Entering his second season with the Denver Broncos, there could be a positive step forward for Super Bowl champion head coach Sean Payton ... it all depends on what improvements can be made to the team, and what decisions are made with specific players.
Payton and the Broncos finished with an 8-9 win-loss record in the first season with him as the head coach, following the trade with the New Orleans Saints. Denver had ups and downs during the season starting with a 1-5 stretch in the first six games, then a 6-1 streak, and finally a 1-3 closing.
With the above being said, let's take a look at three important questions for the Broncos ahead of free agency and the Draft ...
1. Who will be the starting quarterback? (and every other question that goes along with that)
The Denver Broncos have not had a quarterback who started for three consecutive seasons since Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. The Russell Wilson era is likely over, especially with Friday news regarding his house. Russ had a better season under Payton compared to his first season with Denver under Nathaniel Hackett, but it looks like he is not the answer, and Sean might look for the next franchise quarterback in the upcoming April Draft, or in free agency.
During the end-of-the-season press conference, both general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton mentioned that there is still a chance that Russell Wilson could be the Broncos' starting quarterback in 2024. Wilson is set to have a $35.4 million cap hit, and exactly in one month, his projected 2025 salary ($55.4 million in cap hit) becomes guaranteed.
Russ could be traded, but the expectation is that he will be released. With the above being said regarding his 2025 salary, the Broncos must decide on Wilson soon. They could restructure his contract to save up cap space, or even for him to be the team's starting quarterback.
If they decide to cut Wilson, or if they find a trade partner (if Wilson waives his no-trade clause), the question would even be more interesting ... will they sign a veteran like Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield in free agency? Will they select one in the Draft? Will they do both? Signing a veteran like Jameis Winston/Sam Darnold plus a rookie seems like a very likely possibility.
There are multiple possibilities and it would be very interesting what the Broncos decide to do ...
2. What moves will they do to free up cap space?
The Denver Broncos have the fifth-worst cap space heading into free agency, with negative $25.92 million, just above the Saints, Bills, Dolphins, and Chargers. If they want to do any big signings or give contract extensions to some of the guys like Patrick Surtain and Quinn Meinerz, they must free up some space.
Regardless if they do or do not decide to give contract extensions to Pat and/or Quinn, they must free up cap space, and they can easily do it by cutting some players, trading players for draft capital, and restructuring some contracts.
Due to obvious reasons, rookie contracts are cheaper than veteran contracts, so the Broncos must get draft capital to free cap space. The biggest contract cap hits on the roster (as of today) are the following ...
1. QB Russell Wilson - $35.4 million
2. OT Garrett Bolles - $20 million
3. DE Zach Allen - $19 million
4. OT Mike McGlinchey - $18.25 million
5. S Justin Simmons - $18.25 million
To see the entire roster's cap click here ...
3. Is Alex Forsyth ready to be a starting center in the NFL?
Due to what I mentioned in question number two, the Denver Broncos might not be able to afford their four-season starter Lloyd Cushenberry III, who is set to become a free agent once the new league year starts.
Lloyd had a couple of struggling seasons, but the 2023-24 season was his best one so far. He had his first season with an above 65 Pro Football Focus grade, to be specific, he had a 73.2 grade, being the 20th-highest graded center.
Broncos GM George Paton breaks down his team’s 2023 draft class:
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 9, 2024
Marvin Mims Jr. “work in progress as a receiver, but he had some really big moments”
Riley Moss: “… Starter in this league”
Drew Sanders: “Same”
Alex Forsyth: “We feel he’s a starter in this league at center” pic.twitter.com/3MMEPcUyXr
The Broncos used a 7th-round Draft pick in former Oregon Ducks' center Alex Forsyth, with the pick they got in the Adam Trautman trade. GM George Paton had some interesting insights on Forsyth and he might be the obvious choice if the Broncos are not able to bring back Lloyd Cushenberry ...
But .... Is he ready to start in the NFL after technically red-shirting during his rookie season?