If the Denver Broncos are confident that they can be a breakout team this year, they should consider making these five free agency moves. They should keep adding to field the best possible roster for 2024. Making smart offseason free agency decisions is what every single NFL team should do and is how winning teams stay winning.
If Denver does have the QB of the future in-house in Bo Nix, then they should be in the business of making frequent free agency moves to give themselves the best possible chance to win. The Denver Broncos roster is a lot better than where it was at this point last year, but could they continue to add?
Could the Denver Broncos sign these five players?
5 remaining free agents the Denver Broncos should sign before the 2024 season
1. Michael Thomas, WR
What are the Denver Broncos waiting for? With the uncertainty surrounding Courtland Sutton, the team should see if former Sean Payton draft pick and New Orleans Saint Michael Thomas can carve out a modest role on offense. Thomas' various injuries derailed what would have been a likely Hall of Fame career, as he was that good early on.
Well, unfortunately, Thomas is not close to a WR1 anymore. In 10 games with the Saints in 2023, Thomas caught 39 passes for 448 yards. Had he played all 17 games, he would have been on pace for 66 receptions and 762 yards. So even though he played in just 10 games, he was on pace for solid WR2 production.
Could Michael Thomas play 12 or 13 games for Denver in 2024? Could he catch four passes for 45 yards per game, which is what he did in 2023? You are lying to yourself if you think the Broncos would not welcome that production.
2. Yannick Ngakoue, DE
Yes, I am back on my Yannick Ngakoue train. For the first time in his career in 2023, he did not finish with at least eight sacks. He had four in 13 games for the Chicago Bears in 2023 before exiting with a season-ending injury. Here's the thing with Ngakoue; he's a very good pass-rusher but is a horrid run defender. And that's been a huge reason why he's played for six teams since being drafted back in 2016.
Nonetheless, Yannick Ngakoue would be a cheap addition for the Denver Broncos, and if they play to his strengths, they would not ask him to suit up much against the run, so you could expect to see him on later, pass-rush downs like third and fourth down, or even second and long.
3. Connor Williams, OC
OK, this is getting ridiculous. The Denver Broncos should have signed Connor Williams a month ago, but here we are. Williams tore his ACL late in the 2023 NFL Season, which has certainly thrown a huge wrench into his free agency, as he's still on the open market. Williams was likely looking at a respectable, long-term deal from the Miami Dolphins, the last team he played for, or another club.
The Denver Broncos obviously lost Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency, so they don't have a proven body at center, but former Oregon Duck Alex Forsyth, who played with Bo Nix in college, could be the answer. However, the Broncos could sign a high-end center who could end up cracking into the starting lineup immediately when he gets healthy.
4. Bryan Mone, DT
A lesser-known player, Bryan Mone did not play in 2023 due to injury and is now a free agent. Having played four seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, Mone would be a nice depth piece along the DL. The Denver Broncos did add two DTs in free agency, Malcolm Roach and Angelo Blackson. Bryan Mone is in the same tier as those guys, so I don't see the harm here.
And frankly, Denver should have done a bit more with their DT spot. The trade for DE John Franklin-Myers was lovely, but not upgrading from DJ Jones was a miss. Since they don't have a clear upgrade now being it's late in the offseason, it's worth it to sign a FA like Bryan Mone to help raise the floor of the defensive front.
5. Quandre Diggs, SS
Quandre Diggs has been very good for a long time, and with Justin Simmons no longer in the picture, Denver could still add to their safety room. They signed former Dolphins safety Brandon Jones in free agency and also re-signed PJ Locke III, so the top three players in this unit appear to be Jones, Locke, and Caden Sterns.
There is room for a veteran addition, and Diggs is someone who is all over the field. The three-time Pro Bowler has 15 interceptions, 29 passes defended, and 324 total tackles over the last four seasons, which were all with the Seattle Seahawks, who he last played for.
I mean, with it being this late in free agency, Diggs likely isn't going to cost a ton at all, and while the Broncos do appear to have a much-improved secondary from 2023, it cannot hurt to add a savvy veteran.