With three weeks to go before the 2023 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos are not exactly flush with draft picks or cap space to fill out the depth on their roster. According to a recent report, the Broncos actually have just about $7 million in cap space currently, but as we know and have seen in recent years, teams can pretty easily manipulate that number depending on what they want or need to do.
It's safe to say the biggest spending in NFL free agency has already been done as it pertains to the Denver Broncos, but there are still moves that could -- and perhaps should -- be made. Let's be completely honest with where things are at right now. After NFL free agency and more than a dozen moves, the Denver Broncos are still lacking depth in key areas.
Most teams have at least seven draft picks to work with, but not the Broncos. General manager George Paton has five selections to work his magic with in the NFL Draft, and that's simply not enough. You can almost bank on the Broncos trading down from one of their third-round picks, which are currently in back-to-back slots at 67 and 68 overall.
With that being said, you could also probably bank on the team being a bit more active in free agency as the prices on players go down and players want to get jobs solidified before teams fill more needs in the Draft. The Broncos are one of those teams right now that really needs to add more depth to the roster at different positions, and it's certainly not all going to be able to come in the NFL Draft.
But what players/positions should the Broncos be looking at in NFL Free Agency right now? Let's take a look at seven positions and players the Broncos could still be adding players before the 2023 NFL Draft, however they have to maneuver cap space to get it done.
1. Denver Broncos should sign RB Ezekiel Elliott
Alright, let's start off with a hot take, because why not? The Denver Broncos should consider signing Ezekiel Elliott if he's open to the idea, and the reasoning here is multiple.
First of all, I think it can't be overstated at this point that Javonte Williams' health and readiness for the 2023 NFL season should be considered one of the major question marks of this roster right now. The Broncos went out and prioritized running back in free agency by signing former Bengals backup Samaje Perine, who will eventually pair quite nicely with Javonte Williams.
Perine is a capable three-down back. He's going to be an upgrade to the Denver Broncos over what Melvin Gordon was to start last season, there's no question about it. But what if Javonte Williams is not healthy to start the year? Of course, there's still the 2023 NFL Draft where the Broncos could add someone, but at best they will be adding a third-round pick to the position group.
It's not out of the question to think a third-round player could play a substantial role this coming season. Or even an undrafted player at this position group. How many backs have we seen in recent years, including undrafted Phillip Lindsay in 2018, seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco last season in Kansas City, sixth-round pick Tyler Allgeier in Atlanta last season -- how many guys could we throw out there who have played big roles as rookies, even as late-round picks?
At this position, the list is long.
However, I don't think there's any harm in the Broncos bringing in an accomplished back like Ezekiel Elliott, especially after the debacle we saw at this position last year. Not that you can afford to approach every position group in a "worst case scenario" kind of mindset, but at running back, you sort of have to.
What happens if Javonte Williams isn't ready for the start of the season and opens up on the PUP or IR? What happens if Williams opens up the year on IR and then something happens to Samaje Perine? Sean Payton wants to put an emphasis on running the ball, and he's going to need the horses in the stable to get that done.
Elliott is coming off of a year in which he had the fewest touches of his NFL career to this point at 248. He's still taking on a very heavy workload, but perhaps a change of scenery and the committee approach Sean Payton wants to see come to life in Denver will be good for Zeke. He might even be able to rehab his overall value by playing in this offense. Although he's taken on a ton of work in his NFL career, Elliott is shockingly only going to be 28 this coming season.
This is a one-year investment I would love to see the Broncos try to make, giving themselves a running back room of Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Ezekiel Elliott, and a rookie to give teams fits and dominate on the ground all season.
2. Broncos should bring back familiar faces for OL depth
As of right now, the Denver Broncos' offensive line depth is unproven, to say the very least.
After the team's spending spree on the offensive line in NFL Free Agency, holes on that unit still remain. Let's start by bringing up the center position, which is currently occupied by former third-round pick Lloyd Cushenberry III. It was curious that the Broncos didn't bring Cushenberry back to the field last year when he was healthy enough to come off of IR, instead using one of their limited returns on RB Chase Edmonds.
What does the pro scouting department think of Cushenberry? Does this incoming coaching staff like Cush more than we know or think? As of right now, he would be the starting center if the season opened up today, and he would be backed up by incoming free agent Kyle Fuller.
