The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday. Ahead of that, let’s sift through the Denver Broncos’ roster to look for weaknesses. At 7-2, Denver is a clear buyer at the deadline. That means Denver has their eyes on a deep playoff run. Let’s go.
Bo Nix
PFSN QB Impact Score: 79 (No. 14)
Although inconsistent, Nix isn’t getting replaced anytime soon.
J.K. Dobbins
PFSN RB Impact Score: 82.3 (No. 9)
A pleasant surprise, Dobbins sits inside the top 10 in PFSN’s RB Impact Score. Without it, the Broncos may have been looking to upgrade the RB position ahead of the deadline.
Not this time. Dobbins, meanwhile, totals the fourth-most rushing yards per game (77.2) through nine games. He’s past the fall-off stage of the season. RJ Harvey has six total touchdowns, but is almost 500 yards behind Dobbins on the season. They’re a nice 1-2 punch.
Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant
PFSN WR Impact Score: 81.1 (No. 21), 75.5 (No. 42)
For reference, there are 96 starting wide receivers, as offenses call plays out of 11 personnel more than 50% of the time. Sutton is No. 11 in receiving yards in the league and is comfortably the No. 1 WR here. I’d buy low on Sutton in fantasy, as he was the first WR to notch a 20-plus air yard reception against the Houston Texans in Week 9. Look for him to explode in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Slot WR Troy Franklin, meanwhile, actually paces Broncos’ pass-catchers in targets with two more than Sutton at 64. Sutton is one reception ahead of Franklin, though — 38-37.
Marvin Mims Jr. is out with a concussion, meaning Pat Bryant is the third WR in three-WR sets. The Broncos can choose to continue developing Bryant in his rookie season, wait until Mims Jr. returns, or acquire a veteran at the position. Depending on how aggressive the Broncos want Nix to get in the second half of the season, a vet might be a good option.
Although head coach Sean Payton comes from the Bill Parcells school of thought, which believes that veterans in front of rookies are progress stoppers, it’s a fine line with an ahead-of-schedule 7-2 team. The Broncos don’t want Bryant exposed as the third starting WR, but they must keep getting him developmental snaps.
Evan Engram
PFSN TE Impact Score: 37.9 (No. 35)
The Broncos signed 19-year veteran Marcedes Lewis ahead of Week 9, but they may not be done. Engram’s been a disappointment. He is third on the team in targets and receptions, and fourth in receiving yards. His minuscule 26.9 yards per game isn’t moving the needle, though, so an addition to the room is twofold. It frees Engram up to line up in the slot and moves Bryant to a platoon role.
Offensive Line
PFSN Team Offensive Line Impact Score: 92.3 (No. 1)
The Broncos are likely content with waiting for Ben Powers to return, rather than reallocating resources for a starter. The win streak has stayed intact in Powers’ absence.
Defensive Line
PFSN Defense Impact Score: 92.2 (No. 1)
This quartet of pass rushers — Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Zach Allen, and John Franklin-Meyers — is on pace to reset the team sack record. Nothing’s needed here.
Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw
PFSN LB Impact Score: 78 (No. 31)
Dre Greenlaw doesn’t have enough snaps for an impact score, but it doesn’t look like another addition is needed here.
Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, and Ja’Quan McMillian
PFSN CB Impact Score: 85.9 (No. 20), ?, 69.3 (No. 77)
The 20th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Barron is helping fill the void left by Pat Surtain II’s injury. Kris Abrams-Draine is also a solid fourth option.
Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga
PFSN Safety Impact: 82.9 (No. 12), 88.2 (No. 5)
The Broncos have the best starting safeties in the league. P.J. Locke, who was out, is worthy of a starting slot in the league and is the No. 3 safety as well.