Should the Broncos trade Marvin Mims Jr.?

Most trade deadline talk around the Denver Broncos is about who they might add: a running back, a linebacker, maybe a splashy name. The more interesting question is whether a team in its Super Bowl window should also be willing to send someone out.

On a recent episode of “Shapiro and Piro,” Jake Shapiro and Aniello Piro agreed on the first part. Shapiro expects Denver to make at least one move before the Nov. 10 deadline. His reasoning is that Jonah Coleman and R.J. Harvey may not be three-down backs and J.K. Dobbins doesn’t look like a major piece. Selling is where the conversation got interesting.

Buy the veteran, keep the picks

Both hosts settled on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard as the sensible middle ground. He’s a veteran on an expiring contract, and they estimated he would cost a fourth- to sixth-round pick.

Piro said that kind of deal lets Denver improve now without giving up its future.

“You’re not mortgaging your draft capital, but you’re also improving yourself here in the short term in your Super Bowl window this season,” he said.

Shapiro agreed and added a Halloween joke.

“I’m giving away my picks in those rounds for Tony Pollard like candy at my door,” he said.

In Shapiro’s view, bigger names are a tougher fit. Denver has spent a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick on running backs in the past two drafts, and he doesn’t want to block Coleman. Breece Hall, whom Piro suggested, comes with a new three-year contract. And a Jets team holding three first-round picks has little reason to sell.

The case for trading Mims

Shapiro’s contrarian idea is that Marvin Mims Jr. is the logical player to move. Mims is headed for free agency, and Shapiro argues the Broncos barely use him. Harvey and Coleman could take over return duties. Denver has also committed to Jaylen Waddle, with Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant behind him.

Shapiro said it isn’t a knock on Mims’ talent.

“I think Marvin Mims is a better football player than Jaylen Waddle,” he said.

Shapiro’s math is simple. A third- or fourth-round pick in return for Mims would replace the pick Denver spends on a running back. That keeps the Broncos even on draft capital while improving where they need help. At 24, he added, Mims is “basically a redraft player for whoever trades for him.”

Piro wasn’t convinced. He said he was indifferent and asked what Denver would actually get back. Still, he called the idea unique, noting that local talk has been only about bringing talent in.

Picks vs. the window

The real disagreement is how much a draft pick is worth to this team right now. Piro is willing to spend them because he doubts many spring selections make an immediate impact.

“I’m comfortable with them punting on some draft picks,” he said.

Shapiro countered that Denver has had a first-round pick in only two of the past five drafts, so the middle rounds matter. He said the past two draft classes are full of contributors.

“I just don’t think the NFL works like that,” he said of waiting on rookies. “I think you always need a revolving door of young talent coming in the door.”

Both hosts acknowledged the roster is among the oldest in the league and that a hard offseason is coming. The question is whether Denver starts making those decisions at the deadline or waits until spring.

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.

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