The arrival of Sean Payton has brought the Denver Broncos a stable coaching situation and the team has enjoyed arguably its best season in the post-Super Bowl 50 era, but it's also been another drama-filled season for the Denver Broncos in 2023-24.
Despite an improved record and improved play as a team overall in 2023, the Broncos are headed toward another offseason with major question marks at the quarterback position. The team will be armed with a first-round pick again for the first time since 2021. Change is coming yet again to the Denver Broncos as an organization, as they look to get back on track as a legitimate contender in the AFC West.
And there are a handful of players on the roster who won't likely be around to see that come to fruition.
1. Russell Wilson, QB
One of the most notable players who won't likely be around beyond this season is quarterback Russell Wilson. You never say never in a situation like this, but Wilson -- despite being guaranteed $39 million for 2024 -- seems like one of the most likely Broncos players to be let go in the 2024 offseason.
Why?
Well, that's a very layered question with a very layered answer. The simple answer to the question is slightly subjective, but not really arguable based on the team's decision and direction: Russell Wilson hasn't been good enough, certainly not to guarantee $37 million for 2025. And that's the conundrum the Broncos are facing right now.
Wilson hasn't played well enough to justify the team paying $37 million a year in advance when the passing attack has been one of the worst in the NFL this season, and Wilson seems to only play well out of structure or when the defense is giving the offense 3-5 extra possessions in a game.
After a dreadful 2022 season, Wilson was markedly improved in 2023 under Sean Payton. With that being said, the success of the offense never looked sustainable and clearly, the organization agreed. Wilson wasn't getting benched without permission from the ownership group (in my opinion), and the fact that we saw it happen is as telling of his standing within the organization as anything.
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2. Lloyd Cushenberry III, C
The Denver Broncos went into the 2023 season with the center position as a major question mark, at least in the eyes of the fan base. Nobody in Broncos Country was sure why Sean Payton and GM George Paton decided to pass on centers both in free agency and in the NFL Draft, at least until they selected Oregon's Alex Forsyth in round 7.
But Payton and his coaching staff clearly felt they could extract the best out of Lloyd Cushenberry III, and their faith apparently wasn't misplaced. Cushenberry has enjoyed the best season of his NFL career and some people feel like he's even a Pro Bowl snub.
Along with having the best season of his career, Cushenberry is hitting free agency in 2024, and it looks like that's coming at just the right time. He could earn a new contract upwards of $10 million annually, and I just don't view that as being a price the Broncos are going to be willing to pay.
The big question here is whether or not the Broncos view Cushenberry's development as something that has made him a foundation/core piece of the roster, or whether it serves as a proof of concept that this coaching staff feels it can get the best out of whatever guy is in that spot.
3. Josey Jewell, LB
Josey Jewell was a fourth-round pick by the Denver Broncos back in 2018, and he's turned out to be a really good player for them.
Slated to hit free agency now for the second time in his NFL career, Jewell is a player I don't exactly expect back with the Denver Broncos in 2024.
The Broncos re-signed Alex Singleton, the team's leading tackler the last two years, to a three-year deal in 2023. With Jewell's contract expiring in 2024, the team went out and used a third-round pick on Drew Sanders, a versatile playmaker out of Arkansas who has found his way onto the field more and more as the 2023 season has progressed.
While Sanders has the flexibility to move to the EDGE as the Broncos need him to, I think the plan when drafting him was to acclimate him for a season and give the other starting spot next to Alex Singleton to him in 2024.
Jewell will have some significant interest around the league, I think, even if it's only on a short-term deal. As solid of a player as he's been for the Broncos, he'll be 30 this coming offseason and the Broncos need to get better team speed defensively at every position.
4. Fabian Moreau, CB
Although he doesn't appear to be a long-term fixture at the cornerback position, Fabian Moreau has been a pretty pleasant surprise for the Denver Broncos in 2023 as a journeyman who signed in training camp for next-to-nothing and has had to step into starting duty.
The unfortunate aspect of Fabian Moreau playing rather well is the fact that it's come at the expense of Damarri Mathis, a second-year player the Broncos were really counting on at the cornerback position opposite Pat Surtain II.
Mathis was absolutely getting destroyed in the early portion of the season, so much so that the Broncos were forced to pull him from the lineup and insert Moreau to raise the floor at the position. And he's done exactly that.
Although unspectacular, Moreau has allowed a completion rate of just 64.7 percent into his coverage, and he hasn't allowed a touchdown this year according to Pro Football Reference. Considering he allowed 13 touchdowns in the previous two seasons combined, I think he will take that into free agency and absolutely cash in.
And I don't see that being with the Denver Broncos. Whether the Broncos move on to 2023 third-round pick Riley Moss or go to Damarri Mathis again, I think we're looking at a new starting outside corner for the team in 2024.
5. K'Waun Williams, CB
The Denver Broncos signed veteran slot cornerback K'Waun Williams to a two-year deal in the 2022 offseason, but he's unfortunately had to miss the entire 2023 season due to injury.
And that was after he battled through injuries in the 2022 season in order to play a significant role in Denver's defense.
Williams has been a really good nickel defensive back throughout the course of his entire NFL career, but his time in Denver will come to an end in 2024. Thankfully, for the Broncos' sake, it's for good reason. The Broncos have discovered their nickel corner going forward in Ja'Quan McMillian, who looks to be a fixture of the defense heading into 2024.
