With the NFL Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, the Denver Broncos are running out of time to strike, and are also likely one of many teams trying to find players to put the team over the edge. For the second season in a row, the Broncos have positioned themselves nicely to win the AFC West, and they still have a good chance at earning the top seed in the AFC.
The logical next step for the Broncos is to find a player or two before the deadline that addresses a key need to put this team over the edge. There are some positions on the roster that could use some improvement, so the front office does need to get moving.
We've outlined a few obvious reasons why the Broncos must be aggressive buyers at the NFL Trade Deadline.
Why the Denver Broncos must be aggressive buyers at the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline
The team has trade deadline worthy positions that need upgraded
Whether you look at running back or tight end as being the biggest needs, they exist. The Broncos running backs have been hurt this year, and the one notable runner who has not missed a game, J.K. Dobbins, is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. While Jonah Coleman has looked great, he has only seen touches in three NFL games, and it'd be hard to envision how the Broncos trust him as the de-facto RB1 in a clear Super Bowl window.
As for the tight end position, it's more clear than ever that the Evan Engram era just has not worked out. Adam Trautman is just a guy, and Nate Adkins hasn't really developed into anything of note. Denver has major needs at both positions. The run game is more important, and with the Broncos apparently having some level of interest in Jonathan Taylor, perhaps now is the time to strike.
While the Broncos are among the best teams in the league, two of the primary positions that have plagued this team for years are still hurting the overall performance.
Super Bowl windows can close as quickly as they open
The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2024 and are now 2-6 on the season and approaching a needed rebuild. They had beaten the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl that year, and in 2025, the Chiefs won just six games and missed the playoffs. We're even seeing the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning champs, in a scenario where they'll likely be fighting for a playoff spot, as they're now 4-4 on the season.
Nothing beyond this year is guaranteed for the Broncos. This team's Super Bowl window very clearly opened in 2025, and it is still open here in 2026. That doesn't mean 2027 is going to bring more of the same, as all of the key players will be a year older, and roster turnover is natural. Denver has to capitalize on this current window, as last year went up in flames, unfortunately, with Bo Nix's ankle injury.
The AFC is a massive mess, and the Broncos need to create another advantage
The current AFC playoff field is deep - half of the conference has five or six wins, and two other teams have four wins. Three teams have six wins, and all three current Wild Card teams in Kansas City, Cincinnati, and New England are capable of winning their respective divisions.
Folks, the AFC is really deep and might just be loaded from top to bottom. The Broncos currently hold that No. 2 seed, which is fine, but that doesn't mean they'll win the division or stay in that No. 2 seed if they do.
Denver does appear to have a clear-cut advantage over other teams with their pass rush and late-game heroics, but there are opportunities at the deadline to create more advantages, especially out of the backfield. The Broncos have assembled one of the five most talented teams in football, but why not keep the foot on the gas?
The AFC is there for the taking for Denver, but that is also the case for about five other teams. Gaining another advantage is sincerely the one remaining thing this team can do. Adding someone like Jonathan Taylor, for example, would finally give the Broncos a legitimate, consistent, and threatening run game.
This would be true for other positions, but all of our arguments here can also be traded back to the RB positon as well.
Add us as a preferred source on Google