The meat of NFL free agency is over. The 2024 NFL Draft is over. But there are still moves out there to be made for the Denver Broncos. The work of both head coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton of tinkering with the roster will pretty much never be done, especially as the month of June draws near and teams look to add some potentially notable free agents to their rosters.
The Broncos have already made a ton of moves and changes this offseason but more could be on the way. What kinds of moves could we see now that the 2024 NFL Draft is over?
1. Sign CB Xavien Howard
The Denver Broncos' decision to sign veteran cornerback Levi Wallace this offseason could make a move like signing Xavien Howard a little redundant, but we'll see where the team stands with 2023 third-round pick Riley Moss in the early goings of the offseason program. Someone like Howard could be brought in thanks to his familiarity with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins back in Howard's rookie year (2016).
You can never have too many good corners, and Howard has traditionally been a really good one. He was targeted over 60 times last year in coverage and only allowed one touchdown for Miami. On a one-year deal, he could make some sense if the Broncos feel like they need to go the veteran route at corner.
2. Sign WR Michael Thomas
The Denver Broncos currently have a lot of wide receivers, maybe a few too many to bring in a name as notable as Michael Thomas. Then again, perhaps if the price is right, Thomas could come in and give the Broncos another veteran option with Courtland Sutton potentially sitting out the offseason program.
Thomas obviously has a lengthy history with the New Orleans Saints and is someone Sean Payton has previously featured in his offense. The 10 games he played this past season with the Saints were the most he's played in a year since 2019.
3. Sign WR Hunter Renfrow
Although obviously Hunter Renfrow's numbers weren't there this past season with the Raiders, it's hard to believe he's still unsigned in the month of May. Renfrow made the Pro Bowl a couple of years ago and found himself totally out of favor with Josh McDaniels. It really didn't make any sense.
At worst, Renfrow is a slot option who could come in and give you a good route runner and punt return option. Again, the Broncos don't necessarily need another receiver, but the longer guys like this sit there in free agency, the more you can't help but wonder if the price could justify bringing them in.
4. Sign LB/S Jamal Adams
The one area of this Denver Broncos roster that seems to be a bit more of a question mark than others right now is the linebacker spot. Maybe right behind that would be the safety position.
Why not knock out two birds with one stone here?
The Broncos open the 2024 season against the Seattle Seahawks, so how about giving Jamal Adams a potential crack at one of his old teams? The Jets are also on the schedule this year, so it could be a reunion tour for him. I like the idea of getting Adams and his versatility into the building, potentially utilizing him as a dime defensive back and enforcer who could play near the line of scrimmage and get some pressure on the QB.
5. Sign DL Bryan Mone
One of the positions the Denver Broncos need to look at is the nose tackle position where there's not really a "true" nose tackle on the roster at the moment. If he's healthy, the team should take a look at 28-year-old former Seahawks defensive lineman Bryan Mone, who played his college ball at Michigan.
Mone is listed at 6-foot-3, 345 pounds, and is a Utah native. He could play in the middle of a revamped defensive line that has now added both Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers in consecutive offseasons.
6. Sign EDGE Carl Lawson
Given what's available right now, Carl Lawson might be one of the best one-year dart throws left in NFL free agency. Over his first five years in the NFL, Lawson had 107 QB hits and an average of 7.0 sacks per 17 games.
Last year with the New York Jets, Lawson only played 100 snaps in six games. He was scarcely used and had a rare year with zero QB hits. What are the odds he could come out and be the guy who had 24 QB hits in 2022? 32 QB hits in 2020? 22 QB hits in 2019?
He's going to be 28 going on 29 this coming season and it's worth taking a shot that he could return to that highly productive pass rush form.
7. Sign EDGE Myjai Sanders
The Arizona Cardinals took Myjai Sanders in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting him with the 100th overall pick. Sanders was there in 2022 in Vance Joseph's last year with the team and when you can add recent top 100 picks at a discounted rate, it's not a bad risk to take.
Given the fact that he was drafted into Vance Joseph's defense and is only 25 years old, it's not out of the question that he could be a nice offseason dart throw for a team like the Broncos.