5 players Sean Payton could help steal from Broncos division rivals

Now that Sean Payton is the head coach of the Denver Broncos, it’s safe to say the team will be back to being a “destination” for prospective free agents. There are two primary reasons for that. First of all, Payton is a coach that players love to play for. He knows how to maximize offensive talent, and players know that. Second, this is the first offseason for the Denver Broncos with the richest owners in American sports history. They have a salary cap just like everyone else, but the cash this team has on hand will be an absolute game-changer when it comes to attracting free agents.

Even those from rival franchises.

Payton is still finishing up his work with FOX as a member of the media here at Super Bowl week, and he realizes that part of his job in the media is entertainment. He also realizes that he can utilize his platform with FOX as a way to stir the pot a little bit. He recently made some glowing remarks to a certain Raiders running back which had Broncos Country buzzing.

That got me thinking — what players from rival teams could we see Payton lure to Denver in 2023? Let’s take a look at five options.

5 division rivals the Denver Broncos could steal with Sean Payton

1. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Let’s start with the obvious and the motivation for making this post in the first place. Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was outstanding in the 2022 season, and has frankly always been outstanding against the Denver Broncos, specifically. Jacobs averaged nearly 100 yards per game in the 2022 season, earning a Pro Bowl nod as well as first-team All-Pro.

Jacobs racked up over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and was the most dynamic we’ve ever seen him in the pros, not just when the Raiders were taking on the Broncos.

Averaging 10 touchdowns per season and always eclipsing 1,200 yards from scrimmage, Jacobs has been an effective back all of his first four seasons in the NFL. Entering the 2023 offseason, he’s poised to be one of the most coveted players on the market if the Raiders let him get there, but the franchise tag is certainly an option they could exercise.

If nothing else, Sean Payton has made it clear that if the Broncos don’t get him, he’s going to drive up his value as high as possible in the public eye so that Jacobs doesn’t settle for simply playing on the franchise tag. No running back should.

We all know that Josh McDaniels is horrendous when it comes to managing a roster (for the most part), so perhaps we will see the Raiders let him hit the open market. It may not be likely, but Payton’s comments to Jacobs were probably more sincere than they’re being given credit for.

2. DeAndre Carter, WR/KR/PR, Los Angeles Chargers

One of the biggest things Sean Payton has emphasized when talking to the media is that changing the culture anywhere starts with an obsession over the “details”. Details matter, and one of the details that can get overlooked when it comes to a team’s success is how successful your return game is.

The Denver Broncos have been so bad on special teams for the last handful of years, it’s hard to pinpoint the return game as the one primary area of need. But let’s consider, for the moment, the prospect of adding Chargers wide receiver and return specialist DeAndre Carter, who actually ended up being a pretty significant offensive weapon for them in 2022.

It’s not likely that Carter’s next contract is going to break the bank. But even as he approaches the age of 30, he’s going to be an effective player for you because he has a very defined and somewhat limited role. He averaged 11.7 yards per punt return last year for the Chargers. He’s got the ability to change a game on a dime like he did in 2021 when he was with Washington:

It will be fascinating to see what kinds of deliberate moves are made to make adjustments to the special teams group in 2023. Don’t be surprised if someone like DeAndre Carter is targeted to come in and fix the return game.

3. Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Kansas City Chiefs

I think we have to bring this idea up, as unlikely as it seems right now. Orlando Brown Jr. has been a significant investment for the Chiefs since he was acquired in 2021 for a first-round pick. The Chiefs traded premium draft real estate to get Brown, and last offseason, they franchise-tagged him.

Unlike in years past, it would be foolish just to sit here and say that the Chiefs are strapped up against the salary cap and can’t afford any or all options for Brown as it relates to his future. If they want to tag him again, they can afford to do it. If they want to re-sign him to a long-term deal, they could do that.

But they also might let him walk in free agency. They might have other players they want to go after this offseason and perhaps they feel like they could sign or draft someone else to take that left tackle spot. Not everyone in Kansas City has been thrilled all year with Brown’s play at the left tackle position.

The Denver Broncos would have to make sweeping changes to make this happen, but adding Brown as the team’s left tackle is not out of the question. At least, it’s got a greater than 0 percent chance of potentially happening.

Let’s say the Chiefs do let Brown hit free agency, I think the Denver Broncos would strongly consider the option of moving on from Garett Bolles, coming off of a season-ending injury, and considering the alternatives available to them. Even if it means signing someone who will cost $20 million per year (or more) like Orlando Brown Jr.

4. Jermaine Eluemunor, OT, Las Vegas Raiders

If you consider someone like Orlando Brown Jr. to be completely out of the realm of realism for the Denver Broncos, then let’s talk about Las Vegas Raiders starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. Eluemunor was originally selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

In 2019, he was traded to the Patriots, which is where his familiarity with Josh McDaniels comes into play. Over the last couple of seasons, he’s grown and developed into a very good starting right tackle for the Raiders and someone to keep on your radar for 2023 NFL Free Agency.

The Denver Broncos know they have to figure out a way to upgrade the offensive line in the 2023 offseason. They’re going to be aggressive in pursuing those upgrades. They also understand, no doubt, that players they’ve signed in free agency in recent years have not been working out quite so well.

The 2014 free agent class for the Denver Broncos perhaps spoiled the fan base when they brought in the likes of TJ Ward, DeMarcus Ware, Emmanuel Sanders, and Aqib Talib. You’re not getting free agent classes like that all the time.

As spoiled as the fan base was by that 2014 class, they’ve also become scarred by free agent signings in recent years like Menelik Watson, Ron Leary, Ja’Wuan James, and Graham Glasgow on the offensive line. The team hasn’t signed well in free agency on the O-line, nor have they drafted overly well.

Garett Bolles has turned out to be a solid player and Quinn Meinerz is looking like a fixture at right guard, but high draft picks like Dalton Risner and Lloyd Cushenberry haven’t worked out in recent years.

Perhaps someone like Jermaine Eluemunor, who has worked hard to improve over the last handful of years, could come to Denver and provide some stable play at the right tackle position.

5. Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

I guess you can’t just plug anybody into the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes offense and they will find instant success. The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to move on from Mecole Hardman in 2023 with their recent acquisitions of players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster is likely to get re-signed this offseason but Hardman, a former second-round pick out of Georgia, could very well hit free agency.

Hardman has big-time speed (as you would expect a skill player from Kansas City to have) and he’s proven throughout his NFL career that he can be effective not only on offense but also on special teams. In fact, in his rookie year, he was more than just “effective” on special teams, he was a second-team All-Pro.

The Broncos do have some receivers with upside on the roster and under contract. But instead of thinking of Hardman as a replacement for one of the “top” guys, consider him a replacement on the roster for someone like Kendall Hinton, KJ Hamler, or Montrell Washington, except you don’t have to get rid of any of those guys until after camp if you don’t want to.

The Broncos need more playmakers on offense. They also need to take more calculated risks on players in free agency. Depending on what Hardman’s asking price is, it would be an outstanding risk-reward proposition for the Denver Broncos to take a shot on his talent in Sean Payton’s offense, especially considering he’s just barely going to be 25 when he hits free agency.

Sign Hardman to a one-year deal. See if it can work in Sean Payton’s offense. Give him a shot to prove he can be a playmaker. The Broncos need players offensively that can add speed to the equation and give you a fail-safe in case Hamler can’t stay healthy again.

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Hardman missed nine regular season games this past season, so his value is probably going to be quite low. The Broncos should buy low here and see if they can strike some gold.