The Denver Broncos figure to be active in free agency this offseason, and there are a plethora of candidates the team should consider bringing in.
The team's cap situation is not great, but it's fine. They can easily create more cap space and they will in the coming weeks as the team is hurting with a lack of draft capital. The Broncos will be investing in the free agent market and they have quite a few positions they can improve, even if the roster itself is solid.
The primary focus of free agency should be on offense as the Broncos offense in 2022 was putrid and it was mainly because of a lack of identity and a lack of talent, specifically along the offensive line. The injuries piling up also did not help.
One free agent from each AFC team the Broncos should sign: AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs - JuJu Smith-Schuster
The first free agent the Broncos should consider is JuJu Smith-Schuster who signed a one year deal with the Chiefs before not being retained by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He did have a nice bounce-back year and should be in line for a multi-year deal. It might not be ideal for the Broncos to then be paying three wide receivers between Smith-Schuster, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick, but I'd think one of Sutton or Patrick would be moved to make room for the younger JuJu.
2. Los Angeles Chargers - Bryce Callahan
Why not bring back Bryce Callahan? Denver may need some help in the secondary and Callahan did just play a few seasons with Denver. The Broncos did replace Callahan with K'Waun Williams last year in free agency, but Callahan being able to play on the outside is a nice perk.
The Broncos are likely going to cut Ronald Darby, at least in my opinion, and rookie Damarri Mathis did play well in 2022, so he could be in line to takeover the CB2 slot opposite Patrick Surtain in 2023, but having Callahan in the room could serve as a nice veteran addition.
3. Las Vegas Raiders - Josh Jacobs
This one might be an unpopular take, but if there's even a sliver of a chance that Jacobs hits the open market, the Broncos should be all over it. He just turned 25 years old, so I don't think the team would have to worry about him falling off.
He led the league in rushing this year and did have over 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He appears to be just set to enter his prime and always seemed to kill the Broncos on the ground. Why not bring Jacobs in? What's the argument against it?
Javonte Williams is likely missing time in 2023, so Denver does need an RB1.
4. Denver Broncos - Dre'Mont Jones
The Broncos need to keep one of their own for 2023 and beyond. Dre'Mont Jones has quickly turned into one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL. His ability to serve as a threat against the pass and against the run is something that not many linemen can do in the NFL.
He's a product of the Broncos as he was taken in the 2019 NFL Draft. General Manager George Paton very much believes in retaining those type of in-house players, and he's already handed out quite a few contract extensions to some of those players.
There should be no difference with Dre'Mont Jones, and if Denver cannot bring him back, they are going to have a massive, massive hole along their defensive line.