Broncos Trade Makes List Of Deals That Will Have A Playoff Impact

The Denver Broncos didn’t do much at the trade deadline, and they didn’t do anything to address their offensive issues. But the deal they did make could have implications when it comes to playoff positioning, so let’s review. 

The Broncos traded for linebacker Daiyan Henley, and they didn’t have to give up much. Austin Mock of The Athletic called it a “solid” trade, although it may just wind up being a depth move, and he ranked the trade at 10th in his list detailing potential playoff impact. 

Mock also offered some decidedly backhanded praise for Henley, saying he “isn’t amazing at any one part of the game, but he’s not bad at anything, either.” According to Pro Football Focus, he’s ranked 47th out of 69 linebackers in coverage grade this year, while his run defense grade has been similar. 

Henley is a good tackler, though, as he’s ranked 17th when it comes to minimizing missed tackles. The Broncos don’t need him as a starter, hence the comment about the depth possibility. 

But the Broncos have a way of developing linebackers that makes that assessment a little simplistic. They may take Henley and turn him into a much better player, at which point this deal would become a lot more significant. They can also use him as a situational player, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is known for getting the most out of those kinds of players. 

This move may also be for next year. The Broncos have seen linebacker Jonathon Cooper for a few games now, so they have a pretty good idea of what he’s going to be able to provide for the rest of the season. 

If the Broncos don’t like what they’re seeing, they may have already decided to move on from Cooper. They’ve stuck with him so far as the linebacker continues to navigate his complicated legal situation, which includes a felony assault trial related to a pair of arrests that happened back in June.

Henley could be the plug-and-play option there, especially if he adapts well in Denver and continues to play well. We already know he was something of a tackling machine with the woeful Los Angeles Chargers, as he led the team in tackles with 51. 

All of this could have a profound impact on the Broncos’ playoff positioning, especially given that Denver wins games with its defense. The impact may not be as high as some of the nine other trades Mock listed, but there are a lot of games left to be played.