10 players the Broncos could cut, trade or restructure to save cap space

The Broncos could save significant salary cap space if they cut, trade or restructure these 10 players ahead of NFL free agency.

With NFL free agency less than a month away, the Denver Broncos are pojected to be about $24 million over the salary cap. The Broncos will likely restructure several contracts to create more cap space, and the club can also cut or trade select veterans for additional cap relief.

We’re not listing quarterback Russell Wilson’s (expected) looming release below because that’s going to create a negative cap hit. To counter that “dead money” cap hit, we’ve put together a list of 10 other players that Denver could cut, trade or restructure (with help from OverTheCap.com for the numbers).

The NFL’s free agency negotiating window will open on March 11. The new league year (and full free agency) will begin on March 13.

15 takeaways from the Broncos’ first season under Sean Payton

Here are 15 quick takeaways from Sean Payton’s first season with the Broncos.

After starting 4-11 last season, the Denver Broncos fired first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games remaining. Jerry Rosburg then took over on an interim basis and the club split their final two games to finish the year with a 5-12 record.

After firing Hackett, the Broncos’ new ownership group wanted to go big, so they agreed to trade first- and second-round draft picks to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a third-round pick and the rights to head coach Sean Payton last January.

While Denver did not qualify for the playoffs, the team did take a step forward in Year 1 under Payton, improving from 5-12 in 2022 to 8-9 in 2023. That marked the team’s best record since 2017. The next step is posting a winning record and qualifying for the postseason in 2024.

So, what did we learn from Payton’s first season in Denver? Here are 15 quick takeaways from the Broncos’ 2023 season.

10 players who might play their last game for Broncos on Sunday

The Broncos will need to get out of a salary cap hole in 2024, and these players might become cap casualties.

The Denver Broncos will wrap up their 2023 NFL season on Sunday when they face the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Week 18.

Once the final whistle blows, the offseason will begin immediately for the Broncos, and coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton are poised to have a busy spring with many challenging decisions.

Denver is projected to be $18 million over the salary cap in 2024, according to an estimate from OverTheCap.com, and that’s before potentially releasing quarterback Russell Wilson and creating an even bigger cap mess.

The Broncos will have to dig out of a salary cap hole this offseason, forcing the team to make some tough decisions. To become cap-compliant, Denver will likely have to part ways with multiple players either through cuts, trades or free agency.

Ahead of the team’s season finale, here’s a quick look at ten players who could play* their final game for the Broncos on Sunday. (*We’ve also included a few injured/benched players who could depart in 2024.)

D.J. Jones enters the transfer portal

North Carolina defensive back D.J. Jones entered the transfer portal after changing from running back position a year prior.

As the North Carolina football program gets closer to playing against West Virginia in the Dukes Mayo Bowl game, their roster continues to get thinner.

According to Inside Carolina, UNC defensive back [autotag]D.J Jones[/autotag] will enter the transfer portal to look for a new playing home for the 2024-2025 season. Jones underwent a position change this offseason for more playing time.

Jones continues the trend of players leaving UNC. However, much like many others who’ve entered the portal, it was predicted. The transfer portal and NIL have created a new free agency-style system for college football, and UNC won’t be the only program taking a hit because of it.

In three seasons as UNC running back, Jones finished with 442 rushing yards and three touchdowns. This past season as a defensive back, Jones finished with 15 total tackles.

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Tar Heels announce captains for noon football clash against Campbell

UNC announced its three captains for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff against Campbell, which gives the Tar Heels a golden chance to get win number 7.

You know what the best thing about sports is?

After each game – no matter a win or a loss, teams can press the reset button.

You can bet the UNC football program already pressed reset last weekend, the moment after its second-consecutive loss to Georgia Tech. Carolina went from 6-0 three weekends ago, on the outside looking into the College Football Playoff, to having its ACC Title hopes in serious danger.

The Tar Heels have a golden chance to get back in the win column today, as they host in-state FCS opponent Campbell University for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff. You can bet the Camels, who are 4-4 just like Georgia Tech, are looking to shock the college football world by pitching a rare, FCS-over-FBS upset.

Captaining UNC for its Military Appreciation Day game are star quarterback Drake Maye (offense), defensive standout Kaimon Rucker and running back-turned-defensive back D.J. Jones (special teams).

Even though Maye’s Heisman Trophy chances are pretty much shot, due to the Tar Heels losing back-to-back games against sub-.500, unranked opponents, Maye still has his team’s offense among one of the country’s best. Carolina’s 509.4 yards per game is third-highest in the FBS, while his 2,559 passing yards rank him seventh in the FBS.

Rucker is one of the rare bright spots on a struggling defensive unit that, earlier this season, we thought had finally turned a corner. He leads Carolina with 11 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries and 7.5 sacks. Even with UNC dropping its last two games, Rucker combined for 11 tackles, showing he was one of the few Tar Heels who could actually wrap up a ballcarrier.

Jones has appeared in all eight games, with his role primarily on special teams. He has five total tackles to his name, including a half-TFL.

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Tar Heels announce captains for primetime football clash vs. Miami

Corey Gaynor, Cedric Gray and D.J. Jones were named the UNC football squad’s captains ahead of its primetime ACC clash against Miami (FL).

There’s been anticipation building all week in Chapel Hill.

The UNC football program is ranked 12th in the entire country. Carolina hasn’t been that far up the AP Poll since 2021, when it had a 10 next to its name before the opener against Virginia Tech.

