The Denver Broncos have been a pathetic 0-16 against the Kansas City Chiefs since about midway through the 2015 season. The Broncos have won a Super Bowl since the last time they beat the Kansas City Chiefs, but these two franchises have been on absolutely opposite trajectories ever since that game. The team's latest loss to the Chiefs in Week 6 of the 2023 season has brought forth a ton of questions about the franchise's future.
Certainly, the roster is subject to change. The Broncos traded 2022 big-money free agent Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers in a pick swap. Frank Clark, who signed a modest free agent deal in the middle of the summer, gave his money back to the Broncos to facilitate his own release. Not to mention, the Russell Wilson trade isn't working out at all. The Mike McGlinchey signing is looking disastrous.
The Broncos haven't had a first-round pick since 2021 (Pat Surtain II). They haven't had a top 50 draft pick since then, either. This team is reflecting multiple years of bad moves and no high draft selections, which is the opposite of what GM George Paton hoped when he took over this "sleeping giant" of a roster.
After the team's loss to the Chiefs and with a little extra time to reflect, let's look at major question marks for every position group on the roster, save for the kicking game.
Major question marks for Denver Broncos roster after latest Chiefs loss
When will the Broncos bench Russell Wilson?
This is a pretty massive question with major financial implications, and was answered pretty great over the weekend. Barring an unforeseen run of wins, the Broncos are almost certain to part ways with Russell Wilson after the 2023 season. The primary reason being: The team can save $37 million in guaranteed cash Wilson is owed in 2025 by cutting him before the 5th day of the 2024 league year (in March).
Yes, the Broncos are still on the hook for Wilson's 2024 salary and option bonus, and yes, they would have $85 million in dead money between 2024 and 2025 if they cut Wilson in 2024. It's just a pill they are going to have to swallow. By being released, Wilson could sign elsewhere and potentially offset some of the dead money in Denver. Perhaps he would acknowledge just how awful things have been and facilitate a restructure before being released or traded.
Who knows?
Ultimately, Wilson's legacy has taken a pretty major hit in Denver. It's not like he's been great and the team has been bad. Wilson has struggled in Denver and he's been publicly harassed at every turn. The Broncos cannot cut Wilson after this season, however, if he somehow sustains some type of significant in-season injury. With that being said, if things continue to go south, don't be shocked to see Jarrett Stidham after the bye week or sometime shortly after that.
Is Jaleel McLaughlin the best RB on the roster?
This question could either be really exciting or really sad, depending on which way you look at it. The Broncos have 2nd-round pick Javonte Williams on the roster and free agent signing Samaje Perine as well. And yet through six games, it has been Jaleel McLaughlin that has stood out as the team's best all-around back.
And it seems he was rewarded for that by getting the start against the Chiefs on Thursday night. Ultimately, it doesn't mean much, and yet it kind of does as well. McLaughlin has the best vision of any of the three Broncos backs, and I don't think there's really a debate there. You love to see the undrafted rookie out there making plays but I think questions need to be asked about whether Javonte Williams is truly a RB1 going forward.
Which WRs will this team end up keeping?
How many wide receivers currently on the roster will still be on the roster on November 1st? The trade deadline is October 31. I wouldn't be shocked if both Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are moved by the time the deadline rolls around. They are simply not working out as members of the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos invested heavily in both Sutton and Jeudy. Sutton was a 2nd-round pick who earned a second contract in Denver based largely on his amazing 2019 campaign. Jeudy was a 1st-round pick in 2020 whose 5th-year option for 2024 was picked up by the team. But neither of these guys have been making plays consistently enough for this team, not just this year, but over the last 2-3 years.
The Broncos could move forward with a wide receiver group of Marvin Mims, Brandon Johnson, Tre'Quan Smith, and Lil'Jordan Humphrey at the top of the depth chart with players like Phillip Dorsett and David Sills coming off the practice squad before hitting the reset button in 2024.
Did the team put too many eggs in the Greg Dulcich basket?
Simply put, the Denver Broncos put too many eggs in the Greg Dulcich "basket". The Broncos largely passed on two straight talented free agent tight end classes. They passed on a loaded NFL Draft class in 2023. Now, they've got Adam Trautman as the TE1 on the team and Trautman presents a very low-upside option who is not under contract beyond 2023.
Greg Dulcich was supposed to be this team's TE1 and a major weapon in the passing game, but he can't stay healthy. He's been dealing with hamstring problems since June 2022, and they haven't really gotten any better. The Broncos shouldn't have passed on so many good players at this position, but they did, and it's not working out.
How was the scouting so off on big-money FA Mike McGlinchey?
Someone really needs to get after Sean Payton for the Mike McGlinchey signing. The Broncos gave McGlinchey a ton of money in free agency, and gave out the only five-year deal for any unrestricted free agent on the market. So far, everyone's fears about McGlinchey -- as a pass protector -- have been realized. Fans have nicknamed him "McFlinchey" because of his countless false start penalties.
How was the scouting so off here? McGlinchey played out an entire five-year rookie deal in San Francisco. The Broncos might have been better off going with a budget-friendly option or draft pick in 2023, because the scouting report on McGlinchey (and his inability to consistently pass protect) has proven to be true.
Why did the Broncos not do more to add to the defensive line?
The Denver Broncos obviously failed to do enough to address the defensive line in free agency with a clear need to add veterans. The Broncos rolled with young players like Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen, and Jonathan Harris, and it just hasn't worked out. The team's interior defensive line has arguably been the worst aspect of this team, and we saw the Broncnos acknowledge that by bringing in Shelby Harris for a visit in the offseason.
Ultimately, they didn't sign him, or anyone else, and it has cost the team dearly.
Can any young edge players emerge as long-term fixtures?
The Broncos have a wide variety of young players off the edge right now, and some of them could ultimately become permanent fixtures and cornerstone pieces on the roster. But the jury is out.
Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper have been outstanding in the pass rush department early on this season. We have yet to see Baron Browning, but he has potential to become something special as well. The Broncos desperately need these guys to emerge so they can focus elsewhere in the offseason.
How soon will we see Drew Sanders on a full-time basis?
The linebacker position doesn't have many question marks right now, other than whether or not we'll see Josey Jewell be traded. And if he is, Drew Sanders will take on a full-time role maybe sooner than expected. But for now, the Broncos will probably maintain the status quo.
Why are we not seeing more of Riley Moss at corner? (When will the team be fed up with Damarri Mathis?)
At some point, the team has to get fed up with Damarri Mathis. Mathis has been constantly out of position through the first six weeks of the season and hasn't looked anywhere close to the player we saw for the majority of 2022, when he looked like a sure-fire starter on the outside.
This year, Mathis has looked more like a rookie than he did in his rookie season. At this point, what could it hurt the Broncos to play rookie Riley Moss? At some point, people are going to start wondering why the team traded a future 3rd-round pick to get Moss if all he does is special teams. The Broncos need to do something different in the near future.
Will Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson go down with the ship?
At this point, you've got to wonder if two of the key veterans on this team -- safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson -- will ultimately go down with this ship. Or will they ask to be traded? Most reports indicate right now that the Denver Broncos are open for business as it deals with trades, but they aren't having a "fire sale". You can't help but wonder, though, for players like Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, who have been on losing teams for most of their careers, if they might ask to go to another team.
I don't think Simmons and Jackson would make a big fuss about it, by any means. These guys are professionals and Simmons, in particular, is a leader on this team. But he's going to be 30 years old very soon and the only winning season he's been part of was in 2016 when he was a rookie. I wouldn't blame him if Simmons asked to be traded to a contender.