Tag: George Paton

NFL trade deadline: Tracking Broncos news and rumors

Today is the NFL trade deadline. We will be tracking Broncos news and rumors on this page.

Story update: The NFL’s trade deadline has passed and the only move the Broncos made was trading pass rusher Baron Browning to the Cardinals. See our original post below.

The 2024 NFL trade deadline is 2:00 p.m. MT today (Tuesday, Nov. 5). We will be tracking any potential moves the Denver Broncos make on this page.

Latest Broncos trade news

  • Denver agreed to trade outside linebacker Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick on Monday.
  • ESPN has reported that more moves could be on the way.
  • The Broncos have received trade interest in wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the past, but GM George Paton seems unlikely to trade away rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s favorirte target.

Potential Broncos trade candidates

  1. QB Jarrett Stidham
  2. QB Zach Wilson
  3. CB Damarri Mathis
  4. TE Greg Dulcich
  5. WR Courtland Sutton

Potential trade targets to watch

  1. TE David Njoku
  2. TE Evan Engram
  3. TE Taysom Hill
  4. WR Tee Higgins
  5. WR Christian Kirk

Players Broncos aren’t expected to trade

  1. DL D.J. Jones

Check back leading up to the NFL trade deadline as this page will be updated if the Broncos make any moves today.

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More trades could be on the way for Broncos

Zach Wilson? Greg Dulcich? Courtland Sutton??? ESPN suggests the Broncos might not be done making trades.

The Denver Broncos took action ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline by agreeing to trade pass rusher Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.

That was the team’s first move, but it might not be the last.

Following the news of the Browning trade, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler took to Twitter/X and re-shared his trade deadline story from last week that outlined potential moves for the Broncos, who Fowler says “might not be done” after the Browning trade.

Last week, Fowler noted the possibility of a Browning trade (which has since happened) and he also mentioned quarterback Zach Wilson and tight end Greg Dulcich as potential trade candidates. Fowler also pointed out that teams have called out wide receiver Courtland Sutton in past years.

Additionally, Fowler wrote that “it wouldn’t be a shock” to see the Broncos attempt to trade for a pass-catching running back ahead of the deadline.

Stay tuned as the trade deadline is now just one day away. We will track any potential moves Denver makes on Broncos Wire.

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Russini: Broncos expected to stand pat at NFL trade deadline

The Broncos are not expected to be active ahead of the NFL trade deadline this year.

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton aren’t expected to make splashes ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5).

The Broncos have received interest in wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the past, and teams checked in on the status of defensive lineman D.J. Jones this year, but Denver is not expected to be active ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

“The Denver Broncos love what they are building with their young players, especially after their best offensive performance of the season last week (28 points on four Bo Nix touchdowns),” The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini tweeted on Saturday. “I don’t expect the Broncos to be buyers or sellers.”

In addition to Jones and Sutton, Denver was also expected to receive interest in pass rusher Jonathon Cooper. Jones and Cooper are in the final years of their contracts; Sutton’s contract expires after the 2025 season.

It sounds like the Broncos are content to hold onto their 2025 draft picks while continuing to build on the progress they’ve made with the current squad.

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Broncos approaching NFL trade deadline like homecoming dance

“It’s kind of like homecoming’s two-and-a-half weeks away, and everyone’s kind of putting out their feelers,” Payton said of trade talks.

As the NFL’s trade deadline (Nov. 5) draws closer, will the Denver Broncos be active in the trade market?

Denver’s defense is rolling, but the offense could use a play-making tight end, and there’s not much proven wide receiver depth behind Courtland Sutton (who has been linked to trade talks in recent years).

The Broncos also have two capable backup quarterbacks in Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson sitting behind rookie starter Bo Nix. As NFL teams lose QBs to various injuries, Stidham and Wilson will be players to keep an eye on leading up to the trade deadline.

After Wednesday’s practice, Denver coach Sean Payton was asked if he has talked to general manager George Paton about potential trade plans.

“No,” Payton said. “He might come in occasionally either way. He might walk in and say, ‘Hey, we got a call.’ We talk daily. It’s kind of like homecoming’s two-and-a-half weeks away, and everyone’s kind of putting out their feelers to see. It is.

“I think pretty much daily would be normal for him to walk in [and say], ‘Hey, I got a call from…’ Those are like feelers. I’m really focused on this team, and yet all of that you have to pay attention to.”

Up next for the Broncos is a home game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. After that, Denver will face the Baltimore Ravens on the road on Nov. 3. The deadline to make trades is two days after the Ravens game. We will track any potential moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos are right up against salary cap going into 2024 season

With the active roster and practice squad now set, the Broncos have just under half a million in cap space going into the 2024 season.

