Even though everyone in the Denver Broncos fan base is well aware of the team's offensive struggles right now, there's no mistaking the fact that this team is a Super Bowl contender.
And they need to treat themselves as such.
The Broncos are in a legitimate Super Bowl window. They brought back so many players from last year's team and made the trade for Jaylen Waddle in the offseason, sending all of the signals we need to see in order to believe that they should be considered a legitimate threat at the NFL trade deadline.
As we approach the team's Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, we're going to take a closer look at which players could be on the team's radar and who might be among this year's "wish list" acquisitions.
5 players the Broncos need to be keeping tabs on ahead of the NFL trade deadline
5. Tony Pollard, RB, Titans
Tony Pollard would be a really smart acquisition by the Broncos. The Tennessee Titans currently have 5 running backs on their 53-man roster, and with a record of 1-5 so far this season, you have to expect that GM Mike Borgonzi is going to be willing to wheel and deal as the deadline approaches.
Pollard is an experienced veteran who could help the Broncos in multiple ways. He has over 1,000 yards from scrimmage every year since 2021. He has run for over 1,000 yards every year since 2022. He's only missed two games in the last six seasons combined (2021-present).
Pollard has been spectacular for stretches, and does well despite a rough situation around him in Tennessee.
He's solid as a runner, he contributes on passing downs, and he has explosive return abilities in his history as well.
4. Colby Parkinson, TE, Rams
The idea of the Broncos trading for a tight end already makes a lot of sense given their lack of production at the position (and how important it is to the run game success), but the idea of trading for Colby Parkinson is actually genius.
This idea came from Broncos analyst Nick Kendell of Mile High Huddle, and the more you dig into the details of what Parkinson brings to the table, the more it makes sense.
He's got elite size at the position being 6-foot-7, 265 pounds. He's more than just a willing blocker -- he's a good blocker.
As the Broncos are trying to figure out their running game, a player like Parkinson (who is also still just 27 years old) could really help in a championship run. It's not always the superstar names that make the biggest difference, but guys like this who allow the other playmakers to do their thing.
And he's also effective in the passing game, catching 8 touchdown passes last season.
3. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
Although Saquon Barkley is not the player he was two seasons ago, the juice might be worth the squeeze here for the Broncos if the Eagles start to sell off parts of the roster in the wake of Jalen Hurts's (very scary) blood clot situation.
With Hurts on IR and likely out for the season, Eagles GM Howie Roseman has a chance to let this season be more of an evaluation year and put one eye on the future.
Does that future include Saquon Barkley at this point? That remains to be seen, but if Roseman can get something for him, we've already seen him move on from Cam Jurgens and AJ Brown this year. Barkley certainly shouldn't be considered off limits.
Barkley hasn't played since the Eagles' October 4 loss to the Rams (hamstring injury), but is still averaging 5.1 yards per carry this season.
If you're going to take a swing at the running back position, Barkley has base salaries under $1.5 million over the next four years (including the 2026 season). He should be considered a viable option with the Eagles' current context.
2. Quenton Nelson, OG, Colts
The Indianapolis Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard with a handful of weeks before the 2026 NFL trade deadline, which can only mean one thing: A fire sale is coming.
The Colts won't be taken for fools, of course, but without a 1st-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, the Colts need to replenish some of their NFL Draft capital. And perhaps the Broncos could oblige.
The 30-year old guard Quenton Nelson is in a contract year with the team, so he feels like one of the most likely trade candidates. It's been no secret that the Broncos don't like their own situation at the left guard position. Whether or not they would say that publicly, actions speak louder than words.
Asking Ben Powers to take a pay cut this offseason (and him taking it) while simultaneously not allowing Alex Palczewski to compete for a starting job speaks volumes. Oh, and the team also drafted a future replacement at the guard position in Kage Casey.
All of that to say, the idea of trading for Quenton Nelson to upgrade the interior offensive line has plenty of merit, even if the price to get him is high. The idea of Nelson and Quinn Meinerz at the guard position would give the Broncos the best guard duo in the NFL.
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, JK Dobbins is facing 8+ men in the box 17.28 percent of the time. Among running backs with at least 45 carries through the first 6 weeks of the season, that is the 6th-lowest rate.
Among running backs with 60+ carries, it's the 3rd-lowest.
JK Dobbins is one of only two backs in the NFL with 80 or more carries this season (Bhayshul Tuten the other) to face this low of a stacked box rate.
What does that mean? It means that the fact that JK Dobbins has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry this season makes absolutely no sense. Teams are not loading the box and trying to make it hard for him. In fact, the opposite. They are daring the Broncos to beat them on the ground, and they can't do it.
Part of the issue is obviously the offensive line, but part of it is that Dobbins also doesn't look like himself out there.
Enter the idea of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who has been feasting whether or not he faces a stacked box.
Taylor is already up to 655 yards from scrimmage and 7 total touchdowns this season, and presents the type of threat at the running back position that could be an absolute game-changer for the Broncos. If the Colts are willing to move him, the Broncos need to be calling.
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