Broncos 7 replacements in free agency if Dre'Mont Jones leaves

2. Greg Gaines (free agent, Rams)

Speaking of the Los Angeles Rams, another player that could come in at a budget-friendly price who has connections to defensive line coach Marcus Dixon is Greg Gaines.

Gaines has been productive against the run, he's been a solid pass rusher, and he's certainly an intriguing option when you consider his connection on the Broncos' coaching staff. He will be 27 to start the season and that's the kind of guy you perhaps target in free agency because you can count on them being productive longer than older free agents.

Pairing up Gaines with DJ Jones would give the Broncos two really good run defenders on the interior, and their ability to penetrate the interior would help open up other opportunities for guys on the edge.

3. David Onyemata (free agent, Saints)

A three-year deal for David Onyemata might be one of the better investments a team makes in the 2023 offseason. Somewhat quietly, Onyemata has been consistently one of the more productive interior pass rushers in the NFL for the last five or six years. He has at least 10 QB hits in each of the past four seasons. He has 13.5 sacks since 2020 as well as 53 total pressures in that timeframe.

We've emphasized coaching connections with the first two potential targets on this list and Onyemata is no different. He obviously played in New Orleans under Sean Payton for years, and would be a familiar face coming in. He's been productive enough that he might price himself out of the true "discount" range and could net a contract worth around $10 million per year, but if the Broncos are looking to sign two starters for the price of one Dre'Mont Jones, Onyemata seems like a solid option in this team's current window.