This would be a welcome sight for Broncos Country. If Denver is in a playoff spot or close to one when the trade deadline rolls around, they could be buyers. Even though they still have limited draft capital, the Denver Broncos could be buyers at the trade deadline.
What if the 2023 season begins better than we think and Denver races out to a playoff spot? They play eight games before their bye week, which also happens to be right at the trade deadline as well. Denver's schedule does make it nice for them to potentially add at the deadline if their season begins the way they hope.
I am personally projecting the team to go 5-3 during their first eight games, which would give them a reason to add. If they do lose three games, there would surely be a position or two that Denver could decide to add. Sean Payton obviously has a huge connection with the New Orleans Saints, so thinking out loud here; what if the Saints bottom out in 2023 and turn into sellers?
There might be a player or two from Payton's days in New Orleans that he might want to add to the roster, and other teams who may be sellers could also get into the trade deadline market. Let's look at three way-too-early targets at the trade deadline for the Denver Broncos.
Way too early trade deadline targets for the Denver Broncos in 2023
1. Cam Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
I think this could be one of the most obvious targets. If the Saints turn into sellers at the deadline, someone who might even want to be traded is Cam Jordan, who was drafted by Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints back in 2011. Jordan has spent his entire career with the Saints.
He's made eight Pro Bowls, one All-Pro, and has played in 16 games in each year of his regular season career. Cam Jordan has missed two regular season games since entering the league in 2011. That is truly absurd. He's amassed 115.5 sacks and 219 QB hits during this time.
Jordan has had at least 7.5 sacks in each season since 2012 and has not had less than 10 QB hits in any season during that span. He's a Hall of Fame defensive end and could boost a Broncos' DL that might need the help in the middle of the season. Heck, the DL needs help right now.
This would be a stellar move for the Denver Broncos. Jordan has a ton of experience with Sean Payton and I think he would be a great fit.
2. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Someone who surely does not fit the timeline of the Arizona Cardinals is James Conner, who is 28 years old and has two years left on his contract. He's also on a somewhat pricey running back contract, and the Cardinals surely do not want to have that on their roster much longer. Conner does fit what Sean Payton values in running backs.
By no means is Conner an elite runner -- he's got a career yards per carry of 4.2, but what he does bring is the ability to catch passes. He has two seasons with at least 45 receptions and has caught at least 38 passes in each year of his career. With 207 total receptions, Conner is a true dual-threat RB.
He's also at his best when he isn't carrying the full load. I would honestly just think of him as a better version of Samaje Perine. And if the Denver Broncos do want to run the snot out of the ball in 2023, getting solid running backs in the backfield will only help that cause. Conner is also a bigger running back. He's 6'1" and 233lbs, so he's got good size for the position.
If the Cardinals do sell at the deadline, I cannot imagine James Conner wouldn't be super cheap. He's a 28-year-old RB who costs a good bit, however, would be a good trade for any contender to make. The Denver Broncos are not currently paying a running back anything notable, so they could justify making a trade like this.
3. Ryan Jensen, C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Someone who is from Colorado and who went to Colorado State-Pueblo is Ryan Jensen, one of the better centers in the NFL and a current Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Many in Broncos Country were calling for the team to sign Jensen a couple of years ago when he was a free agent, but he re-upped with Tampa.
He won a Super Bowl with the team in 2020 and has played in exactly 100 regular season games, but did miss all of the 2022 season with an injury. Jensen has two years left on his contract and is 32 years old. If the Buccaneers flatten out in 2023, they are surely going to sell off some veteran players and embrace a post-Tom Brady rebuild.
They don't have a franchise quarterback on the roster and have some questions all over the place. Todd Bowles doesn't appear to be the answer as head coach and I just think this team needs to embrace the suck and rebuild the roster. Well, if there is one spot that the Denver Broncos might want to improve on in 2023 is the center position.
The team is projected to start Lloyd Cushenberry, who has not been good his first three years in the NFL. The team also drafted Alex Forsyth in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. I don't think the Broncos would hesitate to pull Cush from the lineup if he doesn't improve. Forsyth does have some qualities you like in a center, but this is a player who was also nearly undrafted.
I think the Denver Broncos will boast one of the better offensive lines in football in 2023, but I don't really see a scenario where Cushenberry isn't the weakest link. Denver might want to pull the plug on this era and trade for someone like Ryan Jensen.