The Denver Broncos have already made some big moves in the 2022 offseason, but here are some more stars they can add to the mix.
The Denver Broncos have already made a number of big splash moves in the 2022 offseason.
They have traded for Russell Wilson to be their new QB1.
They have added pass rusher Randy Gregory and defensive lineman DJ Jones.
Despite all of the moves they’ve already made, general manager George Paton and the rest of the Denver Broncos’ front office might be able to make another big splash or two in free agency.
After all, they’ve got to keep up with the moves being made by the Chargers (Khalil Mack, JC Jackson), Raiders (Chandler Jones, Davante Adams), and Chiefs (Justin Reid, JuJu Smith-Schuster).
The arrival of Adams in the AFC West certainly necessitates a response from the Broncos and there are still some intriguing moves yet to be made. What star players could Paton add to his roster? Let’s take a look at four.
Denver Broncos option no. 1: Stephon Gilmore, CB
With the Chargers retaining Mike Williams, the Raiders acquiring Davante Adams, and the Chiefs acquiring JuJu Smith-Schuster, there’s zero question that the Denver Broncos need to add to their secondary.
This is something the team has already had in the works as they have let Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller, and Kareem Jackson all walk in free agency.
None of those players has signed to another team just yet, and there’s a chance one or two of them might return to Denver.
The bigger splash move would be for the Broncos to sign former Defensive MVP Stephon Gilmore and let him split time between playing outside and playing in the slot.
The Broncos need someone like Gilmore to come in and help them shut down all of these weapons that are joining the AFC West.
Denver Broncos option no. 2: Tyrann Mathieu, S
One free agent the Denver Broncos should seriously consider is former Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu.
Since he came into the league back in 2013, Mathieu has been one of the league’s toughest and most versatile defenders.
He’s been the heart and soul of the Kansas City defense over the last three years and was unquestionably one of the biggest reasons why they were able to go on a championship run that season.
Patrick Mahomes is not to be overshadowed, of course, but Mathieu had a huge impact for the Chiefs.
In recent months, Mathieu has been rubbed the wrong way by Chiefs fans and his departure in 2022 was sort of written on the wall. He has even taken to social media to express his displeasure with the way Chiefs fans act, calling them toxic, even.
How about the chance to play against them two, maybe three times a year?
The Denver Broncos, as previously mentioned, allowed Kareem Jackson to walk in free agency. While bringing Jackson back remains a possibility, it’s also possible that the Broncos will prefer to go with a younger player at the position.
Mathieu has proven he can make big plays at crucial times and he’s been a turnover creator throughout his career. That’s something the Denver Broncos need.
Denver Broncos option no. 3: La’El Collins, RT
At the risk of having egg on my face shortly after this is published (La’El Collins is taking a free agent visit to Cincinnati), I would love to see the Denver Broncos fill the one remaining hole on their offensive line with the best right tackle available this offseason.
Collins is undoubtedly the best right tackle to hit the market in the 2022 offseason, and the Denver Broncos should be among the teams interested.
Collins shares an agent (Peter Schaffer) with Denver Broncos free agent pickup Randy Gregory, and it just so happens that Schaffer is also Denver-based.
The Broncos have Garett Bolles at the left tackle position and Bolles has been one of the most improved players on the roster over the last couple of seasons.
The interior line positions may not be solidified but there is plenty of competition.
The right tackle spot needs to be addressed and Collins is a rare long-term solution hitting free agency before the age of 30.
It makes sense that the Bengals reached out to him right away and it won’t be a surprise at all to see him sign there, but the Denver Broncos should be in communication with Schaffer throughout Collins’ visit to gauge what his asking price might be and what the Bengals are offering.
Denver Broncos option no. 4: Bobby Wagner, LB
There’s no question about the fact that Bobby Wagner would upgrade the Denver Broncos’ linebacker room.
The Broncos do like their young guys Baron Browning and Jonas Griffith, and the team also just recently re-signed Josey Jewell to a two-year deal.
Signing Wagner wouldn’t exactly be a hindrance to Browning and Griffith’s development, however.
Imagine those two young players, not to mention Jewell, learning from a player like Wagner.
Wagner remains one of the most effective three-down linebackers in the league and while he may not be the exact same player that he once was, he’s still highly impactful.
The question here would be whether or not George Paton would want to keep Browning and Griffith in rotational or special teams roles after what they showed in the 2021 season.
With Browning, you could really get to experiment with him as a situational pass rusher and almost transition him to the EDGE position for the year. The Dallas Cowboys utilized Micah Parsons in a lot of pass rush situations and Broncos fans had been calling for Vic Fangio to do something similar with Browning.
But he didn’t.
Signing Wagner would allow the Broncos to have Browning out on the field in third-down situations, whether he was replacing Josey Jewell or rotating with someone off the edge.