With the NFL trade deadline under two weeks away, the Denver Broncos are expected to be heavily engaged in trade talks regarding multiple veterans currently on the team. According to Indianapolis Colts insider, Destin Adams, the Broncos are already deep in talks to send wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to Indianapolis. Adams adds that "many around the league" truly believe that this is the year that Jeudy will be dealt.
If true, you would have to imagine the Broncos will be more than capable of making several other players expendable in trade talks, especially if they are willing to ship off their best receiver. According to NFL reporter for the 33rd Team, Ari Meirov, the Broncos have seven veterans to "keep an eye on" with the trade deadline approaching.
WRs Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton
As I have stated in previous articles, the Broncos are currently shopping their two top wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, and are expected to trade at least one prior to the October 31st deadline. The former first and second-round picks have not lived up to the hype to start the season under offensive guru Sean Payton and seem frustrated by their lack of production on the field. As of now, it does not appear that both receivers will be dealt before the deadline however, anything is possible and if Payton wants to rebuild the position completely, the Broncos may have an entirely different depth chart next season.
Safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson
To no surprise, one of the more expensive players on the team, safety Justin Simmons, is rumored to be a "top" trade candidate, per NFL Network's James Palmer. However, it is a bit more surprising to see safety Kareem Jackson mentioned on this list. Jackson, 35, who leads the Broncos in interceptions this season, is currently playing on a one-year deal that will make him an unrestricted free agent in 2024. It would certainly be a bargain if the Broncos could pry away a last-minute late-round draft pick in return for the veteran defensive back.
As for Simmons, he has just one and a half years remaining of his four-year, $61M contract awarded to him in the 2021 offseason. Trading the All-Pro safety would save the Broncos $18.25M in 2024 cap space and would dump off the remainder of his $14.4M base salary in the last nine games of the 2023 season. Perhaps this is a move the Broncos can make to smoothen the process of cutting quarterback Russell Wilson next offseason.
ILB Josey Jewell
Trading starting linebacker Josey Jewell should be an absolute no-brainer for Sean Payton and the Broncos front office. The 28-year-old is in the final year of his two-year, $11M deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. The Broncos are more than likely not going to hand him a second extension largely due to their third-round rookie Drew Sanders who possesses versatility as an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher.
A fifth-round draft choice is a very fair return for the veteran linebacker and seems to be the direction the Broncos are headed in. The Miami Dolphins and former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio appear to be the most favored spot for Jewell at the trade deadline.
NT Mike Purcell
In a similar situation to teammate Josey Jewell, veteran nose tackle Mike Purcell is in the final year of his three-year, $11.5M contract and appears to be headed to free agency in the offseason with the Broncos looking to get younger on the defensive line. If Denver can even acquire a pick swap via a trade involving Purcell, it would be a huge win for the Broncos organization. Purcell has been a lone bright spot on the interior defensive line to start the season however, it is time to start moving on from the majority of the vets on the team and become younger for the rebuild up ahead.
LT Garett Bolles
Despite playing exceptionally well to start the season, veteran offensive tackle Garett Bolles is more than likely going to be dealt at the deadline. With the Broncos being sellers and looking to get younger on offense, Bolles will likely be celebrating his 32nd birthday on a different team next offseason. The All-Pro left tackle has just one and a half years remaining on his four-year, $68M contract and is scheduled for a massive $20M cap hit in 2024 that the Broncos can avoid if they trade him now.
Denver likely has gotten the most out of Bolles' career as he potentially already reached his peak in 2020, and would probably be logical to get out of his contract now. Rather than worrying about drafting a new left tackle early in the upcoming NFL draft, Sean Payton can possibly experiment with the idea of switching right tackle Mike McGlinchey to left tackle and starting undrafted rookie Alex Palczewski at right tackle, who showed a lot of promise during training camp and preseason.