September 27, 2023 By: Jason Alsher

Here’s who the Denver Broncos should be trying to trade

With their 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Broncos have hit a new low. Despite having a big-name coach in Sean Payton, it’s clear that this team won’t be competing for a Super Bowl title anytime soon. In fact, it’s hard to imagine this current group of Broncos ever coming remotely close to competing for an AFC West division title.

With that being said, the time is now for the Broncos to trade any player with any semblance of value (not named Patrick Surtain II) to acquire draft capital. It’s a pipe dream to consider someone actually trading for Russell Wilson, so he won’t be included in this list.

Here’s who they should be shopping the hardest.

Courtland Sutton, wide receiver

Simply put: you’re not going to have a winning culture paying guys like Sutton $15+ million per season and devoting almost 8% of your salary cap to him. Sutton’s talent is undeniable, and he’s flashed glimpses. But at the end of the day, when you watch him (attempt) to block for his teammates and then fumble twice in one game (against Miami) it’s hard not to toss around the “S” word (s*ft). If you give Sutton’s talent to a guy like Tim Patrick, you’d have Terrell Owens 2.0.

With his salary, it’s hard to imagine landing anything better than a mid-round pick, but for a team in rebuilding mode, it would be worth it.

Justin Simmons, Safety

By all accounts, Simmons is a great leader, a smart player, and generally the type of guy you want in to be a part of your franchise. That said, his play hasn’t justified his contract, and you’re not going to win Super Bowls with guys who are great in the community.

Simmons will surely have value on the trade market for a team in contention.

Randy Gregory, outside linebacker

Signing Gregory to a five-year, $70 million contract is something that will haunt General Manager George Paton after he gets fired this coming offseason. The talent is there with Gregory, but he can’t seem to stay healthy.

Trade him for whatever you can get and let the young guys play.

Garett Bolles, left tackle

There were rumors circulating that Bolles was on the roster bubble during training camp. While he remains a solid NFL left tackle, he could also bring in some value on the trade market. If you intend to cut him after the season, why not trade him now and get something in return?

Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver

Jeudy is the best wide receiver on the Broncos’ roster, but has struggled to stay healthy. I’d only consider moving him for a great return. But, at some point, production will out-weigh potential for Jeudy.