The Denver Broncos may be in a position to buy at the 2024 NFL trade deadline, and these three teams could be huge sellers. You may think I am crazy for already bringing this up, but it's not like the Broncos can't participate. Right now, the team sits at 1-2 on the season and do have some tough tests coming up.
And I am not necessarily saying that the team is going to truly contend this season, but there could be some trades to be made at the deadline. Many teams have young players in the final year of their deals. The writing may be on the wall of them not returning the following season, so it'd be good practice to secure a draft pick instead of just watching them leave in free agency.
If said young player fits the Denver Broncos, they should make a move. Denver is projected to have a good bit of cap space next offseason and could not only retain a player they make a move for, but also make several other free agency signings.
Let's look at three teams the Broncos should keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches.
3 teams Broncos should keep an eye on as 2024 trade deadline approaches
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are shockingly horrible in 2024 and are one of just three winless teams in the NFL. They got blown out by the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 and seem to be nearing a total collapse. Head coach Doug Pederson has to be on the hot seat, and QB Trevor Lawrence just does not look good.
There really isn't much of anything going well for this team, and GM Trent Baalke could even be on the hot seat as well. It's an odd situation, at least in my view, as the Jags have a very good roster, but it's just not working thus far. The Jaguars have six more games before the trade deadline and may only have two wins across the next six.
If they went 2-4, they'd be 2-7 through their first nine games, which would definitely put them in a position to sell. Could the Broncos swing a trade for one of their wide receivers in Christian Kirk? Maybe Denver would want their starting center, Mitch Morse? There could be some options here.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals being 0-3 is shocking and does give them virtually no chance to dig out of this and make the postseason. Joe Burrow and the offense is not the issue. It's their defense that is just not getting enough pressure and cannot stop a nosebleed. Head coach Zac Taylor could be on the hot seat and major change could be on the horizon.
There is truly no reason for a team with as much talent as the Bengals and with a top-3 QB to be 0-3. It's a coaching/schematic issue if you ask me. Well, the Bengals' front office is notoriously cheap. They've failed to get an extension done with WR Ja'Marr Chase and were only able to retain WR Tee Higgins on the franchise tag.
Both Chase and Higgins are true no. 1 wide receivers in the NFL. Both would make the Denver Broncos' offense a lot better and would give Bo Nix a stud play-maker he could consistently rely on. While it seems rather unlikely that the Bengals would consider trading Ja'Marr Chase, I don't see how Tee Higgins would be off the table.
Chase is a better player, has better chemistry with Burrow and is probably someone who Cincy would prefer to keep over Higgins. Higgins has a couple 1,000-yard seasons under his belt and is a huge target.
Denver could potentially get frisky here and maybe even package Courtland Sutton and a mid-late round draft pick in 2025 to get Higgins. Sutton is and will continue to be a cheaper player than Higgins, and for the Bengals, it'd still allow them to field a good WR room, which has been one of the strongest parts of their team for years now.
Being able to swing a trade for Tee Higgins would also be a long-term play for Denver, as he's just 25 years old and does not turn 26 until January of 2025. He's averaged 63.1 yards per game over his career and is a true 1,000-yard player that would get a ton of passes thrown his way by Bo Nix.
You may roll your eyes at the idea of Denver acquiring another big-bodied receiver, but Higgins can actually separate and is a proven player in this league. Denver does not currently have a no. 1 wide receiver on the roster. And this is how a team rebuilds. They get good, young players and keep them around.
Tee Higgins could be a great trade deadline move for Denver.
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a terrible football team and should be sellers at the NFL trade deadline in about six weeks. They could have five-straight losses coming up, as they'll face, in order, the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Their last game before the trade deadline is against the Washington Commanders. The Giants may be 3-6 or 2-7 by the time the trade deadline rolls around, so not only could we see the team sell at the deadline, but head coach Brian Daboll could be out the door as well. The main issue with the Giants is not Daboll, but it's rather their GM, Joe Schoen, who has been a disaster.
He's been a poor roster-builder and somehow extended Daniel Jones. I'd imagine that he could be out the door after this season, and if it was up to me, Schoen would go before Daboll, but I don't make the decisions over there. The G-Men definitely need to reset at most positions. It's just not a good roster and is missing a franchise QB, another starter along their offensive line, another play-maker, and some pieces on defense.
The Giants should end up being sellers and may be willing to part with some high-profile players. I can be greedy and suggest that Denver tries to swing a trade for their stud defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence.
Maybe Denver could also eyeball Devin Singletary, their starting running back? They also have a stud inside linebacker in Bobby Okereke who could be a huge get for the Denver Broncos. The Giants have some good players on both sides of the ball, and when the time comes for them to be sellers at the deadline, the Denver Broncos should sniff around.
The Broncos may not be far away from being a legitimate team. We got a glimpse of just how good they can be in Week 3. Think about it; their defense is now top-notch, and the special teams unit has been very good in the Sean Payton era. They have a solid foundation along the offensive line and are really only missing the final piece of the puzzle, a franchise QB.
Two of three phases are set. The offense is the last unit that needs to get going, so don't rule this team out from making some noise in the near future.