Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Defense

July 12th, 2023 at 9:52am CST by Sam Robinson

While the NFL’s top 2023 cap hits go to players on offense, a number of pass rushers are tied to lofty figures as well. None check in higher than Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

Williams and Chiefs D-tackle Chris Jones carry high contract-year cap hits, while the Steelers’ two front-seven cornerstones each are set to go into training camp with cap figures north of $20MM. As the salary cap climbed to $224.8MM this year, here are the top defensive cap figures as camps near:

Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $32.26MM
T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $29.37MM
Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $29.18MM
Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $28.29MM
Aaron Donald, DL (Rams): $26MM
Arik Armstead, DT (49ers): $23.95MM
Cameron Heyward, DL (Steelers): $22.26MM
C.J. Mosley, LB (Jets): $21.48MM
Jonathan Allen, DT (Commanders): $21.44MM
Shaquil Barrett, OLB (Buccaneers): $21.25MM
Grady Jarrett, DT (Falcons): $20.63MM
Marlon Humphrey, CB (Ravens): $19.99MM
Shaquille Leonard, LB (Colts): $19.79MM
Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $19.62MM
Adoree’ Jackson, CB (Giants): $19.08MM
Harold Landry, OLB (Titans): $18.8MM
Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): $18.15MM
Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks): $18.11MM
Matt Judon, DE (Patriots): $18.107MM
Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $18.1MM
Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $17.9MM
DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $17.25MM
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE (Dolphins): $17.19MM
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (Cowboys): $17.11MM
Eddie Jackson, S (Bears): $17.1MM

The Chiefs are working toward a second extension agreement with Jones, who is in the final season of a four-year, $80MM contract. A new deal with the star inside pass rusher would free up cap space, and DeAndre Hopkins is believed to be monitoring this situation.

As for Williams, the Giants had wanted to adjust his deal to reduce his eye-opening cap number. As of mid-June, however, no extension appeared to be on the team’s radar. The previous Giants regime signed off on the 2021 Williams extension (three years, $63MM). The Giants are also uninterested — for the time being, at least — in extending Jackson, who was also a Dave Gettleman-era defensive addition.

Donald is in the second season of a three-year, $95MM deal. The Rams gave Donald a landmark raise last year, convincing the all-everything D-tackle to squash retirement talk. A no-trade clause exists in Donald’s contract, which pays out its guarantees this year. Mosley remains tied to the $17MM-per-year deal the Mike Maccagnan regime authorized with the Jets. That contract, which reset the off-ball linebacker market in 2019, still has two seasons remaining on it due to the deal tolling after Mosley’s 2020 COVID-19 opt-out call. The Jets restructured the deal last year.

Washington now has two D-tackles tied to deals of at least $18MM per year. While Daron Payne‘s pact is worth more ($22.5MM AAV), higher cap hits on that deal will come down the road. Three years remain on Allen’s 2021 agreement. At safety, no team is spending like the Seahawks. In addition to the big-ticket deals authorized for Adams and Diggs, Seattle gave ex-Giants starter Julian Love a two-year, $6MM accord in March.

New Titans GM Ran Carthon attempted to give Byard a pay cut. That request did not go over well, but the standout safety remains with the team and has not requested a trade. Tennessee re-signed Landry on a five-year, $87.5MM deal in 2022; the veteran edge rusher has yet to play on that deal due to the ACL tear he sustained just before last season.

The 49ers can bring Bosa’s number down via an extension, which has long been on the team’s docket. As San Francisco extended Deebo Samuel just after training camp began last year, Bosa received back-burner treatment due to the fifth-year option. The star defensive end’s price undoubtedly went up during the waiting period, with the former No. 2 overall pick earning Defensive Player of the Year acclaim in the fourth year of his rookie contract.

Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Offense

July 11th, 2023 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s salary cap once again ballooned by more than $10MM, rising from its $208.2MM perch to $224.8MM. Factoring in the pandemic-induced 2021 regression, the NFL’s salary risen has climbed by more than $42MM since 2021.

This has allowed teams more opportunities for roster additions and opened the door for more lucrative player deals — at most positions, at least. However, it does not look like this season will include a $40MM player cap number. The Browns avoided a record-shattering Deshaun Watson $54.9MM hit by restructuring the quarterback’s fully guaranteed contract, calling for monster figures from 2024-26.

Here are the largest cap hits for teams on the offensive side going into training camp:

Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $39.69MM
Ryan Tannehill, QB (Titans): $36.6MM
Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $30.98MM
Jake Matthews, T (Falcons): $28.36MM
Trent Williams, T (49ers): $27.18MM
Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $26.83MM
Laremy Tunsil, T (Texans): $26.61MM
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (49ers): $23.8MM
Amari Cooper, WR (Browns): $23.78MM
Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $23.69MM
Ronnie Stanley, T (Ravens): $23.67MM
Joe Thuney, G (Chiefs): $22.12MM
Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $22MM
Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $22MM
Daniel Jones, QB (Giants): $21.75MM
David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $21.29MM
Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $20.25MM
D.J. Moore, WR (Bears): $20.17MM
Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): $20MM
Brian O’Neill, T (Vikings): $19.66MM
Taylor Decker, T (Lions): $19.35MM
Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): $19.1MM
Braden Smith, T (Colts): $19MM
Josh Allen, QB (Bills): $18.64MM
Courtland Sutton, WR (Broncos): $18.27MM

As should be expected, quarterbacks dominate this list. Mahomes’ number checks in here despite the Chiefs restructuring his 10-year, $450MM contract in March; the two-time MVP’s cap hit would have set an NFL record had Kansas City not reduced it. The Chiefs did not restructure Mahomes’ deal last year, but if they do not address it — perhaps via a complex reworking — before next season, Mahomes’ $46.93MM number would break an NFL record.

