The Denver Broncos finished last in the AFC West with a 5-11 record, which means they should have a busy offseason. They seemed to struggle all year long, specifically at the quarterback position. For this reason, the franchise has been linked to rumors about potentially trading for Deshaun Watson. With an exciting, young roster on this offense, acquiring Watson via trade with the Houston Texans could push the Broncos into the playoffs next year.

Furthermore, it seems as though the front office is wanting to get younger on defense. After cutting AJ Bouye and Jurrell Casey, it's clear this franchise is aiming to re-stack the defense with younger talents to keep them competitive. A positional need is a cornerback, however, if they choose to part ways with Von Miller, they're going to also need a pass rusher as well. With a plethora of available players in the free-agent pool, the front office may find their replacements before the NFL draft.

Another name possibly leaving the team is Phillip Lindsay. He's been a consistent running back for this organization, but all signs are pointing towards his departure. If that's true, then this franchise should be searching for his replacement in the NFL draft. However, if a trade for Watson comes to fruition, Denver won't have a first-round selection, or possibly a second-round pick. This means they may be drafting a rookie running back in rounds three through seven to backup Melvin Gordon.

The offseason should be interesting this year, especially with the salary cap being much lower than usual. Either way, the Denver Broncos have a real opportunity to right the ship and get back on top of the AFC West. Even with the Kansas City Chiefs being so dominant, Denver could make a push for the division title if they make the right moves this offseason. Here are four bold predictions for the Broncos in the 2021 offseason.

Bold Prediction #1: Trade for Deshaun Watson

First and foremost, this franchise needs to address its quarterback situation. Drew Lock has been less than impressive throughout his career so far. After playing 13 games last season due to injury, Lock managed to finish the year with 2,933 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He also threw a poor 57.3% passing percentage, which isn't ideal for any quarterback in the league.

After just two seasons, and only 18 games played in his career so far, the Broncos' front office could be looking to shake things up. Especially with John Elway stepping down from the general manager role, the newly hired George Paton might be wanting a new quarterback under center. The absolute best-case scenario is to trade for Deshaun Watson.

It's no secret that Watson is unhappy in Houston and has demanded a trade from the Texans. So far, the Texans front office seems adamant in keeping him, even though Watson claims he'll sit out. At the end of the day, one of the two sides is going to give in, and considering the turmoil, this organization is in after the Bill O'Brien debacle, their best bet is to trade their disgruntled superstar away.

Being one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Watson's presence alone could be enough to make the Broncos a playoff contender next year. In 2020, he was able to throw for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. He was able to accomplish these amazing stats with a depleted offensive line, and one of the worst receiver groups in the league. These are two areas the Broncos are much better in, which means Watson would have the potential to put up even more impressive numbers if he lands in Denver. Look for the Broncos to continue pursuing Watson, as he's their best bet at returning to the playoffs in 2021 and beyond.

Bold Prediction #2: Sign Shaquill Griffin

The Seattle Seahawks star cornerback is due to hit the market after the franchise opted to not use the franchise tag at all. Shaquill Griffin has been a solid corner throughout his career and aims to continue playing at a high level for quite some time. He finished the season with 63 total tackles, 12 pass deflections, and three interceptions. He did miss four games due to injury though, which makes his stat line much more impressive. Had he not been hurt, each statistical category would've been higher than they already are, which would've made 2020 a career year for Griffin.

He's the exact type of guy the Broncos need to improve the secondary. Griffin is only 26 years old and has plenty of years left in him. He'd immediately be the best corner on the roster and would have the privilege of playing alongside Justin Simmons, who is one of the best young safeties in the league. Trading for Watson would likely mean the Broncos don't have a draft pick in the first two rounds, which means finding a rookie corner to fix their secondary is out of the question. Griffin provides consistency, experience, and youth, which are all things the Broncos need to improve their secondary.

Denver Broncos Bold Prediction: Sign Leonard Floyd

With the possibility of Von Miller leaving in free agency, the front office will be forced to find his replacement. The free agency pool is likely the best bet to find immediate help. Although this is a deep class for pass rushers, free agency gives the Broncos an experienced player on the defensive line. The best name the Broncos could sign this year is Leonard Floyd.

After finishing with 55 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries, Floyd wound up having a career year with the Los Angeles Rams. He has the talent to produce numbers like that again and would be a great leader on the defensive line. Although he's not as good as Von Miller has been, Floyd would be a cheaper option that keeps this franchise competitive.

Denver Broncos Bold Prediction: Draft Trey Sermon

After being busy in free agency, the Broncos would look to use their draft picks to stack the roster with youth. If a trade for Watson comes to fruition, the only true weakness on the offense would be the running back position. Phillip Lindsay is likely walking out of the door, making Melvin Gordon the only running back on the roster.

Gordon is a solid running back, however, he's getting up there in age, and the Broncos are going to need to replace him sooner, rather than later. Luckily for them, this class is deep with runners, which means Denver could be finding a talented running back later in the draft. They have a real opportunity to select Trey Sermon out of Ohio State to be the successor of Melvin Gordon next year.

Sermon was impressive during his final season with the Buckeyes. He put up an impressive 870 rushing yards and four touchdowns. His 7.5 yards per attempt is what sticks out the most. Even though he's a solid running back, he's projected to be drafted in the third round of the NFL draft. For this reason, he could find himself going to Denver, as he fits a positional need. He might not play much in his rookie season, but he's someone to keep an eye on, as he has the potential to become a great running back in the NFL.