Denver Broncos 10 best moves of the 2024 offseason

Following their 8-9 season in 2023, the first year under head coach Sean Payton, more wholesale changes were made to the Denver Broncos' roster (and coaching staff) in the 2024 offseason. And all things considered, the offseason feels like a net positive as the team approaches OTAs.

What moves were the "best" ones the Broncos made in the 2024 offseason? Although we're only able to evaluate these moves on paper for now, let's take a look at the top 10 best moves the Broncos made in the 2024 offseason.

Best moves the Denver Broncos made in 2024

1. Drafting QB Bo Nix

The Denver Broncos last attempted to draft a first-round quarterback when they traded up a handful of spots in 2016 for Paxton Lynch. Before that, it was Tim Tebow in 2010 and Jay Cutler in 2006. The Broncos have never drafted their own franchise QB, although that's really just a technicality with John Elway being acquired in a draft day trade.

Bo Nix is the second-highest quarterback ever selected by the Broncos (behind Cutler) at 12th overall and it's just exciting to have the potential of a first-round quarterback in the mix. The more you hear from Nix, the more you hear people talking about him and analyzing his game, you can't help but get more excited. This guy "gets it" and is ready to be a pro quarterback.

2. Trading for DL John Franklin-Myers

One of the major problem areas from a season ago for the Denver Broncos was the defensive line. Without a ton of NFL Draft capital or salary cap space to work with, it was imperative that the team found a way to upgrade the defensive line. The acquisition of John Franklin-Myers in a trade with the Jets during the NFL Draft embodies the "where there's a will, there's a way" mentality.

The Broncos sent a 2026 6th-round pick to the Jets for Franklin-Myers and gave him a new two-year contract. This is a high-impact player and starter on the defensive line acquired for a completely inconsequential draft choice. This was maybe, pound-for-pound, the best move of the entire offseason for the Broncos.

3. Releasing QB Russell Wilson

The Denver Broncos made arguably the most unprecedented move in NFL history in 2024 when they cut quarterback Russell Wilson. I don't think the gravity of that has really set in because of everything that has transpired in the short weeks since the move took place, but the Broncos cut Wilson just two years after striking a blockbuster trade to acquire him.

They cut Wilson despite the fact that his contract extension with the team doesn't "officially" kick in until this year, even though Wilson was paid a lot of bonus money prior to 2024. To take on an $85 million dead money hit is unheard of in today's NFL, but it was a move the Broncos absolutely had to make. Wilson was simply not consistently getting the job done and entering his age 35/36 season, there was no reason to keep trying to dig out of the hole.

4. Bringing back WR Tim Patrick on a reduced deal

There were really only two options with Tim Patrick going into the 2024 offseason. Either the Broncos were going to cut Tim Patrick or find a way to bring him back on a reduced deal. Given all of the other cuts happening elsewhere on the roster, it's intriguing that Patrick decided he wanted to stay in Denver. It makes sense, given the fact that the Broncos are the most familiar with his medical history.

The Broncos saved salary cap space and brought Patrick back on a new one-year, $1.295 million deal. It's a low-risk, possible high-reward move to keep around a guy who has not been able to play since signing his three-year extension back in the 2021 season.

5. Signing WR Josh Reynolds

The Denver Broncos signing veteran Josh Reynolds at the wide receiver position was one of the most shrewd moves of the entire offseason. Reynolds signed a two-year deal worth $9 million in total money, a bargain for a player of his caliber and a bargain for a team that has desperately needed to upgrade its depth at wide receiver.

Reynolds caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Lions, and has proven himself to be effective as a route runner, blocker, downfield threat, and after the catch. Is he going to catch 120 passes? No, but he is going to be extremely effective in different personnel packages, and for little cost to the team.

6. Drafting WR Troy Franklin

Let's keep the wide receiver theme going here. I loved the Denver Broncos' decision to trade up in the 4th round and get Troy Franklin, who was generally considered to be a 2nd-3rd-round prospect at the very latest. Franklin has outstanding speed, he has a rapport with Bo Nix, and he is a playmaker in the open field. It feels like the Broncos got an extra second-round pick here because everyone would have thought he was a steal with the 76th overall pick, too.

This is a simple case of capitalizing on value, getting a good player when you have the opportunity, and upgrading a position that definitely needed it.

7. Signing DL Malcolm Roach

This particular move really speaks for itself. The Denver Broncos were the worst run-defending team in the NFL last year. Although they didn't go out and spend half a billion dollars in free agency, they were shrewd and still managed to get a player who did this in 2023:

Although Roach didn't play 800 snaps or anything even close to that, the fact that he had the highest run-stop rate in the NFL is extremely encouraging. The Broncos needed to upgrade their toughness on the defensive line, and getting guys like Malcolm Roach and John Franklin-Myers to come in and take snaps that were previously being used up by the likes of Mike Purcell and Jonathan Harris is really encouraging.

8. Adding Jim Leonhard as DBs coach/pass game coordinator

One of the bigger losses for the Denver Broncos in the 2024 offseason was defensive backs coach Christian Parker leaving to go join Vic Fangio's staff with the Philadelphia Eagles. Parker has consistently been one of the best coaches Denver has when it comes to developing talent, so the Broncos couldn't just replace him with anybody.

They had to get the best. And Jim Leonhard represents that. Leonhard had to basically take last year "off" although he worked as an analyst on Bret Bielema's staff at Illinois. He was recovering from an injury and is now back on a track to likely become at least a defensive coordinator in the NFL. The Broncos are getting him as their new defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, and that second title is so huge because Leonhard is going to not only have a chance to develop these guys, but make sure they're being put in good situations on gamedays.

9. Signing an entire backup offensive line

The Denver Broncos have gone out this offseason and basically signed an entire second offensive line unit of guys with experience.

They signed offensive tackle Matt Peart, a former third-round pick. They signed Calvin Throckmorton who can play both tackle and guard and has started for Sean Payton in the past. They signed Sam Mustipher, a veteran center who started for both the Ravens and Bears. They brought back veteran guard Quinn Bailey as well.

On top of that, the Broncos landed a draftable player in Frank Crum after the NFL Draft, and they paid him a hefty bonus to come to Denver. The veteran signings in combination with the addition of a player like Crum and the continued development of 2023 UDFAs Alex Palczewski and Demontrey Jacobs gives the Broncos some intriguing depth on the offensive line heading into the 2024 offseason program.

10. Making underrated free agent pickups

I don't know that you can really discuss every free agent signing as a "good" move on paper. It's hard to view a signing like Brandon Jones in the most positive light when he is replacing Justin Simmons. But I do feel like the Broncos got good value all across the board in free agency.

They brought in Brandon Jones and also brought back PJ Locke to fortify that safety position. They brought back guys like WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, FB Michael Burton, and TE Adam Trautman. Defensively, they re-signed LBs Jonas Griffith and Justin Strnad. They were able to prevent kicker Wil Lutz from signing elsewhere. They signed Cody Barton to a team-friendly deal. They got veteran cornerback Levi Wallace.

These players aren't going to grace the cover of Madden anytime soon, but they are solid signings to raise the floor of the roster as a whole and I like the process by the team there.