The Titans have not touched Tannehill’s contract this offseason, one that included some trade rumors months ago. This is the final year of Tannehill’s Tennessee extension. Mahomes and Tannehill sat atop this ranking in 2022.

Cousins is also heading into a contract year, after the Vikings opted for a restructure and not an extension this offseason. Cousins does not expect to discuss another Minnesota deal until 2024, when he is due for free agency. Two relatively low cap numbers have started Wilson’s $49MM-per-year extension. The Denver QB’s cap number rises to $35.4MM in 2024 and reaches historic heights ($55.4MM) by ’25. The subject of a Goff extension has come up, and it would bring down the Lions passer’s figure. But Goff remains tied to his Rams-constructed $33.5MM-per-year deal through 2024.

Jackson and Jones’ numbers will rise in the near future, with the latter’s contract calling for a quick spike in 2024. Next year, the Giants QB’s cap hit will be $45MM. Watson’s 2024 hit, as of now, would top that. The Browns signal-caller is on the team’s ’24 payroll at $63.98MM. Long-term consequences aside, the Browns can be expected to once again go to the restructure well with Watson’s outlier contract.

The Raiders did not backload Garoppolo’s three-year contract; it only climbs to $24.25MM on Las Vegas’ 2024 cap sheet. The Bills did backload Allen’s pact. Its team-friendly years are done after 2023; the six-year accord spikes to $47.1MM on Buffalo’s cap next year. The Cowboys have gone to the restructure well with Prescott. Like Watson, the Cowboys quarterback is tied to a seemingly untenable 2024 cap number. The March restructure resulted in Prescott’s 2024 number rising to $59.46MM. Two seasons remain on that $40MM-AAV extension.

Another notable cap hold that should be mentioned is Tom Brady‘s. When the Buccaneers did not sign the again-retired QB to another contract before the 2023 league year, his $35.1MM dead-money figure went onto Tampa Bay’s 2023 cap sheet. The Bucs will absorb that entire amount this year. Brady’s 2022 restructure, after retirement No. 1, led to the $35.1MM figure forming.

Were it not for another O-line-record extension, the Tunsil number would have come in at $35MM this year. Matthews signed an extension last year. Moore would have come in higher on this list were he still on the Panthers, who took on $14.6MM in dead money to move their top wideout for the No. 1 overall pick. Sutton came up regularly in trade rumors, with the Broncos wanting a second-round pick for the sixth-year veteran. The former second-rounder’s high base salary ($14MM) hinders his trade value.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams Expects To Be Cleared For Training Camp

July 9th, 2023 at 2:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

A busy Broncos offseason has been marked by several changes on the field and the sidelines, but one of its other top storylines has been the recovery process of Javonte Williams. The team’s lead running back provided the latest optimistic remarks on that front.

Williams spoke about his rehab from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered in October during a football camp he co-hosted. When asked about his readiness to return to the field for training camp later this month, the 23-year-old replied, “I mean, that’s the plan. I feel like I’m ready to go”(h/t ESPN’s Jeff Legwold).

That optimism matches what the Broncos have expressed publicly during the offseason regarding Williams’ ability to be fully healed in time for Week 1. The North Carolina product took part in OTAs (in a limited capacity) in May, adding further to the belief that the PUP list could be avoided during the summer. Receiving clearance in time for training camp would be another positive development.

“It’s just all about the evaluation, how the Broncos feel about it,” Williams – who stated that he will continue practicing while wearing a brace for the time being – added. “Just seeing how I feel, moving, just trying to get my speed back to normal, things like that.”

The Broncos added Samaje Perine in free agency, a move which should allow the veteran to play a notable role in the team’s offense. Denver did not bring back Melvin Gordon or Mike Boone, however, nor did they spend any draft capital at the RB position. As a result, Williams will once again be counted on to serve as the focal point of Denver’s ground game upon return.

Questions will understandably be asked about the former second-rounder’s ability to resume his productive form when back on the field, given the time usually required for players to fully regain their explosiveness after ACL injuries. As things currently stand, however, Williams can be expected to be cleared well in advance of Week 1.

Broncos Eyeing Altered Role For TE Greg Dulcich

July 8th, 2023 at 7:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Expectations are high for the Broncos offense heading into 2023, with head coach Sean Payton now at the helm. One of the key factors in the team’s ability to rebound from a highly disappointing performance on that side of the ball last season is the way in which Payton’s scheme will alter the workload of the unit’s main contributors.

One of those is tight end Greg Dulcich, who came to the Miles High City last season after a productive final two seasons at UCLA. The third-rounder flashed potential with 33 receptions for 411 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but his rookie campaign was limited to 10 games due to a nagging hamstring issue.

In 2023, Dulcich could see not only an expanded workload but also a new job description. The 23-year-old was recently named by Payton as a candidate to play the ‘joker’ role, as detailed by Troy Renck of Denver7. That moniker is one which involves heavy usage in the passing game for a position which, in Dulcich’s case, typically calls for considerable usage as a run blocker.

“The joker player for us is not a receiver,” Payton elaborated, via ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “It’s either a running back or a tight end with exceptional ball skills and then you can work matchups. We’ve had that at the running back spot, Reggie Bush was the joker, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Those were all unique players, not just in the running game, but they had passing game skill sets that allowed you to do multiple things, and I think Greg does too.”

Dulcich’s skillset is indeed built more on proficiency as a pass-catcher than strength in the run game, making him a logical candidate for the transition. Denver also has free agent signing Chris Manhertz, trade acquisition Adam Trautman and 2020 fourth-rounder Albert Okwuegbunam on the depth chart at the TE spot. That trio could be well-suited to provide the Broncos with capable play while attempting to maximize the potential Dulcich has as a Swiss Army knife type in Year 2. It will be interesting to watch how he is deployed in training camp and the preseason in advance of a campaign where the team will be under considerable scrutiny.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs

July 6th, 2023 at 9:25am CST by Sam Robinson

The latest NFL general manager hiring cycle only produced two changes, but each took over for an executive who appeared in good standing at this point last year.