Aside from the depth at center right now, the Broncos don't really have anybody very proven at the guard or tackle spots behind their starters. Considering Garett Bolles is coming back from a season-ending injury in 2022, it's safe to say that fans have a right to be concerned about the guys behind Bolles not having any experience at all.
Calvin Anderson, one of the team's top backups, signed with the New England Patriots on a two-year deal. He's out of the picture. But both Billy Turner and Cameron Fleming are still available in NFL Free Agency and the Broncos should seriously consider bringing one or both of them back.
Fleming recently took a visit to the Jaguars, and Turner recently declared himself to be 100 percent healthy. Both of those guys can play either tackle spot or either guard spot. I'm sure they'd be able to snap the ball as centers in a pinch, too.
I think the current state of the Broncos' roster is screaming for an experienced tackle to come in, but Sean Payton might be more inclined to trust new OL coach Zach Strief with young or inexperienced players at those spots. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing the Broncos bring Turner and Fleming back into the fold to provide solid, veteran depth.
3. Denver Broncos should sign safety Adrian Amos
Once upon a time, the Denver Broncos were apparently in contention to sign safety Adrian Amos in NFL Free Agency. He ended up getting a big-money deal from the Green Bay Packers in 2019 after spending the first four years of his NFL career in Chicago. Especially considering his connection to Vic Fangio, I think a lot of people thought Amos was bound for Denver in that 2019 free agency group but it wasn't meant to be.
He's spent the last four years with the Packers where he's played well, including the 2022 season in which he set a career-best with 102 total tackles and seven tackles for loss. The Broncos have options at the safety position next to Justin Simmons in Caden Sterns, PJ Locke, or Delarrin Turner-Yell, but there have been rumblings that the team might also be interested in bringing Kareem Jackson back into the fold once again.
If they are considering bringing back Jackson, why not at least consider the option of the younger Adrian Amos? If you want to bring in a veteran safety who attacks the line of scrimmage, Amos is only 29 going on 30 and just like Jackson -- he doesn't miss games. Amos has not missed a single game since the 2017 season. He's got a long history of attacking as a blizer, and might allow the Broncos to keep Sterns in their two-high looks playing as more of a dime linebacker.
It's worth noting that Amos has worked with Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker during their time in Green Bay together as well.
4. Denver Broncos should sign a veteran center
We touched on the offensive line depth already, but the Denver Broncos should seriously consider signing a veteran center, and perhaps even someone who could play center or guard. We already talked about how the team has really no experience at tackle or guard behind the starting unit right now, so bringing in some help at multiple positions with just one player seems like a no-brainer.
Specifically, I would love to see the Denver Broncos bring in one of their own former draft picks in Connor McGovern, a free agent now from the Jets who is still available in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. There are actually a number of quality former Denver Broncos linemen surprisingly still available at this stage of the offseason, including Dalton Risner, but McGovern's availability might be even more surprising.
McGovern has proven himself at the NFL level as a fine center or guard, and I think he could easily supplant Lloyd Cushenberry III in the Broncos' lineup right now. Further, let's say the Broncos eventually had an injury at guard to Ben Powers or Quinn Meinerz. They could insert Kyle Fuller at center and kick McGovern over to the guard spot.
If McGovern is not the Broncos' flavor, then what about Pro Bowl center Ben Jones? Why is Ben Jones still sitting out there in free agency? Is he contemplating retirement? Did he have some offseason surgery? Apparently the New York Jets are still hoping to potentially sign him, and they very well could. For the time being, though, he's available and would really solidify the Broncos' offensive line as one of the most improved overall units in the league.
5. Denver Broncos should sign DL Shelby Harris
There are some reunions people want or hope to see simply for the sake of nostalgia. That's really not the case with the idea of a reunion between the Broncos and Shelby Harris. I think this move has a legitimate chance of happening if the two sides can iron out the financial details.
There are a few major reasons for this.
1. The Broncos never really wanted to trade Shelby Harris. He was included in the Russell Wilson deal with the Seahawks likely as a compromise for Seattle wanting Dre'Mont Jones. Just one year before he was traded, the Broncos rewarded Harris' outstanding play with a three-year contract and we saw how emotional it was for Harris to be valued in that way by Denver.
