The Denver Broncos are one of the best teams in the NFL and have a plethora of talented players that would garner first-round picks in trades.
The Denver Broncos had one of the best seasons in the National Football League in 2025, powered by their fantastic and near record-setting defense with some assistance from a good fourth-quarter offense.
Although the team came up short in the American Football Conference championship against the New England Patriots, the Broncos were only outmatched talent-wise when it came to the quarterback matchup.
If QB Bo Nix was healthy, many believe Denver could have come out on top. Unfortunately, backup QB Jarrett Stidham was forced to step in against the NFL Most Valuable Player runner-up, granted he didn’t do that great in the game either, but he was much more prepared for battle.
The Broncos have tons of talented players that would garner a premium compensation package to acquire them in a trade, including Nix, with as many as six players that ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes would warrant at least one first-round pick to get a deal done through the lens of the league.
Cornerback Pat Surtain II, the best CB in the league, would require at least two first-round picks and probably more to acquire him; Barnwell brought up the Sauce Gardner trade as part of his reasoning.
“If Gardner netted the Jets two first-round picks, well, the Broncos should and would ask for more in a potential Surtain deal,” Barnwell wrote Thursday. “He's comfortably the best cornerback in football, with penalty yardage as the only real hole in what he brings to the table.”
Nix, defensive tackle Zach Allen and Edge Nik Bonitto would command at least one first-rounder and probably more, as Barnwell knows the league finds great value in Allen and Bonitto’s defensive prowess but struggled to understand Nix’s true value.
“Allen has a whopping 87 quarterback knockdowns over the past two seasons, 20 more than any other player. He would land a Quinnen Williams-sized return for the Broncos.”
Nix has been average at best in terms of QBR and his older age while being just a third-year player plays a big role in his value. The former first-round pick is great at avoiding pressure and uses his mobility to create havoc, so the talent is there to warrant a first-rounder but it’s unclear how much more would be needed to complete a deal.
New wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and guard Quinn Meinerz would go for a first-round pick; Waddle was just moved for a first-rounder while Meinerz is a two-time first-team All-Pro and is one of the best in the NFL at run-blocking.
Tackle Garett Bolles just missed out due to his age, although he plays at an elite level and would’ve commanded at least one first-round pick a few years ago.
There’s good reason as to why the Broncos were so good last year and are practically running it back with the exception of trading for Waddle.