Steve Keim had held his Cardinals GM post since January 2013, and the Cardinals gave both he and Kliff Kingsbury extensions — deals that ran through 2027 — in March of last year. Arizona has since rebooted, moving on from both Keim and Kingsbury. Keim took a leave of absence late last season, and the Cardinals replaced him with ex-Titans exec Monti Ossenfort.

As the Cardinals poached one of the Titans’ top front office lieutenants, Tennessee went with an NFC West staffer to replace Jon Robinson. The move to add 49ers FO bastion Ran Carthon also came less than a year after the Titans reached extension agreements with both Robinson and HC Mike Vrabel. But controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk canned Robinson — in place as GM since January 2016 — before last season ended. Adams Strunk cited player unavailability and roster quality among the reasons she chose to move on despite having extended Robinson through the 2027 draft months earlier. The Titans are now pairing Vrabel and Carthon.

The Bills reached an extension agreement with GM Brandon Beane two weeks ago. Hired shortly after the team gave Sean McDermott the HC keys, Beane has helped the Bills to five playoff berths in six seasons. Beane’s deal keeps him signed through 2027. Chargers GM Tom Telesco has hit the 10-year mark leading that front office, while this year also marks the 10th offseason of Buccaneers honcho Jason Licht‘s tenure running the NFC South team. Although Jim Irsay fired Frank Reich and later admitted he reluctantly extended his former HC in 2021, the increasingly active Colts owner has expressed confidence in Chris Ballard.

Here is how the NFL’s GM landscape looks going into the 2023 season:

Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989^[1]
Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991^[2]
Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000^[3]
Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002
John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010; signed extension in 2021
Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010; signed extension in 2022
Les Snead (Los Angeles Rams): February 10, 2012; signed extension in 2022
Tom Telesco (Los Angeles Chargers): January 9, 2013; signed extension in 2018
Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014; signed extension in 2021
Chris Grier (Miami Dolphins): January 4, 2016^[4]
John Lynch (San Francisco 49ers): January 29, 2017; signed extension in 2020
Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts): January 30, 2017; signed extension in 2021
Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills): May 9, 2017; signed extension in 2023
Brett Veach (Kansas City Chiefs): July 11, 2017; signed extension in 2020
Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay Packers): January 7, 2018; agreed to extension in 2022
Eric DeCosta (Baltimore Ravens): January 7, 2019
Joe Douglas (New York Jets): June 7, 2019
Andrew Berry (Cleveland Browns): January 27, 2020
Nick Caserio (Houston Texans): January 5, 2021
George Paton (Denver Broncos): January 13, 2021
Scott Fitterer (Carolina Panthers): January 14, 2021
Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2021
Terry Fontenot (Atlanta Falcons): January 19, 2021
Trent Baalke (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 21, 2021
Martin Mayhew (Washington Commanders): January 22, 2021
Joe Schoen (New York Giants): January 21, 2022
Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears): January 25, 2022
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Minnesota Vikings): January 26, 2022
Dave Ziegler (Las Vegas Raiders): January 30, 2022
Omar Khan (Pittsburgh Steelers): May 24, 2022
Monti Ossenfort (Arizona Cardinals): January 16, 2023
Ran Carthon (Tennessee Titans): January 17, 2023

Footnotes:

Jones has been the Cowboys’ de facto general manager since former GM Tex Schramm resigned in April 1989.
Brown has been the Bengals’ de facto GM since taking over as the team’s owner in August 1991.
Belichick has been the Patriots’ de facto GM since shortly after being hired as the team’s head coach in January 2000.
Although Grier was hired in 2016, he became the Dolphins’ top football exec on Dec. 31, 2018

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches

July 4th, 2023 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

After the 2022 offseason produced 10 new head coaches, this one brought a step back in terms of turnover. Five teams changed HCs, though each conducted thorough searches — four of them lasting until at least January 31.

The Colts and Cardinals hired their HCs after Super Bowl LVII, plucking the Eagles’ offensive and defensive coordinators (Shane Steichen, Jonathan Gannon). The Cardinals were hit with a tampering penalty regarding their Gannon search. Conducting their second HC search in two years, the Broncos saw multiple candidates drop out of the running. But Denver’s new ownership group convinced Sean Payton to step out of the FOX studio and back onto the sidelines after just one season away. The Panthers made this year’s first hire (Frank Reich), while the Texans — running their third HC search in three years — finalized an agreement with DeMeco Ryans minutes after the Payton news broke.

Only one of last year’s top 10 longest-tenured HCs lost his job. A turbulent Colts year led to Reich being fired barely a year after he signed an extension. During a rather eventful stretch, Jim Irsay said he reluctantly extended Reich in 2021. The Colts passed on giving interim HC Jeff Saturday the full-time position, despite Irsay previously indicating he hoped the former center would transition to that role. Reich landed on his feet, and after losing Andrew Luck to a shocking retirement just before his second Colts season, the well-regarded play-caller now has another No. 1 pick (Bryce Young) to mentor.

After considering a Rams exit, Sean McVay recommitted to the team and is overseeing a reshaped roster. Andy Reid also sidestepped retirement rumors, staying on with the Chiefs after his second Super Bowl win. This will be Reid’s 25th season as an NFL head coach.