McMillian hasn't been perfect, especially lately, but he's made so many plays this season since replacing Essang Bassey in the slot. Whether we're talking about run support, pass rush, creating turnovers, or just playing great coverage in general, McMillian has really shown it all in 2023. He will be someone the Broncos can be excited about moving forward in the secondary and a building block for that group.
6. Cam Fleming, OT
There is a much bigger discussion about the future of the Denver Broncos' offensive line to be had than just the future and fate of swing tackle Cam Fleming, but I do think the Broncos have a clear succession plan here.
Fleming has been in Denver since the Ja'Wuan James fiasco back in 2021, and he's provided the team some nice insurance and versatility in those three seasons. Fleming is a veteran and pro, and he understands his role and plays it well. He's done work for the Broncos at both right tackle and left tackle, and actually had a really solid year in 2022 in relief of Garett Bolles.
I think Fleming will have no issue finding work after this season, perhaps even coming back to Denver if nothing else works out, but like I mentioned -- the Broncos seem to have a succession plan.
That succession plan is 2023 undrafted free agent Alex Palczewski, a player who has been stashed on IR most of the 2023 season. Palczewski was recently activated off of IR and is someone the Broncos are really high on after a good preseason and training camp.
I'm not sure Palczewski is going to factor into the team's plans this season as a potential starter, but certainly as that 6th man on the offensive line. He's someone who was targeted by this offensive staff and offensive line coach Zach Strief. I think we'll see Palczewski's role expand in 2024 with Cam Fleming being the one who has to go.
7. Jonathan Harris, DL
The entire defensive line for the Denver Broncos will be reevaluated after the 2023 season. The Broncos have struggled both in terms of run defense and pass rush for most of the season on the defensive line, even though there have been moments of brilliance from all of Jonathan Harris, DJ Jones, Mike Purcell, and certainly Zach Allen.
Harris was thrust into a starting role this season likely because the Denver Broncos simply didn't have the resources cap-wise to pursue additional options. That, and second-year player Eyioma Uwazurike, who the team really likes, was suspended for the entire year due to gambling on Broncos games in 2022.
Harris has been with the Broncos since Vic Fangio was around, and he's a great story and model of perseverance and endurance when it comes to fighting for your NFL life. He's got 43 tackles, four QB hits, and four TFL in 2023, but I don't think he's shown enough consistently in order to be a full-time starter going forward.
Hitting free agency in 2024, I view Harris as a player likely to get a better opportunity elsewhere.
8. Tim Patrick, WR (at his current price)
We need to get something clear regarding the future of Tim Patrick -- I think it's clear that he wants to come back to the Denver Broncos in 2024.
Patrick has suffered two season-ending injuries since signing a three-year contract with the Broncos, and he's about to enter the final year of that contract. While the timing of his injuries has been horrendous from a team perspective, Patrick certainly deserved to be paid for the way he had played in the years prior.
And I do think he's going to want to make good on the investment the Broncos have made in him, but that's going to require a new deal in 2024.
Patrick simply won't be back at his current price in 2024. His cap hit is over $16 million next year, and the Broncos could add a much-needed $10 million in cap space by moving on from him. But with their familiarity with his medical history and recovery process, I believe Patrick will be back in Denver next season on a reduced deal.
There's simply no other way.
If Patrick wants to be back in Denver in 2024, I think he will, just not at this current price. Patrick has already changed his jersey number (he will wear no. 12 going forward) and I think has been plotting his return for 2024 in Denver, we just need to see the logistics all worked out.
9. DJ Jones, DL (at his current price)
One of the players who could be a surprising salary cap casualty in 2024 is defensive tackle DJ Jones. Jones, a free agent acquisition in 2022. Jones is due a base salary of $10 million in 2024 and it's non-guaranteed. The Broncos can save that $10 million by cutting him or trading him after the season, and like I said before -- this is a unit (the defensive line) that could be in line for a major overhaul in 2024.
Jones can't stop the run all by himself, but the Broncos' run defense certainly hasn't been good enough this season. With Zach Allen taking a significant chunk of the salary cap at the defensive end position, will the Broncos be able to justify keeping Jones at his current price?
It's going to be tough.
He has eight tackles for loss in his two seasons with the Broncos and he had 17 in his final two seasons with the 49ers. The Broncos signed up for more disruption behind the line of scrimmage than they've gotten quite frankly.
Cutting Jones could end up becoming a necessity depending on what other moves the Broncos make, but that would obviously open up a pretty gaping hole on the defensive line.
10. Garett Bolles, OT (at his current price)
Another player the Denver Broncos simply can't keep at his current price is left tackle Garett Bolles.
Bolles has played quite well this season after there were question marks in the 2023 offseason about whether or not he could be traded, or whether he would end up being a fit for head coach Sean Payton and his offense. The Broncos don't really have the luxury of moving on from Bolles at this point, but giving him a two or three-year extension with a little more guaranteed cash in his pocket could help both Bolles and the team.
Bolles carries a non-guaranteed base salary of $16 million next season. With a $20 million cap hit and no guaranteed money left on his deal, these two sides need to come to an agreement on a contract extension or I believe time is up on Bolles in Denver.
The Broncos could add $16 million to their cap space in 2024 by cutting Bolles, but they would also be creating a gaping hole at left tackle. Especially if they are trying to help a young QB have success, cutting Bolles might not be in their best interests. Then again, they may need the salary cap flexibility, and Bolles will already be 32 next season.
There is a lot to consider here, but Broncos Country will have to put its collective trust in Sean Payton and offensive line coach Zach Strief to make the right call at a very important position. Especially with Mike McGlinchey taking up a significant portion of the salary cap, this situation bears monitoring.