The Denver Broncos seemed prepared to trade two NFL Draft picks to the Los Angeles Chargers for linebacker Daiyan Henley, but Denver ultimately backed out of the deal and now have 'officially' not made a move at the trade deadline.
For a team with some pretty glaring holes, it's a massive disappointment overall, as linebacker wasn't the only position that the team had and continue to have weaknesses.
With the deadline not gone, one of the only remaining avenues the team has to add players would be on the free agency market. Could the Broncos sign a player or two now?
The Denver Broncos can pivot to a few free agents after a weird NFL Trade Deadline
Germaine Pratt, LB
Germaine Pratt played one game this year for the Indianapolis Colts, but as recently as 2025, he suited up for 16 games and finished with 126 total tackles and 10 passes defended. According to Pro Football Reference, he allowed a 94.5 passer rating in coverage last year. Pratt is still just 30 and does have good football in previous seasons. If Denver's only move was to add to the LB position, adding this position in the free agency market would probably make the most sense than others.
While Pratt isn't going to come in and start, there is a clear upside here as a backup/rotational player. Pratt has 104 regular season starts under his belt and has played in the middle of a top-10 defense before.
Antonio Gibson, RB
Still just 28 years old, Antonio Gibson could help fill in the cracks at running back until RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie are both healthy enough to return, as both runners are on IR, and the Broncos have primarily been using Jonah Coleman the past few weeks, but Coleman has also spent time on IR, so this unit has been banged up. Gibson played in five games for the New England Patriots last year and all 17 back in 2024.
In that 2024 season, Gibson totaled 744 scrimmage yards and a healthy 5.2 yards per touch. Gibson definitely has upside as a receiver and might honestly be a better receiver than runner, which is similar to Harvey's skillset. While Coleman does also have receiving upside, adding in Gibson would give the Broncos some quality depth, even if it'd be for a few weeks.
Taysom Hill, TE
With the Broncos apparently having made some inquiries about tight end and safety, it would make sense to have those positions listed here. Taysom Hill might be one of the most positionless players in modern NFL history. His stat page from Pro Football Reference has him listed as wide receiver, quarterback, and tight end, or a combination of the three.
The ultimate utility player, Hill and Sean Payton had some fun moments together in New Orleans, and there might not be more of a 'my guys' head coach in football than Payton. Across his career, Hill amassed 45 touchdowns, 6.0 yards per touch, and 3,585 scrimmage yards.
Given that the Broncos can't really get all of their playmakers involved each game, adding another one wouldn't feel like a smart move, but if the team did call around at the TE position, Hill having experience in this offense and having played the position before, or in an adjacent role could make him a reasonably realistic fit.
Donovan Wilson, SAF
The Broncos safety room has gotten banged up this year, so Denver could add someone like Donovan Wilson to the mix. Wilson has spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys and had two interceptions, five passes defended, and 71 total tackles in 15 games in 2025.
Wilson slowed down in coverage big-time the past two seasons with the Cowboys, but, ideally, Wilson would serve as depth. Talanoa Hufanga seemed close to returning in Week 9, and while the severity of Brandon Jones' injury is not known, if it was IR-worthy, he very likely would have been put on IR before the Carolina game.
Denver's safety tandem could be back on the field as soon as Week 11, at least as of right now, but if there is any indication that Jones or Hufanga could miss more time, bringing in more help at the position, like the Broncos did with Taylor Rapp, could make a lot of sense.
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