Here is how the 32 HC jobs look for the 2023 season:

Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000
Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007; extended through 2024
John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008; extended through 2025
Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks): January 9, 2010; extended through 2025
Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013; extended through 2025
Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017; extended through 2027
Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017; extended through 2023
Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017; extended through 2025
Mike Vrabel (Tennessee Titans): January 20, 2018; signed extension in February 2022
Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019: signed extension in July 2022
Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019; extended through 2026
Ron Rivera (Washington Commanders): January 1, 2020
Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys): January 7, 2020
Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020
Robert Saleh (New York Jets): January 15, 2021
Arthur Smith (Atlanta Falcons): January 15, 2021
Brandon Staley (Los Angeles Chargers): January 17, 2021
Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021
Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021
Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears): January 27, 2022
Brian Daboll (New York Giants): January 28, 2022
Josh McDaniels (Las Vegas Raiders): January 30, 2022
Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): February 2, 2022
Doug Pederson (Jacksonville Jaguars): February 3, 2022
Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): February 6, 2022
Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints): February 7, 2022
Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): March 30, 2022
Frank Reich (Carolina Panthers): January 26, 2023
Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): January 31, 2023
DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans): January 31, 2023
Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts): February 14, 2023
Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals): February 14, 2023

Offseason In Review: Denver Broncos

July 2nd, 2023 at 10:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

While last season marked the Broncos’ sixth straight sub-.500 campaign, it was easily the most memorable letdown for the franchise during its post-Super Bowl 50 swoon. Denver’s attempt to pair blockbuster trade acquisition Russell Wilson and first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett backfired spectacularly, with the latter joining Urban Meyer (2021) and Pete McCulley (49ers, 1978) as the only NFL head coaches to be fired before their first season ended. Hackett’s managerial struggles were noticeable early, and they played a role in Wilson slogging through a disastrous 11th season. As a result, the franchise is resetting once again.

The Broncos will attempt to pick up the pieces, putting Sean Payton behind the wheel. Despite the team’s descent to the NFL’s basement offensively, most of the starters from a top-10 DVOA defense remain in place. So do the wide receivers the Broncos have retained as they cycled through quarterbacks and play-callers over the past few years. Expectations are lower for the 2023 Broncos, given Wilson’s concerning 2022, but this looks like bounce-back candidate.

Trades:

Sent No. 29 overall pick and a 2024 second-rounder to Saints for HC Sean Payton‘s rights and a 2024 third
Dealt 2023 sixth-round pick to Saints for TE Adam Trautman and a seventh-round choice

Denver’s fourth coaching search since Super Bowl 50 ended with the franchise reeling in the biggest fish in its history. While Mike Shanahan put together a Hall of Fame-caliber résumé during his 14-year Denver HC tenure, Payton certainly brought a higher profile as a candidate. The 15-year Saints coach — responsible for nine of the franchise’s 10 postseason wins — brings a Super Bowl ring and a reputation as one of the game’s premier offensive minds. The Broncos have now hired back-to-back offensive coaches; Payton will double as a restorer-in-chief given the circumstances here.

Although the Broncos appeared ready to offer DeMeco Ryans their HC gig, Payton hovered on the radar from the start of the franchise’s search. The Rob Walton-led ownership group, which bought the team after the Hackett hire, conducted a search that had stalled by late January. Ryans preferred Houston, while Dan Quinn — a Broncos finalist in 2022 — bowed out. Interviewing for an NFL job for a second straight offseason, Jim Harbaugh stayed at Michigan. Harbaugh loomed as a 1-B option behind Payton, but as the latter interviewed for the Texans, Cardinals and Panthers’ positions, Broncos CEO Greg Penner flew to Ann Arbor for a second Harbaugh meeting. Just as Denver’s HC search teetered on collapse, this ownership group’s first such effort produced a well-received ending.

Payton, 59, held the leverage of spending a second year at FOX. Connected to interest in the Chargers and Cowboys’ jobs last year, the recent TV analyst could have waited for one of those to open up in 2024. (Then again, he seemed prepared to coach Tom Brady in 2022, leading to the Dolphins tampering punishment.) The Broncos needed to convince Payton to make his move in 2023, and doing so likely means a top-market coaching salary. Seeing as there is no coaching salary cap, the NFL’s wealthiest owner was presumably unconcerned about Payton’s financial price tag. But the Broncos also needed to part with major draft compensation for Payton, completing the biggest HC trade since the Buccaneers sent the Raiders two first-round picks and two seconds for Jon Gruden in 2002.

The Broncos’ decision to deal Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins at last year’s deadline proved crucial for Payton ammunition, as Denver sent the Miami-obtained pick to New Orleans as the centerpiece of the swap for the accomplished HC’s rights. The teams also exchanged 2024 Day 2 picks. From March 2022 to January 2023, the Broncos traded three first-round picks to secure a Wilson-Payton foundation. After untested candidates in Hackett and Vance Joseph sandwiched acclaimed defensive boss Vic Fangio, who was given three primary QB1s in three years, the Broncos probably needed to swing big.

Drew Brees morphed from inconsistent Charger to the league’s all-time passing kingpin under Payton, who elevated the Saints to the NFC championship game in his first season (2006), piloted them to a Super Bowl XLIV win and was a historically controversial pass interference non-call from coaching in Super Bowl LIII. Payton harnessed Brees’ talents, but the ex-San Diego draftee’s deadly accuracy drove the Saints’ offense for 15 years. Payton will be in charge of restoring Wilson, who once named the Saints as an acceptable 2021 trade destination before reportedly attempting to bring the coach to Seattle last year.

Under Hackett, Wilson was given significant input in the design of Denver’s offense. Wilson’s attempt to operate as a Brees-like pocket passer crash-landed, leading to relentless criticism of the perennial Pro Bowl QB. If Wilson is unable to rebound at 34 under Payton, his future in Denver — and perhaps his Hall of Fame status, which once seemed a safe bet after two Super Bowl starts and six original-ballot Pro Bowl nods — could potentially be in doubt. Even if Wilson may still have a good chance of reaching Canton regardless of his Denver tenure, a semblance of doubt creeping in creates a fascinating high-stakes backdrop for the Broncos’ 2023 season.

