Right now, Denver is 0-2 and will see their schedule get tougher. Should they already be thinking about selling at the 2023 NFL trade deadline? I mean, the Broncos feel more like a 5-win team than a playoff team through two weeks of the 2023 NFL season, and it's not because of the offense.
Not only is Russell Wilson playing well, but the offense is scoring consistently. The defense has been one of the worst units in football thus far under Vance Joseph, who returns to Denver as the defensive coordinator after being the head coach of the team in 2017 and 2018. Well, whatever you think the primary reason is for the lack of success in Denver, one thing is for certain:
The team won't win many games if they play like they have in Weeks 1 and 2. And for that reason, they could very easily be sellers at the deadline. Which players make the most sense to be shipped off when that deadline arrives at the end of October?
3 Denver Broncos who could be traded away at the 2023 trade deadline
1. Courtland Sutton, WR
Courtland Sutton has not been the same receiver ever since his ACL tear in Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season. He had a couple of semi-productive years in 2021 and 2022, but nothing special. It just feels like the former Pro Bowler is missing that extra gear that he had in 2019 when he amassed over 1,000 yards, primarily catching passes from Joe Flacco and Drew Lock.
Sutton is under contract for this year, 2024, and 2025, so his pact with the Broncos is not expiring soon, but I just can't see him being a part of the team past the trade deadline if the Broncos are sellers. I think this for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Denver is projected to be in some cap trouble next offseason. A trade this year would save Denver, according to overthecap.com, $14.4 million this year, $13.5 million in 2024, and $14 million in 2025.
You couple this with the team having two younger and more explosive wide receivers in Jerry Jeudy and Marvin Mims Jr., and it's easy to see why Sutton could be moved. I also think his performance isn't exactly reflective of his contract. Denver may also be able to get a mid-round pick for Sutton if they were to deal him at the deadline.
A WR-needy team that is trying to make a playoff push might be willing to offer up a third-round pick for Sutton, and I think that'd be a deal that Denver should take.
2. Justin Simmons, S
Justin Simmons has been on the Denver Broncos since 2016 - each year of the post-Manning era, so he's endured some losing in his career. I really don't think he'd have any interest in staying in Denver beyond this year if the Broncos again missed the playoffs. In fact, given that he turns 30 this year, doesn't play a premium position, and is probably nearly fed up with losing at this point, Denver doing right by Simmons and sending him to a contender in 2023 makes a lot of sense.
Justin Simmons is under contract through the 2024 seasons, and the Broncos can enjoy similar cap savings by trading Simmons as they would by trading Sutton. Saving nearly $30 million combined by trading Sutton and Simmons is savings that they might have to consider. Furthermore, Denver does have some young players in the secondary like Caden Sterns and JL Skinner who could both end up starting for the team in 2024.
Sterns hasn't been able to stay healthy, but the talent is there. And with the Broncos needing to pay Patrick Surtain II and Quinn Meinerz next offseason, they'll need some cap relief. Justin Simmons is one of the best players in franchise history and has given his all for the Broncos. He's endured a bunch of crap in Denver, including several coaching staffs, inept offenses, and being on one of the worst teams in the NFL over the last five years.
I really think Denver could trade Simmons at the deadline. It'd make a lot of sense.
3. Garett Bolles, LT
I think these three Denver Broncos make the most sense to be traded. They are all aging veteran players who are still pretty talented but can provide the team with some cap relief in the future. Garett Bolles has had quite the career in Denver, turning himself into one of the better left tackles in the NFL after being the worst for about two and a half years.
Bolles has had an OK start to the season. He's a fine left tackle in the NFL and seems to be 100% recovered from his broken ankle in 2022. Bolles is under contract through 2024, so he's got this year and next year on his contract extension. That extension came in 2020 when he was a literal brick wall.
Denver's cap savings by trading Garett Bolles are $16 million in 2024, according to overthecap.com. Again, more significant cap savings for a player who is on the wrong side of 30. Consider that the Denver Broncos have three big contracts along their offensive line: Bolles, Ben Powers, and Mike McGlinchey.
As I said previously, I think the team is going to be paying both Patrick Surtain II and Quinn Meinerz next offseason. I really can't see the Broncos having four massive contracts along their offensive line, so my thinking here is that trading Bolles would essentially pave the way for a Meinerz extension to be more feasible. The team also has a left tackle in Alex Palczewski, an undrafted free agent, who they seem to like.
I could see a situation where they'd want to see what the rookie Palczewski could do if they sell at the deadline, and Cameron Fleming is still here, so he's also someone who could easily slide in at left tackle if needed. The Denver Broncos apparently tried to restructure Bolles' contract this offseason, but I suppose Bolles didn't agree to that, so I think he'd be as good as gone at some point.
What do you think? Should the Broncos trade these three players of they are sellers at the deadline?