Seven other veteran players the Broncos should consider trading
Nov 2, 2021, 8:52 AM | Updated: 9:45 am
On Monday, the Broncos traded Von Miller to the Rams. Sending their highest-paid player, someone who is destined to be enshrined in the team’s Ring of Fame someday, to Los Angeles was a sign that Denver is waving the white flag on this season.
George Paton knows his team isn’t a contender in 2021. So the Broncos general manager is stockpiling draft picks for rebuilding.
Miller was a big asset. Paton got a nice return for it, landing second- and third-round picks in 2022 for the pass rusher.
What else can the GM acquire? There are seven other veterans who could bring the Broncos even more draft capital in return.
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Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan
Callahan’s knee injury likely derails any deal, but if there’s a way to deal these corners, George Paton should consider it. Patrick Surtain and Ronald Darby are the team’s starting cornerbacks heading into 2022, and the soon-returning Michael Ojemudia should get every opportunity to show if he can build on his up-and-down rookie season from a year ago.
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Melvin Gordon
Excluding Gordon’s nearly disastrous late-game fumble against Washington, he’s been a bright spot this season. However, the rookie playing behind him, Javonte Williams, has been as bright or brighter. Dealing Gordon, a pending free agent, to the Titans to join Adrian Peterson would allow Williams to get the bulk of the work down the stretch, while Mike Boone could settle in as his backup and change of pace back.
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Graham Glasgow
The only player on this list that’s under contract with the team beyond this season, the Broncos would actually take a cap hit by trading Glasgow. By taking the hit now, however, Paton would help clear up his books down the line while also giving Netane Muti or Quinn Meinerz the chance to valuable experience down the stretch.
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Kareem Jackson
Paton was willing to walk away from Jackson last offseason, declining his team option. When the safety didn’t receive big offers from other teams, he returned on a one-year deal that expires following the season. That lack of interest likely doesn’t bode well for a big trade return, moving Jackson would open up more opportunity for rookie Caden Sterns whose flashed at times this season.
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Courtland Sutton
While Sutton is the team’s leading receiver this season, he hasn’t appeared all the way back from his knee injury. The Broncos have invested heavily in the receiver position with the selections of Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. Considering both Sutton and Tim Patrick are headed to free agency this offseason, Paton could opt to keep the steady Patrick and see what Sutton garners before today’s deadline.
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Teddy Bridgewater
A .500 team trading their starting quarterback midseason? Unheard of. But Paton appears to be a wise enough man to know this year’s Broncos team isn’t going anywhere, otherwise he wouldn’t be paying Von Miller to play for the Rams the rest of the season. Jameis Winston’s injury has created a unique opportunity to send Bridgewater to one of his former teams and allow Paton nine games to see what Drew Lock can do the rest of the season.
