The bulk of the free-agent signing period is complete and though teams will still bring in players sporadically between now and the start of the 2024 season, we can assess the major moves made by each team now.
For the Denver Broncos, it's been a quiet free-agent signing period but the team has been forced into that corner because of the circumstances stemming from the dead cap hit of the Russell Wilson contract. The Broncos did clear enough cap space to be able to sign some players this offseason but have instead decided to take a more responsible approach and use that money to absord that dead cap hit.
In the process of this, the Broncos missed out on many of the big names on the market this offseason but as time will tell, they were wise to avoid many of them, including the five on this list.
5 free agents Denver Broncos were wise to avoid
Mitch Trubisky, QB
During this offseason, the Broncos were connected to just about every available quarterback out there (and there are some they are still connected to). In the case of nearly all of them, it make little to no sense for the Broncos to get rid of Russell Wilson only to bring in a different, marginal veteran quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who started three different quarterbacks last season and still made the playoffs, turned over their entire quarterback room this offseason. The first domino to fall was Mitch Trubisky when they released him in February.
The Buffalo Bills, the team Trubisky played with before the Steelers, signed Trubisky to a new deal before the free-agent period even started to compete to be Josh Allen's main backup.
Trubisky is a guy who can make a spot start if a team is in a really tough predicament, but he's best suited to be carrying a clipboard on the sideline and the Broncos don't need another one of those.
Gardner Minshew, QB
Sticking with the quarterback position, Gardner Minshew would have been a better signing than Trubisky, but still not one good enough to move the needle far enough past the guy the Broncos already have, Jarrett Stidham.
Minshew was forced into action much more than the Indianapolis Colts anticipated this past season when rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson went down with a season-ending injury in October. The job Minshew did in that role convinced the Las Vegas Raiders to bring him on via free agency, perhaps for the same role. The Raiders could also be drafting a QB in the first round next month and they see Minshew as a solid bridge option.
He could have been that in Denver too, but not for $25 million across two years, the deal he got for the Raiders. For that price, you can have him.
Minshew is one of the best backup quarterbacks currently in the league but the Broncos have a guy who they see a as a backup/spot-starter guy in Stidham. There was no need to pay a hefty price to have another one.
Gabriel Davis, WR
The Broncos were not connected to Gabriel Davis in talks leading into free agency, but the team needed some more help at wide receiver and in fact, still does. But the Broncos could not have even considered the price it cost to get him.
The Jacksonville Jaguars gave Davis $39 million for three years, which averages out to $13 million per season. That is just way too much for a guy who has never caught more than 48 passes in a season and he has played with one of the best quarterbacks in football in Josh Allen over the past four seasons.
The Jaguars did lose Calvin Ridley in free agency and he got the biggest contract any wide receiver has this offseason, but he is a No. 1 wide receiver. Davis is a No. 2 guy at absolute best and in many offenses, would be a No. 3 wide receiver.
There probably weren't many (if any) internal talks for the Broncos to make a play for Davis and that's a good thing. He was way overpriced.
Mike Williams, WR
There was no doubting Mike Williams' physical talent coming out of college. He is a big-bodied wide receiver who can shield off defenders and make plays down the field. But most of what we have seen from Williams during his professional career is rehab injuries.
The New York Jets felt like he was still worth taking a shot on him, giving him a one-year deal that could be worth up to $15 million. Perhaps the Jets, with Aaron Rodgers, can afford to take that shot. The Broncos, who haven't made the playoffs since the 2015 season, need more of a sure thing.
After trading away Jerry Jeudy, the Broncos are going to need some players to step up in the passing game this season. Second-year player Marvin Mims Jr. should get the first start to be that guy and the team has a returning Tim Patrick and the recently-signed Josh Reynolds as well, so the room has potential.
If Williams works out for the Jets, good for them. It will be a risk that pays off. But from the perspective of the Broncos' front office, signing Patrick to a cheaper deal and bringing in Reynolds were much better decisions than splurging for the oft-injured former first-round pick in Williams.
Kristian Fulton, CB
Unlike the other players on this list, who may or may not have ever been in the Broncos' plans, cornerback Kristian Fulton reportedly was. Instead, Fulton turned the Broncos down in order to sign a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
But that isn't going to be that bad for the Broncos as Fulton has been underwhelming since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft. Fulton has never played in a full season, appearing in just 42 of a potential 66 regular-season games.
On the field, he has never been that impressive, often getting beat in coverage and totaling only four interceptions in four seasons. Perhaps Los Angeles will be the place for him to turn things around in a more positive direction, but the Broncos don't need to lose any sleep over this player falling through the cracks.
It does show that the Broncos could be looking to add another cornerback before the draft but those options are starting to dwindle. The most recognizable names available are Xavien Howard, Adoree Jackson, Micah Hyde, Patrick Peterson, Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson.
In all of those cases, age and/or the cost to sign that player would be a big factor.