Although the taste of getting trade is certainly bitter, it would be a sweet return for Harris to Denver.
2. The Broncos clearly have a hole at the defensive end spot right now. They could put some significant faith in the young players they have right now -- Matt Henningsen and Eyioma Uwazurike -- but it wasn't just Dre'Mont Jones this team lost in 2023. They also lost starting defensive end DeShawn Williams to the Panthers.
It's not just that the Broncos need depth at defensive end, they might need someone like Shelby Harris to come in and start.
3. Harris got his first major opportunity to start in the NFL back in 2017 with the Broncos when Vance Joseph was the head coach. Joseph is now back in Denver as the team's defensive coordinator and perhaps he can speak to Harris about starting fresh with this team again.
4. Harris is still a Denver resident.
Do we need any more reasons? I think this one is all but happening. We'll see if the two sides can come together to make it so.
6. Sign a veteran CB like Marcus Peters or Shaquill Griffin
The Denver Broncos already made a move at the cornerback position, signing free agent Tremon Smith. When asked about the Smith signing, head coach Sean Payton was quick to note that he's an "elite" special teams player and we'll certainly see him play a big role there for the Broncos in 2023.
But what about adding depth at the cornerback position? Is Smith going to be able to help in that regard, or do the Broncos not exactly plan on that?
Here's one of the biggest reasons I think the Broncos need to look into adding a veteran cornerback like Marcus Peters or Shaquill Griffin: Growth in the NFL is not exactly linear. Although the Broncos have every right to be excited about what they saw last year from Damarri Mathis, what happens if Mathis regresses or gets hurt in 2023? What happens if Pat Surtain gets hurt, for that matter?
In today's NFL, you need to try to build your team -- especially at important positions -- saying "we're one snap away from ____________ playing major snaps this year." At the cornerback position, who are the Broncos currently even going to slide into one of those spots if they suffer an injury?
With guys like Peters and Griffin (not to be confused with Peter Griffin) still sitting on the market, the Broncos would not be making a bad choice by bringing one of them in on a one-year deal. Heck, maybe they could even try to re-sign Ronald Darby when he is healed up from last year's ACL injury.
7. Denver Broncos should sign an experienced EDGE player
Alright, hear me out on this one. The Denver Broncos should try to get a deal done with a veteran EDGE player for one year with incentives. As of right now, it's kind of tough to pick out of the EDGE group the Broncos have who might be in the rotation, who's for sure making the roster, and which players the team can build around.
Right now, the Broncos simply have no fail-safe at this position. Randy Gregory is the veteran of the group, but unfortunately, his presence on the field is not currently reliable. He was hurt most of last season, and although he was effective when on the field, there are a lot of people clamoring for the Broncos to draft an EDGE with one of their top picks in 2023 because this position feels so uncertain right now.
I simply don't think adding a rookie third-round pick is going to raise the "floor" of this room as it currently stands. The Broncos need a veteran off the edge to help this room, and there are actually a lot available right now:
- Yannick Ngakoue
- Frank Clark
- Bud Dupree
- Leonard Floyd
- Robert Quinn
- Jadeveon Clowney
- Markus Golden
- Justin Houston
Out of the players on that list that might be within the realm of realism in the Denver Broncos price range, a couple of really good options might be Markus Golden and Justin Houston. Those guys just have an innate ability for putting pressure on the QB.
Golden, throughout his career (which has included the last two years in Arizona with Vance Joseph), has pretty much been a lock for 20 or more QB hits every season. As a matter of fact, he averages 20 QB hits per 17 games played, so that's not just hyperbole -- it's an actual thing.
Justin Houston is an ageless wonder off the edge. That guy sacks quarterbacks in his sleep. He's going to be 34 this season but had 9.5 sacks, 17 QB hits, and 25 pressures last year for the Ravens. He's not lost it by any means.
Again, the point here is to raise the floor of the Broncos' EDGE group. They have enough young players. Their veterans right now are Randy Gregory and Jacob Martin. I think if you add one more player to this group with a proven ability to get to the QB, it can improve the unit and help make your young players better.