Wilson’s effort to shake off a career-worst QBR (36.7 — 27th) and completion percentage (60.5) figures will go a long way toward solidifying his future and the post-2023 Colorado future of GM George Paton. Hired during the Broncos’ period without a true owner, Paton has hit on some decisions — most notably the Patrick Surtain II pick during what looks like a fruitful 2021 draft for the team — but has now lost power after the Hackett and Wilson calls. While the Broncos’ Payton-Paton partnership (which should produce some good sentence challenges while it lasts) is a go for 2023, it is not hard to foresee the new HC bringing in one of his former Saints allies if Wilson has truly seen his prime conclude.

Free agency additions:

Mike McGlinchey, T: Five years, $87.5MM ($35MM guaranteed)
Zach Allen, DL: Three years, $45.75MM ($32.5MM guaranteed)
Ben Powers, G: Four years, $52MM ($27MM guaranteed)
Jarrett Stidham, QB: Two years, $10MM ($5MM guaranteed)
Frank Clark, OLB: One year, $5.5MM ($5MM guaranteed)
Samaje Perine, RB: Two years, $7.5MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Chris Manhertz, TE: Two years, $6MM ($3.34MM guaranteed)
Tremon Smith, CB: One year, $2.5MM ($2.5MM guaranteed)
Riley Dixon, P: One year, $1.75MM ($1MM guaranteed)
Michael Burton, FB: One year, $1.32MM ($1.1MM guaranteed)
Marquez Callaway, WR: One year, $1.14MM ($303K guaranteed)
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR: One year, $1.1MM
Tyler Lancaster, DL: One year, $1.1MM
Tony Jones Jr., RB: One year, $940K
Ben DiNucci, QB: One year, $870K
Elliott Fry, K: One year, $750K

Injuries up front tossed another piece of debris onto the Broncos’ path last season, and the team has made an annual ritual of changing right tackles. In the early hours of the legal tampering period, the Broncos paid up to solve this decade-long problem. McGlinchey, 28, is slated to become Denver’s 11th Week 1 right tackle starter in 11 years. After the Broncos skimped at the position in 2022, via low-cost deals for Billy Turner and Tom Compton, Payton greenlit a top-five right tackle contract that reminded of the deal he OK’d for Ryan Ramczyk in New Orleans. Four years after the Broncos’ 2019 Ja’Wuan James investment bombed, they will bet on another ex-first-rounder at this position.

The 49ers used McGlinchey as a five-year right tackle starter. While not viewed as an elite pass protector, McGlinchey aided Kyle Shanahan‘s offense in the run game. He wrapped his rookie-contract San Francisco run by ranking fifth in ESPN’s run block win rate among all tackles. After Turner missed half of last season and Compton was healthy for all of one game, the Broncos saw their O-line depth issues — compounded by Garett Bolles‘ Week 5 leg fracture — lead to Wilson taking a league-high 55 sacks. To help prevent a recurrence, the Broncos gave McGlinchey a contract that includes a practical guarantee of $52.5MM (via his 2025 base salary locking in by March 2024). This helped push the Bears to drop out of the pursuit.

Dating back to the Jahri Evans–Carl Nicks tandem, Payton has placed a premium on interior protection. This carried through to the Saints’ Andrus Peat–Erik McCoy–Cesar Ruiz trio. The Broncos have not seen Lloyd Cushenberry become an above-average center, but the team is well stocked at guard after prying Powers from the Ravens. Powers, 26, brings an interesting profile; he was battling for a starting job as recently as last year. Powers won Baltimore’s left guard job and parlayed that into a $13MM-per-year contract. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric ranked Powers in the top 10 at guard last year. Set to replace four-year starter Dalton Risner, Powers will pair with 2021 third-rounder Quinn Meinerz — a top-10 guard in 2022, per Pro Football Focus — to form a promising tandem.

Although the Payton-Paton power structure wanted to retain Dre’Mont Jones, one of new DC Vance Joseph‘s Cardinals charges will step in to replace him at a slightly lower rate. A 3-4 defensive end alongside J.J. Watt in Arizona, Allen led all D-linemen with eight pass deflections last season. Allen, who finished last season with career-high marks in sacks (5.5) and quarterback hits (20), spent each of his four Cardinals seasons in Joseph’s system. The 26-year-old D-lineman will team with 2022 free agency pickup D.J. Jones in Joseph’s 3-4 scheme. In McGlinchey, Allen and Powers, the Broncos signed three of PFR’s top 19 free agents.

In landing Perine during the tampering period, the Broncos took an unexpected route at running back. Despite the likes of Devin Singletary, Damien Harris and Kareem Hunt remaining on the board, the Broncos brought in Joe Mixon‘s longtime backup. Perine performed well in relief of Mixon over the past two years, and even with the ex-Mixon Oklahoma sidekick (and owner of a still-standing Division I-FBS single-game rushing record) heading into his age-28 season, he has taken just 401 handoffs over a six-year career. As teams shy away from late-20s running backs, the Broncos will bet on one that should have some notable mileage left.

The Perine addition may be impeding the Broncos re: Dalvin Cook, though the team is tentatively expecting starter Javonte Williams — who tore his ACL and LCL in Week 4 — to return by its regular-season opener. Payton’s Pierre Thomas–Reggie Bush/Alvin Kamara–Mark Ingram backfields point to Perine seeing extensive run. Perine last totaled more than 100 carries in a season in 2017.