After setting their 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad, the Denver Broncos are right up against the salary cap going into the 2024 NFL season.

The Broncos have $485,584 in remaining salary cap space, according to an estimate from OverTheCap.com. A competing website, Spotrac.com, lists Denver’s cap space at $1,119,316. Either way, the team doesn’t have much wiggle room going into the season.

That cap space accounts for the team’s active roster, practice squad, injured reserve and dead money salary cap hits this fall. The team’s biggest dead money cap hit, of course, is former quarterback Russell Wilson. The Broncos took on the largest dead money hit in NFL history — $53 million — when they released Wilson in March.

Denver now has the sixth-least cap room in the NFL, only above the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers. Things will get better for the Broncos in 2025 when they are projected to have more than $43 million in cap space, but things will be tight this fall.

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Broncos GM George Paton gushes with praise for DL Jordan Jackson

“Love the way he goes about his business,” Paton said of Jordan Jackson. “Smart, tough, athletic and I think he can keep getting better.”

After playing college football for the Air Force Falcons, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He spent his rookie season on the Saints’ practice squad and then signed a deal with the Denver Broncos in 2023.

Jackson (6-4, 294 pounds) failed to make Denver’s 53-man roster last summer but he was signed to the practice squad, where he spent the entire 2023 campaign. Jackson returned this year and impressed in preseason and won a spot on the active roster ahead of the 2024 season.

“We saw development,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said last week. “If we’re charting the early part of his pro career, we just saw a tick up. We saw it in practice, we saw it in the game. I would say we’re a little bit more one-gap driven now. I think that’s benefited him. In other words, he can get to an edge. So we were encouraged. He wasn’t a borderline decision.”

Jackson totaled two sacks in the team’s preseason finale, a performance that pleased general manager George Paton.

“Jordan has really improved since we got him, and I would say he’s gotten stronger,” Paton said last week. “He’s always had the athletic ability. He was a [project] of mine when he was at Air Force. We were going to draft him, but the Saints took him. So we monitored him, and then obviously we were able to get him on our roster. Again he’s been athletic.

“He could always rush, and now he’s gotten stronger, playing with better leverage and learning the defense more. He really fits what Vance [Joseph] is doing up front. He got better really each and every preseason game, and then obviously finished with a bang. [I] love the way he goes about his business. [He’s] smart, tough, athletic and I think he can keep getting better.”

Listed behind Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach on the depth chart, Jackson will begin the season as a rotational backup defensive lineman. The first step was making the 53-man roster. Now he has to prove he can make an impact on game days. Paton and Payton are confident Jackson will reward their confidence in him.

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Broncos’ UDFA success continues on 2024 roster

“The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” GM George Paton said.

The Denver Broncos have had unprecedented success with undrafted free agents making their 53-man roster. Two undrafted free agents made the roster this year, offensive lineman Frank Crum and running back Blake Watson. Linebacker Levelle Bailey also made the initial active roster and is now returning on the practice squad.

When it was announced that these two players made the 53-man squad, it marked the 20th time in 21 years that at least one undrafted free agent made the roster.

In a Zoom call last week, Broncos general manager George Paton credited the team’s scouting. “The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” said Paton.

Paton had this to say about Crum, who was a University of Wyoming product: “Crum, you don’t get many 6-7 guys or whatever he is that can bend like he does and has the power he does. He’s still raw. You see him in pass-pro. I know he got beat a couple of times, but for a kid who played at Wyoming and a first-year rookie in the NFL to do some of the things he did in practice and versus Green Bay. He played well in Indy obviously. I thought he played well most of the game. He had a few breakdowns, but really talented. I really love the upside of Crum.”

Watson had a memorable impression on coaches at his Top 30 visit. “Watson, we got to know him on the Top-30,” Paton said. “That’s why those Top-30s are really important. You get to know the player and he gets to see what you’re all about. He gets to see Denver and our facilities. It makes it easier when you’re trying to get him as a college free agent.”

Last year, four UDFAs made the Broncos’ 53-man roster, including running back Jaleel McLaughlin. Watson and Crum will aim to continue the success of the team’s past UDFAs this fall.

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Keeping 3 QBs gives Broncos game-day roster flexibility

NFL teams can have an emergency third QB not count against the 48-player game-day roster limit. For the Broncos, that’s Zach Wilson.

The Denver Broncos opted to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster this year: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson all made the squad.

