Ahead of training camp, it was announced that Denver Broncos defensive lineman Mike Purcell was being placed on the Non-Football Injury list, and edge rusher Baron Browning was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List. The day after those announcements, news came out regarding DL Eyioma Uwazurike, who got suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league's gambling policy. Because of that, the second-year player will miss at least the 2023-2024 season and possibly more, and his job with the Broncos was put at risk.
With that being said, the Denver Broncos have, at least right now, a lack of defensive linemen, and should look to add an edge rusher. As of today, excluding Uwazurike, Purcell, and Browning, the defensive linemen and edge rushers on the Broncos roster are:
Current Denver Broncos defensive line options
- DJ Jones (Starter - 15 games, 34 tackles, 4 QB hits, 2 sacks, and 6 pass breakups in 2022)
- Zach Allen (Starter - 13 games, 47 tackles, 20 QB hits, 5.5 sacks, and 8 pass breakups for AZ in 2022)
- Matt Henningsen (Starter as of today, replacing Eyioma, 17 games, 0 starts, 21 tackles, 1 sack in 2022)
- Jonathan Harris (14 games, 4 starts, 30 tackles in 2022)
- PJ Mustipher (Undrafted rookie - 0 games)
- Jordan Jackson (0 games)
- Elijah Garcia (2 games,1 tackle in 2022)
- Haggai Ndubuisi (0 games)
- Tyler Lancaster (0 games for DEN - has not played since 2021)
EDGE:
- Randy Gregory (Starter - Played in only 6 games, 12 tackles, 7 QB hits, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles)
- Frank Clark (15 games, 39 tackles, 13 QB hits, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 safety for KC in 2022)
- Jonathon Cooper (14 games, 48 tackles, 7 QB hits, and 2 sacks in 2022)
- Nik Bonitto (15 games, 14 tackles, 3 QB hits, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 2022)
- Aaron Patrick (5 games, torn ACL, 3 tackles in 2022)
- Christopher Allen (0 games)
- Thomas Incoom (Undrafted rookie - 0 games)
- Marcus Haynes (Undrafted rookie - 0 games)
With the above being said, the Denver Broncos must add at least one defensive lineman and an edge rusher to the roster as soon as possible. Purcell still was probably not going to be a starter, and Eyioma will likely get cut. Additionally, Baron Browning, who plays at the edge, is recovering from an injury, so moves are needed. Some names were already mentioned, so I'm focusing this one, on names that were not mentioned and trade candidates!
2 free agent options, 3 trade candidates for Broncos DL
Free Agents:
Matt Ioannidis, Yannick Ngakoue, Carlos Dunlap, and Chris Wormley were previously mentioned, so in this article, I will mention three more (two DLs and one EDGE)...
1. Shelby Harris:
Shelby Harris was one of the three veterans sent to Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade. He knows the Broncos' defense, as he was on the team when new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was Denver's head coach.
In his only season with the Seattle Seahawks, Harris started 15 games, missing two, and had the following stats: 44 tackles, 6 QB hits, 2 sacks, and 4 pass breakups, which is more than what Matt Henningsen (the projected starter following Eyioma's suspension at the moment) had last season. Adding Harris to this young Denver defense would make a lot of sense, more veteran presence, an experienced player, who knows how this defense works, and a leader.
2. Ndamukong Suh:
Like Shelby Harris, Suh is a very experienced player, a Super Bowl Champion, and a guy that can bring a veteran leader presence to the young defensive line. Suh, who was the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft has still some gas left in the tank.
A team like the Denver Broncos can definitely make sense for him, especially after the Uwazurike suspension and Purcell injury. If they get Suh it will likely be a one-year deal since he is 36 years old. Last season, he appeared in eight games for the Philadelphia Eagles and had 10 tackles, 2 QB hits, and one sack in the regular season. During the Playoffs, Suh played in all three games and had two tackles and three QB hits.
Trade Candidates:
1. Javon Kinlaw - 49ers:
A former first-round Draft pick, Javon Kinlaw recently had his fifth-year option declined by the 49ers. Kinlaw started 12 games in his rookie season, and in the next two years, he only started and played in 10 due to injuries. Has 45 tackles, 5 QB hits, one pick-six, and 1.5 sacks in his three years with San Francisco.
A trade could make sense for San Francisco to get compensation for Kinlaw, as they signed former Eagles star Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million contract in free agency, and Arik Armstead would not be benched for Hargrave. The starting DT duo for SF will be Armstead and Hargrave, and these are two excellent players. Kinlaw if healthy can definitely be an instant starter in Denver and would reunite him with DJ Jones, who played in San Fran before joining the Broncos last year. A perfect candidate for the Broncos to trade for.
2. Chase Young - Commanders:
The former number 2 overall pick has had ups and downs over his career. He cannot stay healthy due to various injuries. Due to that, Washington decided to decline Young's fifth-year option and instead paid big money to Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Young has missed 22 games in the past two seasons. With that being said, he would be a cheaper option for the Broncos, as it would be a high-risk, high-reward trade because when healthy, he is very talented.
Washington also has Montez Sweat, who has been more productive than Young. Both will become free agents in 2024, but it is more likely for the Commanders to spend on Sweat rather than Young. Denver needs help at the position now, so it would be good for Washington to receive compensation for Chase before he leaves for free. A trade that would make a lot of sense for both sides.
3. Boogie Basham - Bills:
The Buffalo Bills have a loaded defense, and an injury on any of the starters, plus an injury on any of the backups is the only way where Carlos 'Boogie' Basham Jr. could be a starter in Buffalo's defense. As of today, in a Buffalo Bills' depth chart, Basham is a third-string edge rusher behind Gregory Rousseau and Shaq Lawson. On the other edge, Buffalo has Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, and AJ Epenesa. There is almost zero chance that Basham can be a starter for the Buffalo Bills.
Basham can give Buffalo decent compensation and could make perfect sense for the Broncos, he might not be a day-one starter, but with Baron injured plus Gregory and Clark's injury history, Boogie can have a better opportunity in Denver. He is still young as he is entering year three. He has 37 tackles, 8 QB hits, 4.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in 23 games with Buffalo.
Bonus one: Aaron Donald - Rams:
The Rams probably have one of the worst defenses in the league right now, so a fresh start before retirement for AD could make sense, and LA would get compensation for him. Donald missed six games last season and still had 49 tackles, 11 QB hits, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups. He is still a beast, and any AFC team would make sense as a possible trade suitor for AD ... why not Denver?
Obviously, this one is very very unlikely, but a connection in the Broncos could make it work.
Defensive line coach Marcus Dixon was an assistant DL coach for the Rams before joining the Broncos, and a reunion with coach Dixon could make sense for Donald if LA wants to move on from him.
It is more likely for Denver to add a free agent, but these guys can easily make sense as trade candidates for the Broncos.