Sean Payton has already started to get rid of anything and anyone that’s not nailed down in the Denver Broncos facility. Denver traded Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers in a late-round pick, then released fellow pass rusher Frank Clark after convincing him to reduce his salary.
What else might the Broncos do before the NFL‘s Oct. 31 trade deadline? Here are three suggestions.
Denver Broncos Trade Deadline Moves
With the Broncos sitting at 2-5 entering Week 8, Payton probably wants to hold a true firesale and begin looking ahead to next season. But several veterans that Payton would surely like to move are probably too expensive to generate much of a market.
Garett Bolles is a solid left tackle, but he’s owed roughly $7.7 million for the remainder of the year. The New Orleans Saints might want a blindside upgrade, and the Cleveland Browns are reportedly searching for an offensive lineman while incumbent LT Jedrick Wills is banged up. But will either team give up draft capital and take on Bolles’ salary?
MORE:Â Denver Broncos Depth ChartÂ
The same goes for safety Justin Simmons, who is due more than $8 million to complete the season. He’s been a second-team All-Pro in back-to-back campaigns, but the only team with a desperate safety need — the Philadelphia Eagles — just pulled off a deal to acquire Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans.
For the most part, Denver may have to settle for more modest moves ahead of the deadline. But they might get a decent return for one of their top playmakers.
Trade WR Jerry Jeudy to the Panthers
While Adam Thielen improbably ranks seventh in receptions and 14th in receiving yards among wide receivers through seven weeks, the Panthers are still interested in acquiring a younger receiver to pair with Bryce Young for the long haul.
Earlier this month, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz indicated Carolina wanted to add a “No. 1 caliber guy” to its receiving corps. But true WR1s like Davante Adams or Tee Higgins — both of whom have at least been mentioned as trade candidates at various points this year — won’t be available at the deadline.
Jerry Jeudy might be the best the Panthers can do. Denver has suggested it won’t simply give up on Jeudy, but the club might not be holding out for a first-round pick any longer.
Carolina doesn’t have a first-round selection in 2024, anyway. But they could build a package that includes a conditional 2024 third-round pick and fellow pass catcher Terrace Marshall Jr., who has been permitted to seek a trade.
If Jeudy plays at least 75% of the Panthers’ snaps down the stretch, the third-round choice will be upgraded to a second-round pick. Given that Carolina is still winless, their 2024 second-rounder could end up being the No. 33 overall selection. As such, the Broncos will send a 2024 fifth-round choice back to the Panthers in that scenario.
With Jeudy gone, Denver can use a Courtland Sutton-Marvin Mims Jr.-Marshall Jr. WR trifecta for the rest of the season. Marshall is under contract through 2024, so the Broncos will have plenty of time to evaluate his fit on their roster.
Send RB Samaje Perine Back to Cincinnati
Samaje Perine was supposed to serve as a veteran complement to fellow RB Javonte Williams while the latter recovered from a torn ACL. But Jaleel McLaughlin’s emergence in Denver’s backfield has rendered Perine obsolete. He’s played just 24 offensive snaps over the past two weeks.
A reunion with the Cincinnati Bengals would make plenty of sense on paper. The Bengals offered Perine a contract similar to the two-year, $7.5 million deal he eventually signed with the Broncos.
MORE: AFC West Trade Candidates
Cincinnati has struggled to fill its third-down RB role behind Joe Mixon. Rookie running back Chase Brown was a candidate for that role, but he suffered a hamstring injury during practice and will miss Week 8.
The Bengals’ five-decade snooze at the trade deadline strongly suggests they won’t be in the market for an addition. But it’s hard to imagine a more perfect supplemental piece than Perine.
Clear a Pending Free Agent From the Books
Let’s move to the defensive side of the ball and find a new home for one more Bronco.
Linebacker Josey Jewell has made 49 career starts for Denver since joining the club as a fourth-round pick in 2018. But the 28-year-old is a pending free agent with no real ties to Payton or general manager George Paton.
The Payton/Paton regime gave fellow LB Alex Singleton a three-year, $18 million extension in March. Six weeks later, they used the 67th overall pick on Arkansas LB Drew Sanders, a first-team All-American and Butkus Award finalist who would slide into Jewell’s spot.
Jewell is a solid defender, but there aren’t many teams searching for off-ball linebackers at the deadline (especially those due more than $2.5 million for the rest of the season). Given the potentially soft market, an LB-needy team like the Buffalo Bills could swoop in to acquire Jewell for a late-round pick swap.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