At this point last year, the Broncos looked set to deploy a deep edge-rushing corps. But the team’s $14MM-per-year Randy Gregory investment took on some water after his early-season knee injury. After trading Malik Reed, the Broncos later dealt Chubb to the Dolphins. With Gregory coming off another injury-limited season and converted inside linebacker Baron Browning set to miss training camp time due to a summer knee surgery, Clark will be asked to step in.

Given a monster extension after a Seahawks tag-and-trade transaction, Clark did not live up to the five-year, $104MM pact. The former second-rounder did not exceed eight sacks in a season in Kansas City, but he made a habit of playoff production. Highlighted by a five-sack 2019 postseason, Clark ended his Chiefs run third — behind Willie McGinest and Bruce Smith — in all-time playoff sacks (13.5). Clark, 30, working as a complementary presence will be a step back after he was asked to be the Chiefs’ top defensive end. Assuming Gregory is healthy, the Broncos do not figure to demand as much from the veteran edge player.

Stidham went from possible Tom Brady successor to afterthought in New England, but a 365-yard, three-touchdown pass showing — against Ryans’ No. 1-ranked 49ers defense — with the Raiders put the former fourth-round pick back on the map. Payton has spoken highly of Stidham, though his game ledger (131 career attempts) does not separate him much from 2022 backup Brett Rypien (130, with a higher completion percentage). The guarantee the Broncos authorized points to Stidham being viewed as a legitimate backup and potentially, in the event Wilson starts this season as badly as he began the 2022 slate, an emergency option in case Payton starts charting a non-Wilson course for the mid-2020s.

Re-signings:

Alex Singleton, LB: Three years, $18MM ($9MM guaranteed)
Cameron Fleming, T: One year, $2.35MM ($850K guaranteed)
Kareem Jackson, S: One year, $2.67MM ($153K guaranteed)
Essang Bassey, CB: One year, $1MM

A Montana State product who began his pro career in the CFL, Singleton initially signed a low-end Broncos deal (one year, $1.1MM) after the Eagles nontendered him as an RFA last year. Singleton made the most of his Denver opportunity, helping Ejiro Evero‘s unit stay afloat as the offense’s ineptitude raged. Moving into the starting lineup alongside Josey Jewell, Singleton posted two 20-tackle games. At 29, Singleton enjoyed a limited window to cash in. Considering where the linebacker market went after Tremaine Edmunds and Bobby Okereke inked eight-figure-per-year deals, Singleton did well to collect the $9MM guaranteed. He fared better than bigger-name ILBs like Germaine Pratt, David Long, Leighton Vander Esch and ex-Eagle teammate T.J. Edwards in that regard.

McGlinchey will be expected to be the Broncos’ right tackle for the foreseeable future, but the team lost three of its 2022 cogs — Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Tom Compton — and needed depth. The Broncos have not viewed Fleming — initially added during the 2021 offseason, when Ja’Wuan James suffered an offsite ACL tear — as a preferred starter. But the injuries to Bolles and Turner keyed a 15-start season from the journeyman. Quietly a top-30 tackle, in the view of PFF, Fleming profiles as Denver’s swing tackle ahead of his age-31 slate.

Only the Bills (Micah Hyde–Jordan Poyer) boast a longer-running safety tandem than the Broncos’ Jackson-Justin Simmons pairing. After Jackson signed an $11MM-AAV deal to leave Houston for Denver in 2019, he moved from cornerback to safety on a full-time basis and has started 61 games. This is Jackson’s fourth Broncos contract, but its low guarantee signals a legitimate competition between he and third-year safety Caden Sterns.

The top backup over the past two seasons, Sterns is coming off hip surgery but is believed to be a true threat to unseat Jackson, 35. Having made one of this era’s more successful corner-to-safety transitions, Jackson started 17 games last season and tallied a career-high 94 tackles.

Notable losses:

Calvin Anderson, T
Andrew Beck, FB/TE
Jacob Bobenmoyer, LS
Mike Boone, RB
Tom Compton, T
Ronald Darby, CB (released)
Chase Edmonds, RB (released)
Graham Glasgow, OL (released)
Dre’Mont Jones, DL
Jacob Martin, OLB (released)
Brandon McManus, K (post-June 1 cut)
Latavius Murray, RB
Brett Rypien, QB
Eric Saubert, TE
Eric Tomlinson, TE
Billy Turner, T
Corliss Waitman, P (ERFA tender rescinded)
DeShawn Williams, DL

The team is making changes at kicker and punter. Weeks after bringing Dixon back into the fold, the Broncos jettisoned their kicker of the past nine years. Performance-wise, McManus checked in below the likes of Jason Elam and Matt Prater. McManus made just 77.8% of his field goal tries last season — the second-lowest mark of his career — though he did convert eight 50-plus-yard attempts. The Broncos, who have employed just three primary kickers since 1993, used the money from the McManus cut to sign Clark. Elliott Fry, who has kicked in three career games (for three teams), is now the only kicker on Denver’s roster. He will need to fend off a to-be-determined challenger in training camp. The Broncos initially traded Dixon, a 2016 seventh-round pick, to the Giants in 2018. The 30-year-old punter spent last season with the Rams.

Jones, 26, loomed on the Broncos’ extension radar since they traded potential franchise tag candidate Bradley Chubb. While the Broncos expressed steady interest in keeping Jones, the former third-round pick was less than enthusiastic about staying. The Ohio State alum changed his tune a bit during the run-up to free agency, but with the Broncos deciding the tag was too steep in this case, he took ex-teammate Shelby Harris‘ spot with the Seahawks. Jones totaled between 5.5 and 6.5 sacks and notched either 10 or 11 QB hits in each of the past three seasons. Despite modest production, Jones did not need to settle for a midlevel deal. The Seahawks gave him a three-year, $51.53MM accord. That contract, however, contains less guaranteed ($23MM) than Zach Allen‘s.