The ranking is exciting in itself, but the opponent taking on UNC at 7:30 p.m. tonight is equally as exciting. 25th-ranked Miami (FL), a team which the Tar Heels have four consecutive wins against, is looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss against Georgia Tech last week.

To sum it up, UNC beating a ranked team would go a long way towards winning an ACC crown and, possibly more.

As we prepare to kickoff in front of a national audience on ABC, let’s take a look at the Tar Heel team captains: starting center Corey Gaynor, starting linebacker Cedric Gray and running back-turned-defensive back D.J. Jones.

Gaynor is part of an offensive line doing a stellar job protecting Drake Maye, as opponents have sacked Maye just 13 times through five games.

There’s a lot of different players on this year’s defense who you could consider the “leader,” but the unit’s clear-cut, top dog is none other than Gray. He leads the Tar Heels with 42 tackles – half of which are solo, has a team-leading six quarterback hurries, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 of his team’s 11 sacks.

Jones has appeared in all five games for Carolina this year. He has four tackles and 0.5 for loss.

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Broncos injuries: TE Greg Dulcich questionable for Thursday

Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Chiefs.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman D.J. Jones (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Broncos outside linebackers Frank Clark (illness) and Baron Browning (knee) have also been ruled out.

Elsewhere on the injury report, Denver tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) is listed as questionable. Dulcich is still on injured reserve, but after releasing wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey on Wednesday, the Broncos now have an open spot for Dulcich on the 53-man roster.

In Kansas City, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (ankle) is listed as questionable on KC’s final injury report.

The Broncos’ complete Wednesday injury report can be seen below.

Player Tue Wed Game Status
DT D.J. Jones (knee) DNP DNP Out
OLB Baron Browning (knee) Limited DNP Out
C Lloyd Cushenberry (quad) Limited Full
DT Mike Purcell (ribs) Limited Full
DB Justin Simmons (hip) Limited Full
RB Javonte Williams (quad) Limited Full
TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) Limited Full Questionable
OLB Frank Clark (illness) DNP DNP Out
ILB Justin Strnad (back) Limited Full

Thursday’s game will begin at 6:15 p.m. MT and will be available to stream on Prime Video. Denver will aim to snap a 15-game losing streak against Kansas City in Week 6.

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Broncos injuries: Greg Dulcich returns to practice

Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) returned to practice Tuesday and he’s eligible to return from injured reserve this week.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman D.J. Jones (knee) was held out of practice Tuesday, putting his status for Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs in doubt.

The Broncos did not practice yesterday, but Jones was also listed as a did not participate on Monday’s estimated injury report.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Denver outside linebacker Barron Browning (knee) is practicing this week and he’s eligible to return from injured reserve. Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) is also eligible to return from IR and he returned to practice on Tuesday.

If the team activates Browning and Dulcich from IR, they will have to make corresponding moves to make room for them on the 53-man roster.

Meanwhile, Denver running back Javonte Williams (quad) missed Sunday’s game, but he’s practicing this week. That seems like a good sign for his chances of returning for Thursday’s game.

In Kansas City, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce practiced Tuesday after suffering an ankle injury on Sunday.

The Broncos’ complete Tuesday injury report can be seen below.

Player Tue Wed Game Status
DT D.J. Jones (knee) DNP
OLB Baron Browning (knee) Limited
C Lloyd Cushenberry (quad) Limited
DT Mike Purcell (ribs) Limited
DB Justin Simmons (hip) Limited
RB Javonte Williams (quad) Limited
TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) Limited
OLB Frank Clark (illness) DNP

The Broncos will release their final injury report of the week with game statues on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s game in Kansas City.

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4 Browns trade targets if Broncos decide to blow it up

Could the Browns go shopping in the bargain bin of another team’s misery?

While his record as a drafter is still a bit up in the air, the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, Andrew Berry, has been the king of acquiring talent on the trade market for cheap. And as the Denver Broncos have started the season 0-3 with head coach Sean Payton potentially wanting his own guys, could Berry and the Browns look to bargain bin shop in the graveyard of another team’s misery? Could players like offensive tackle Garett Bolles and wide receiver (who the Browns have previously had interest in) find their way to the trade block?

For a team without a first round pick once again in the 2024 NFL Draft, Berry will have to get creative in adding talent to the roster. He has done so by stealing away players like wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, and defensive end Za’Darius Smith, and they will not be the last.

Who could Berry and the Browns target on the putrid roster of the Broncos should they choose to blow it up after a horrid start to their season?

All financial figures used in this article are courtesy of Over the Cap.

WATCH: D.J. Jones opens up about switching to defense

Watch: D.J. Jones opens up about switching to defense while the coaching staff delivers enormous praise for the position switch.

North Carolina Tar Heel [autotag]D.J. Jones[/autotag] made a pivotal move in his playing career, switching from offense to defense during the off-season.

Jones was recruited to UNC as a three-star running back for the class of 2020. Jones switched to a defensive back after playing his freshman, sophomore, and junior years as a running back to help the secondary.

UNC entered the season with one of the best running back rooms in the country while looking for new life in the secondary. Jones appeared in a video package produced by Go Heels, highlighting the position switch with Jones explaining his reasoning.

The change significantly boosted what North Carolina is looking to do this season, with defense being a huge focal point. Jones was a solid back for those three seasons with UNC, rushing for 442 yards on 97 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt.

The move has already shown to be successful, with Jones breaking up a touchdown pass in week one win over South Carolina.

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