The Denver Broncos roster is quite solid at this point, but that doesn't mean it won't look a good bit different before the start of the 2024 NFL Season. I would not put it past Sean Payton or George Paton to have another few shocking moves up their sleeves. The free agency market is actually still filled with a ton of talent, and with Payton surely wanting to make the roster in his image, there could be some shocking roster cuts in the coming months.
The Denver Broncos are significantly better on paper now than they were in 2023, and there are still some avenues they can take to get better. Could the team make a few surprise cuts before Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season?
Surprise cut candidates for the Denver Broncos in 2024
1. Javonte Williams, RB
Javonte Williams did not look like his old self after returning from a brutal knee injury he suffered in the beginning part of the 2022 NFL Season. Up to this point, Williams has largely been a bust and has not lived up to his draft billing. Well, all of a sudden, the Broncos have three other young RBs in the room in Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson, and Audric Estime. The latter two are rookies.
Estime is a power runner much like Williams, and Watson, one of the Broncos UDFAs, is a shifty and complete back. Jaleel McLaughlin was also quite good in 2023, so perhaps there could be a surprise cut here. Samaje Perine is under contract through the 2024 season, and while Perine isn't quite as good as Williams, he's got the safer floor and is a better threat as a pass-catcher.
Folks, if Williams can't fully return to his rookie year self this offseason, why would the Denver Broncos continue to roster him? I get that he's the most valuable piece in the backfield in terms of investment, but this team is trying to win games instead of the feel-good story of Williams maybe returning to his old self.
2. Levi Wallace, CB
Levi Wallace was a very good late-free agency addition for the Denver Broncos and could have an inside shot at earning the CB2 job. With the Denver Broncos secondary being quite young, Wallace being a battled-tested veteran gives him a clear role on the backend, but what if the young guns end up pushing him off the roster? All of Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis, and rookie CB Kris Abrams-Draine could end up having strong offseasons; what would stop them?
The team also has two stud CBs in Patrick Surtain II and Ja'Quan McMillian. If Moss or KAD can show enough this offseason, the Broncos might feel comfortable already parting ways with Wallace. To me, I am not sure Mathis has much of a future as a starter in the NFL, but he could probably establish himself as a primary backup.
3. DJ Jones, DT
The Denver Broncos perhaps shockingly did not cut DJ Jones. He could have saved the Broncos nearly $10 million heading into free agency. And while the cap savings are still there if Denver wants it, it doesn't seem likely that they move on from Jones. If they haven't already, why would they now? Well, Jones was yet another swing-and-miss by George Paton in free agency, and the Broncos did bring in a former New Orleans Saints player in Malcolm Roach.
Roach was a better run-stopper in 2023 than Jones was. He's also younger and cheaper. And beyond that, you just never know if there's another player in the defensive line group who could push for some playing time. Does Matt Henningsen finally put it together? Does veteran journeyman Angelo Blackson have something in him?
Could the Broncos still make a FA addition to the defensive line? The two defensive end staring spots are set in stone with Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers, but I do believe DJ Jones needs to have quite the offseason to keep his roster spot.