A return to the deep waters of a guard market reminds of recent Broncos misses here. Neither Denver’s Ronald Leary move (2017) nor the Glasgow signing (2020) worked out. Glasgow signed a four-year, $44MM deal during John Elway‘s final offseason running the show, but after a midseason 2021 injury, Glasgow lost his starting job to Meinerz and was forced into a 2022 pay cut. The Broncos saved more than $26MM combined with the releases of Glasgow, Darby and Edmonds. Darby signed a three-year, $30MM contract in 2021, but injuries continued to plague the ex-Eagles Super Bowl starter. Most recently, a torn ACL sidelined Darby. The 29-year-old corner remains unsigned.

The departures of both Jones and Williams open the door for 2022 draftees Matt Henningsen and Eyioma Uwazurike on the D-line. Denver also returns veteran nose tackle Mike Purcell. But Williams, who signed with the Panthers, spent the past three seasons with the team and served as a regular starter. Quietly, the former UDFA started 34 games as a Bronco.

Draft:

Round 2, No. 63 (from Chiefs through Lions): Marvin Mims, WR (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 3, No. 67 (from Colts): Drew Sanders, LB (Arkansas) (signed)
Round 3, No. 83 (from Seahawks): Riley Moss, CB (Iowa) (signed)
Round 6, No. 183 (from Lions): JL Skinner, S (Boise State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 257 (from Saints): Alex Forsyth, C (Oregon) (signed)

Perhaps bored without a pick until the third round, the Broncos traded into the late second to nab Mims. Wide receiver could have been considered the team’s deepest position, pre-draft, especially after Marquez Callaway followed Payton to Denver. But the team has not seen deep threat KJ Hamler progress as it had hoped. The former second-round pick has struggled with consistency and injuries, and he is rehabbing a torn pec sustained in the offseason.

Mims’ Sooners yards-per-catch figures jump out, with the 5-foot-10 playmaker topping 20 per grab in 2021 and ’22. Last season, Mims totaled 1,083 receiving yards despite Lincoln Riley’s offseason departure for USC. Mims figures to push for immediate time as a receiver and in the return game. Hamler anticipates being ready to go for training camp, but his roster spot no longer seems secure. It is hard to see roles for both he and Hamler; the Broncos can save nearly $2MM by waiving the latter. The Broncos have since added some injury insurance to Hamler’s contract.

The latest Seahawks trade did not involve a pick from the Wilson swap. That said, the Broncos paid up to climb 25 spots for Moss. Denver sent Seattle No. 108 and a 2024 third-rounder. The team does hold an extra 2024 third from the Payton trade, but this was one of Day 2’s more interesting transactions. Moss utilized the NCAA-granted fifth year of eligibility stemming from the pandemic. The three-time All-Big Ten honoree finished with 11 career INTs and three defensive touchdowns; ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated him as the No. 62 overall prospect. The 6-foot cover man profiles as a key backup behind Patrick Surtain II and projected CB2 Damarri Mathis.

Other:

Released Ejiro Evero from defensive coordinator contract; hired Vance Joseph as replacement
Added Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator
Picked up WR Jerry Jeudy‘s $14.12MM fifth-year option
Discussed Jeudy, WR Courtland Sutton in trades
Hired Ben Kotwica as special teams coordinator, Mike Westoff as assistant HC
Hired Davis Webb as quarterbacks coach, Zach Strief as offensive line coach

Evero interviewed for the Broncos’ HC job (along with meetings about the other four 2023 vacancies) after a breakthrough year. Evero had spent five seasons on Sean McVay‘s staff and only advanced to DBs coach by Year 5, but he is a close friend of Hackett’s. Broncos ownership attempted to see if Payton and Evero could coexist, but seeing as the team dumped Hackett after 15 games, it made sense his right-hand man — who had declined an offer to finish out last season as interim HC — passed on staying. After helming a quality unit despite injury trouble and the Chubb trade depleting it, Evero is now the Panthers’ DC.

A more interesting plot point emerged after Evero declined and Vic Fangio — whom Paton fired after the 2021 season — determined the rumored Payton partnership occurring in Denver would be a poor fit due to the timing. Fangio passing led to his Broncos HC predecessor coming back.

An ex-Colorado Buffalo, Joseph agreed to return to the team that fired him after the 2018 season. Joseph went 11-21 as Denver’s HC, but his defenses mostly held up. And the veteran defensive coach produced sound Cardinals defensive work in 2020 and ’21 (10th and sixth in DVOA, respectively). Justin Simmons and Josey Jewell remain on defense from Joseph’s HC stay, and although the Eagles showed interest, the 50-year-old coach will try his hand in Denver again.

Lombardi, 52, will stay in the AFC West, catching on with his old boss weeks after the Chargers fired him as OC. Criticized for not maximizing Justin Herbert, Lombardi was working with an injured version of the star passer last season. This will be Lombardi’s third chance as an OC, though the ex-Lions and Bolts play-caller will step out of the spotlight a bit. As he did throughout his Saints tenure (excluding the 2012 Bountygate year), Payton will call plays. Lombardi spent 12 years on Payton’s Saints staff. After the Broncos hired an unseasoned OC in 2022 (ex-Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten), Lombardi will bring four years’ experience in this position and a strong rapport with Payton.

Perhaps a more notable move came when Webb’s playing career abruptly ended. The Bills had attempted to hire Webb as their QBs coach last year, but he opted for a Giants playing offer. After serving as a Daniel Jones mentor, the 2017 third-round pick will step up in responsibility. Replacing ex-OC Klint Kubiak, the 28-year-old Webb will be a key part of the Broncos’ Russell Wilson revival effort. This promises to be one of the more interesting forays into coaching in recent NFL history.

