Did the Broncos do enough at the trade deadline?

The Denver Broncos got through the NFL trade deadline without landing a big name, and a fan base hoping for a splash got a linebacker. On a recent episode of “Shapiro and Piro,” Jake Shapiro and Aniello Piro argued that the quiet day was still a good one. The real question, they said, is what Denver could actually have bought.

Strengthen the strength, fix the hole

Shapiro framed the trade with two theories of roster building. One says you fix your weaknesses. The other says you double down on what you do best.

“You strengthen your strengths,” Shapiro said.

The acquisition of Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers, in his telling, does both. It adds to a defense that “borders on elite at times,” and it fills what he called one of that unit’s biggest holes, a coverage linebacker.

The numbers back the need, Shapiro said. Denver has allowed more catches to tight ends than any team in the NFL, plus seven touchdowns. Henley, a former college receiver who led the Chargers in tackles the last three years, is built for that job. Shapiro thinks he could end up replacing a current starter once he learns the coverages.

Piro agreed and added a depth argument. Linebacker was the thinnest spot on the roster, and an injury to either of the top two would have left Denver exposed.

The case that it wasn’t enough

Piro was the one to press the other side. Kansas City added receiver Josh Downs. Jacksonville doubled down with defensive additions. Buffalo got a safety. He called those teams, along with possibly Cincinnati, the biggest threats in the AFC, and all of them improved.

Shapiro conceded the discomfort.

“It’s annoying to see the contenders getting stronger and you’re not necessarily getting as strong,” he said.

Nothing to buy

But the hosts kept returning to the same answer: the market didn’t offer a clean fix. Tight end is Denver’s worst position, Shapiro said, and he didn’t think a tradable one existed. At running back, Jonah Coleman is emerging, RJ Harvey is expected back and J.K. Dobbins is still on the roster.

Adding Tony Pollard, a name the Broncos were reported to be interested in, raised a question Shapiro couldn’t answer.

“Where are Tony Pollard’s carries coming from?” he asked.

Piro added that the offense has scored more than 24 points per game over the last three, which may have dulled the urgency. Shapiro also pointed out that Denver already spent a first-round pick on Jaylen Waddle and that a second giant move is hard to make. He still understood the all-in argument, given Bo Nix’s rookie contract and an aging offensive line.

Recency bias

Piro’s closing caution was against judging teams by who looks busiest in November.

“It’s fun to be the hot, sexy team making all these moves and this and that, but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’re gonna be there when it’s all said and done,” he said.

He likes what Jacksonville did, but said that in a playoff game in Denver, “I’m probably still picking Denver.”

The disagreement, then, was mostly about degree. Shapiro summed up the shared view: “The Broncos didn’t do the sexy thing, but they got better today, and I think that’s what matters.” Whether that is enough depends on how much the rivals’ upgrades close the gap, and the hosts bet they don’t.

Disclosure: This article was transcribed from our original audio content and edited for readability with the assistance of generative AI. The article has been reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Please watch or listen to the clip above for the full segment.

Related

Report: Broncos were ‘interested’ in Tony Pollard, Titans ‘adamant’ about keeping himThe Broncos’ identity is clear, even if it’s one fans don’t likeBroncos land Chargers LB Daiyan Henley in deadline-day tradeBo Nix looks to be figuring it out after win over CarolinaThe Broncos are winning small and the defense is closing the doorThe 7-2 Broncos can’t be killed and keep finding ways to win