The 2021 season continued to show the Denver Broncos' biggest weakness, that being the quarterback position. The Broncos finally addressed this need after trading for superstar quarterback Russell Wilson. The team gave up significant draft capital to acquire Wilson, but they still had a solid 2022 draft. They also made big free agent signings like Randy Gregory and DJ Jones. Looking at the entire Broncos roster, there aren't many glaring holes. In fact, NFL analyst Marc Ross named the Broncos as the fifth most complete team heading into the upcoming season. Despite this, the team could always look to upgrade some positions.
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Broncos Trade Targets to Complete 2022 Roster
Eric Kendricks – LB
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have not explicitly said that Kendricks is available for trade, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. Kendricks turned 30 this year but he is still performing at a reasonable level. During the 2021 season, Kendricks recorded 100 solo tackles (11th among LBs) and 2 interceptions (5th among LBs.) PFF also gave him a mid-range grade of 59.9. He is entering the final two years of his contract, and the Vikings could look to free up cap space by dealing him to another team. Broncos General Manager George Paton has many connections in Minnesota, so he should maybe inquire about what it would take to acquire Kendricks.
During the offseason, the Broncos re-signed Josey Jewell. During his career in Denver, Jewell performed decent enough at the inside linebacker position. However, sometimes decent doesn't work well in the NFL. His 2021 season ended very early due to a torn pectoral. Before the injury Jewell had a good PFF grade of 83.5, though, it was given off a very small sample size. The Broncos chose to not re-sign Alexander Johnson, who started alongside Jewell. The team instead signed Alex Singleton who most recently played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Before his stint with the Eagles, Singleton was a bit of a journeyman linebacker. He has also mostly worked on special teams during his career. Singleton was given a poor PFF rating of 52.4 from his starts in Philly.
To be blunt, Singleton and Jewell as the Broncos starting inside linebackers easily makes the position most concerning on the team. Singleton has brief experience in a starting inside linebacker role and might struggle to cover some of the insane tight-end talents in the AFC West. Jonas Griffith has so far been impressive in practice and might be better paired with Jewell. If the Broncos begin to really struggle at the position, they should definitely inquire about Kendricks.
Daron Payne – DT
Washington Commanders
Payne had made it very clear to the Commanders that he is not happy with his current contract situation. He recently walked out on practices and completely skipped voluntary workouts. While OTAs are voluntary, it is still seen as a good time to bond with your teammates. Payne is seeking a larger contract, but the Commanders may be preparing for an eventual divorce. The Commanders used a 2022 second-round pick on defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, so that probably didn't make Payne feel good. Payne did have a career year in 2021. He recorded 61 solo tackles, 15 quarterback hits, and 4.5 sacks.
The Broncos included Shelby Harris in the trade package to the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson. Harris was playing his best football with the Broncos, and his absence will be missed along the defensive front. Mike Purcell has performed decent enough, but not enough to instill fear in opposing offenses. The Broncos signed DJ Jones to a hefty contract, and the team hopes he will perform as well or even better than Harris did.
Hypothetically let's say the Broncos do acquire Payne in a trade. Payne will still want that contract extension sooner rather than later. If the Broncos do manage to give him the big contract he desires, that would be a bunch of money tied up in two defensive tackles (Payne and Jones.) However, shutting down the run game is always a desired defensive trait, and Payne could certainly help the Broncos accomplish that.
Deion Jones – LB
Atlanta Falcons
Let's consider this potential trade to be “wishful thinking.” Jones had a disappointing 2021 campaign, but then again, a lot about the 2021 Falcons was disappointing. With the departure of Matt Ryan, the Falcons are most likely going to start a full rebuild in due time. In 2019 Jones signed a big four-year contract worth $57 million. Jones is set to earn $9.64 million in 2022, and the Falcons could seek out a trade partner or end up cutting him if a trade doesn't occur.
Before his poor performance in 2021, Jones was regularly ranked as a top linebacker. During the offseason, he did undergo shoulder surgery, which could complicate his future in Atlanta. If the Broncos pursue him, they could get him at a cheaper trade price due to his poor performance in 2021 and injury history. For the right price, the Broncos could definitely utilize his talent and the depth at linebacker. Jones might also benefit from a fresh start on a new team and could pair well with Jewell.
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