“Yeah, we think highly of the quarterback room,” Broncos general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “I really liked the process. I thought the competition brought out the best in really all of the quarterbacks. All these guys support each other, they compete and they work well together. We looked at last year [and] I think almost half the league kept three quarterbacks. With the rule changes, we think that number will increase.”

The rule change that Paton referenced: NFL teams are limited to 48 players dressing on game days (47 if fewer than eight offensive linemen dress). Teams who carry three quarterbacks on the active roster, though, can have an emergency third QB available on game days without him counting against the 48-player limit. So carrying a third QB on the active roster gives the team more flexibility with the game-day roster.

“Last year, I think 13 or 14 teams had three [quarterbacks] and then the remaining teams had two and one on the practice squad,” coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “The exercise in your 53 [players] and your practice squad is really holding onto your assets. Guys you really feel that are talented. Certainly, that applies to ‘Stiddy’ and Zach very much so.”

Had Denver cut either one of Stidham or Wilson, they likely would have been picked up by another team this week.

“We’re glad to have all three,” Paton said. “In regard to Bo, he’s earned the opportunity to be the starter. We’ve talked about it multiple times. Just the poise, the maturity and efficiency that he’s operated on the offense has been impressive. We know like every rookie, he is going to have ups and downs, but we’ll support him through that. We’re confident in Bo and just look forward to his continued growth and development.

“With Zach, we knew Zach was really talented. We didn’t know the person. We love the day-to-day with Zach and we love the person. He’s smart and [has] all the intangibles. He obviously played well and he moved the team, and ‘Stiddy’ did as well. We like our group.”

Nix is set to start when the Broncos face the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 1 on Sunday, Sept. 8. Stidham will presumably be the primary backup, and Wilson will be available in case of emergency without counting against the 48-player game-day roster limit.

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George Paton says Broncos are ‘all about winning’ in 2024

“We are all about winning. It’s not like basketball where you have 2 or 3 years. We are trying to put the best roster together right now.”

By the looks of their 53-man roster, the Denver Broncos are in a rebuilding stage. The Broncos have moved on from aging veterans including quarterback Russell Wilson, safety Justin Simmons, wide receiver Tim Patrick and running back Samaje Perine this offseason.

Denver’s now set to go into the 2024 season with a young roster and rookie quarterback in Bo Nix under center. So with an inexperienced squad, should expectations change for the team’s short-term outlook?

“No, our expectations have not changed,” Broncos general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “It’s day-to-day and we’re just trying to get better each and every day. We are really encouraged by what we saw during training camp and the preseason. [This team] is young and it is hungry, but we do have experience in a lot of areas if you look at [Mike] McGlinchey, [Garett] Bolles, [Alex] Singleton, D.J. Jones and Zach Allen. We’re trying to win.

“This 53-man roster gives us the best chance to win. The practice squad will be an extension of the 53-man roster. That’s what we are going through now and those guys will contribute to help us win. We are all about winning. It’s not like basketball where you have two or three years. We are trying to put the best roster together right now for Seattle.”

While it might look like Denver is in a rebuilding stage that will take a few years to complete, Paton insists the team is in win-now mode. The Broncos will get their first opportunity to prove Paton right when they face the Seahawks in Week 1 on Sunday, Sept. 8.

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Broncos believe QB Zach Wilson will become a starter again in the NFL

“I do think he will be a starter in this league,” Broncos GM George Paton said of QB Zach Wilson.

The Denver Broncos continue to praise backup quarterback Zach Wilson.

After opting to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, Broncos general manager George Paton was asked if he believes Wilson could one day return to being a starter in the NFL.

“No doubt,” Paton said. “He has starter tools all over. It’s been pretty cool just watching him with really no expectations. He can just go out there and play football. He has all the traits. He has all the starting traits in the world.

“He’s still working through some things. You can see the good and the really good last week in the game. He can throw it as good as anyone in the league. I mentioned before, he’s smart and he’s a great kid. He has starter traits all over. I do think he will be a starter in this league.”

Denver acquired Wilson from the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick earlier this year. The former No. 2 overall pick is now listed as the Broncos’ third-string quarterback behind Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham.

Wilson impressed in Denver’s preseason finale, throwing for 251 yards and scoring three touchdowns with no turnovers.

The Broncos’ belief in Wilson does seem to be genuine, but it’s also in the team’s best interest to hype up his stock. With three capable quarterbacks on the active roster, Denver might receive trade calls from other teams this season if any QBs suffer injuries this fall. The NFL’s in-season trade deadline is Nov. 5.

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