carry.

Combined with his 124 receiving yards, Murray was reliable and productive with six touchdowns and over 800 all-purpose yards. He was the Denver Broncos’ best back last season, and most reliable.

Murray never put the team in harm’s way with his carelessness or lose handling of the football. That is something that can not be understated with how many times the ball ended up on the ground over the past few years for the Denver Broncos.

Latavius Murray played with Sean Payton in a multi-backfield role. During those two seasons, he rushed for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns. Murray also had 411 receiving yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns

Re-singing Latavius Murray would be a nice, team-friendly, reliable option to start the Denver Broncos’ season as Javonte Williams comes back to health.

2. Michael Thomas, WR

At one point, there was a trio in New Orleans that was upper-echelon. That trio included Sean Payton, Drew Brees, and Michael Thomas. During the years of 2017-2019, Micheal Thomas had 378 receptions, an average of 126 catches a season.

Thomas was selected to the All-Pro team on multiple occasions, broke records, and only missed four games. Here is the problem, since then, he has looked like a completely different wide receiver. Oft-injured, not available, and a lot less productive, Micheal Thomas has hit an impasse.

How can the Micheal Thomas of the old be rejuvenated?

By re-uniting with the guy that designed the offense that guided Thomas to such success. If he were to be released by the New Orleans Saints, which is fairly likely, the Denver Broncos should entertain bringing Thomas in on a prove-it deal.

High-risk, high-reward type of signing that could give the Denver Broncos a reliable set of hands on the outside, a chain-moving type of wide receiver. Tim Patrick should be good-to-go next season, but knee injuries can cause players to need to feel their way back into the game.

If Thomas were available and healthy, he could provide a massive upside for the Denver Broncos.

3. David Onyemata, DL

On both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Denver Broncos need help. Along the defensive line, Dre’Mont Jones is an impending free agent for the Denver Broncos and could be a huge loss for the team if he decides to go elsewhere.

Even if Jones is franchise tagged or re-signed, the team could still use another able body across the front. David Onyemata is a lifelong Saint that has been with the team since 2016. Onyemata has never been the flashy type, a massive name like Dre’Mont Jones but he could be a nice rotational piece across the Denver Broncos defensive line.

In seven total seasons, Onyemata has 23 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. Since coming into a larger role in 2018, Onyemate has improved. He has also been reliable, something I think the Denver Broncos need to focus on when adding players in free agency unless it is at a position like wide receiver where the Broncos are sitting comfortably.

4. Teddy Bridgewater or Taysom Hill

Adding a legitimate backup quarterback during free agency is just as important as any other position of need in 2023. Last season, Russell Wilson was banged up early, it happens to quarterbacks.

Although the league protects them with traffic cones, pillows, and blankets, injuries still happen. What could really amp up the Teddy Bridgewater watch would be if Vic Fangio follows Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos.

Good thing for Vic Fangio in this case, he will not have to wish Russell Wilson a happy birthday on Teddy’s day. Three and five back in the quarterback room again. Sean Payton got the most out of the quality backup quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, and Vic Fangio might be his biggest fan.

Heck, the Walton-Penner group may even become infatuated with Bridgewater for his business decisions. Having Teddy Bridgewater as QB1 is not something I would wish on anyone, but as a backup, Bridgewater can provide value.

Taysom Hill has been brought up as a potential pairing, but the Denver Broncos would have to consider more draft capital for Hill. There are also contractual things that the Saints would have to consider if they cut or traded Hill, but never say never.

Broncos who benefit most from the Sean Payton hire

On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints made a deal for Sean Payton. Which players benefit the most from this hire?

Taysom Hill can provide value as a weapon to an offense, but he would have to come at a much cheaper price tag than what he is playing on in New Orleans.