Broncos Could Make Unexpected Big Moves At Trade Deadline

The Denver Broncos are expected to be active at the trade deadline, and it’s a relatively new development. The Broncos have had unexpected issues with their running game, and they’re rumored to be in on Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, with the Colts having hung out the for sale sign. 

There are other positions of need as well. Tight end is one, and the Broncos have a system for handling this. It’s about the relationship between coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton, and it’s cast in something close to a traditional financial relationship, according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. 

To put it simply, Payton is the spender, while Paton is the saver. 

The savers help Payton manage the cap, and Gabriel mentioned Rick Hurtado, who is the VP of footbal adminsitration, as one of them as well. Payton identifies the areas of spending to go with the team’s needs, and they proceed together accordingly. 

This year is tricky. The Broncos have $4 million in cap space available, so some maneuvering would be required. The Broncos do have all of their draft picks for next year, plus a compensation pick for former defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers who left in free agency, with the pick likely being a fourth rounder. 

The Chiefs game will likely be a referendum about all this, per Parker. If the Broncos lose, Kansas City pulls ahead by 1.5 games, and the Chiefs would own the tiebreakder after sweeping the season series. 

Another acquisition who’s been mentioned is tight end Trey McBride, who just played well against the Broncos. Sean Payton was effusive in his compliments, and he said that McBride was one of the best “move” tight ends he’s had in what the coach calls the joker role. 

It’s an intriguging scenario, but McBride is considered a franchise cornerstone, so the ask would be big. But sometimes trades materialize in unexpected ways at different times, as Payton noted when he reviewed how the trade for receiver Jaylen Waddle came about. 

Taylor, meanwhile, seems very available, while there are needs on the offensive line, which has underperformed for most of the season. Depth at linebacker and safety is also a concern, so there are a lot of possibilities. 

Whatever the Broncos do or don’t do, it will fit their approach to roster building. They tend to be conservative and rely on continuity, and this Sunday’s game against the Chiefs will also be a referendum on that approach as well.