5 players the Broncos could trade to reload 2023 draft picks

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Denver Broncos general manager George Paton loves his NFL Draft darts. As much as he loves them, he’s been willing to part with some of his best ones in the last couple of years to secure Russell Wilson at the quarterback position, as well as head coach Sean Payton. The Broncos have traded away three first-round picks and three second-round picks — for starters — to acquire Wilson and Payton.

In order to get some of the best at their jobs in the NFL (although Wilson struggled in 2022, of course), you’ve got to give up premium real estate. As of right now, the Broncos have five selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s very possible that, over the next handful of weeks, we’ll see GM George Paton wheeling and dealing to add more draft capital to his 2023 war chest.

But where is it going to come from? Let’s take a look at five players the Broncos could trade away to reload that NFL Draft capital in 2023 (and beyond).

5 players the Denver Broncos could deal to reload 2023 NFL Draft war chest

DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 11: Dre’Mont Jones #93 of the Denver Broncos reacts in the first half of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field At Mile High on December 11, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

1. Dre’Mont Jones, DL (tag and trade candidate)

Nobody really wants to talk about this right now, because everyone — myself included — would much prefer to see Dre’Mont Jones back with the Denver Broncos in 2022 and beyond. Hopefully, cool heads will prevail and Jones will get himself a new contract from Denver that keeps him a Bronco for the majority of his NFL career.

Jones has become one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen over the last handful of years, and one thing I will say is that the Broncos can’t let him out the door for nothing in return. In a best-case scenario, I think he gets re-signed to a long-term deal.

Worst-case scenario? The Broncos have to trade Jones after franchise tagging him because he simply doesn’t want to be in Denver long-term. The tag is going to cost nearly $20 million. The Broncos will need to free up space to make that feasible, but this is one of your most valuable assets as a team. Jones will get slapped with the tag if no long-term deal is reached, and if he doesn’t want to be in Denver, he should be worth no less than a second-round pick when it comes to trade value.

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