Rumors about Jeudy and Sutton’s availability swirled for weeks — before Payton and Paton shot them down. Jeudy, 24, closed last season strong and finished with a career-high 972 receiving yards. It is still difficult to pin down Jeudy’s trajectory, since the Broncos have cycled through quarterbacks and coaches throughout his career. The Broncos sought a first-rounder for the Alabama product, who came up in trade rumors before the 2022 deadline as well. They aimed at a second-rounder for Sutton and discussed the 6-foot-4 target with the Ravens, who pivoted to Odell Beckham Jr. Sutton’s four-year, $60MM contract runs through 2025; Jeudy now has a guaranteed 2024 salary.

The volume of rumors engulfing Denver’s top two receivers suggests the team will still entertain offers ahead of the season. One of the preeminent deadline sellers in recent years, the Broncos have made two major in-season wideout trades since 2018 — in unloading Demaryius Thomas (2018) and Emmanuel Sanders (’19). Mims’ progress might dictate Denver’s interest level in making another. As it stands, both Jeudy, 24, and Sutton, 27, are in line to anchor the team’s pass-catching contingent again.

Sutton joined Tim Patrick in signing what turned out to be team-friendly deals — thanks to the 2022 receiver market boom — during the 2021 season. A one-time 1,000-yard receiver, Sutton has played with an unexpectedly shaky Wilson, Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock, an aging Joe Flacco and Case Keenum in his final full season as a starter. Payton brings the Broncos’ best chance to unlock their receivers’ potential. The return of Patrick, a possession target who missed all of 2022 with an ACL tear, will help Wilson’s rebound effort as well. After years of delays, this sets up as a seminal year on the Broncos’ receiver timeline.

Top 10 cap charges for 2023:

Russell Wilson, QB: $22MM
Courtland Sutton, WR: $18.27MM
Justin Simmons, S: $18.15MM
Garett Bolles, T: $17.82MM
Randy Gregory, OLB: $16.1MM
D.J. Jones, DL: $12.99MM
Tim Patrick, WR: $11.07MM
Josey Jewell, LB: $7.13MM
Zach Allen, DL: $6MM
Mike McGlinchey, T: $6MM

Slotted in four primetime games over last season’s first six weeks, the Broncos saw their dysfunction morph from leaguewide curiosity into a running joke. Last year’s catastrophe drained more from the primes of Simmons, Bolles and, most importantly, Wilson. This is quietly not a young team. Bolles, Simmons and Patrick will turn 30 this year. Seven other starters are beyond their rookie contracts. Wilson (35 in November) should have some quality football left, but his woeful Denver debut — regardless of the circumstances- and injury-heightened uphill battle he waged — should probably cause even the staunchest of the ex-Seahawks star’s supporters to temper expectations.

It would cost the Broncos $35MM in dead money to designate Wilson a post-June 1 cut in 2024. Teams have eaten more dead cap to move QBs (Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz) in recent years. Payton and Wilson jelling will bury that talking point, but the slimmer QB resembling his 2022 form will make the topic difficult to evade. Wilson’s 2023 will define the Broncos’ future, as the $49MM-per-year extension producing a poor second season will thrust the Seattle-Denver trade into at least the second tier of NFL transaction infamy.

But a stronger case exists the Broncos can recover. Improved health, Payton’s track record, a beefed-up offensive line — perhaps the Broncos’ most talented front since Peyton Manning‘s record-setting 2013 — and a solid defense may well stabilize this operation and put it back on the road most expected it to travel in 2022. While the AFC’s strength likely lowers the Broncos’ 2023 ceiling, the high variance here presents the team’s recovery mission as one of the NFL’s most interesting storylines.

Latest On Javonte Williams, Broncos’ Backfield

July 1st, 2023 at 9:17am CST by Ben Levine

The Broncos intend to bring Javonte Williams along slowly as he returns from a devastating knee injury. If Williams isn’t ready to go for the start of the regular season, the team does have enough running back depth to temporarily get by, but Mike Klis of 9News.com believes the front office could still add another player to the mix.

Klis writes that it’s “possible” the Broncos bring in a veteran RB to their current grouping. However, a move wouldn’t be made before head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton get an extended look at Williams during training camp.

Williams’ sophomore season came to an end in Week 4 when he suffered a torn ACL, LCL, and posterolateral corner. Week 1 of the 2023 campaign would mark 11 months since the RB suffered his injury, and Klis writes that Williams did look good during his limited work at minicamp.

The Broncos’ ideal plan would be to have Williams in the starting lineup for the start of the season, but the team doesn’t want to be unprepared if the former second-round pick is forced to miss time. After splitting work with Melvin Gordon for the first two seasons of his career, Williams is primed to lead the RB room in 2023. After compiling 1,219 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns as a rookie, Williams had 280 yards in three-plus games before suffering his knee injury in 2023.

The Broncos brought in Samaje Perine to serve as the top backup in 2023, but with little starting experience in six NFL seasons, he would’t be relied on to be an every-down back with Williams sidelined. The Broncos are also rostering Tyler Badie, a sixth-round pick by the Ravens in 2022 who was scooped up by Denver late in the season. Former Saints backup Tony Jones Jr. and undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin round out the RB room.

The Broncos have been connected to Dalvin Cook throughout the offseason, but this most recent report indicates that the organization is looking for a temporary fill-in for Williams…not someone who would completely revamp the depth chart.

Broncos Rework WR KJ Hamler’s Contract

June 30th, 2023 at 10:50am CST by Adam La Rose

KJ Hamler is entering the final year of his rookie contract, one which he and the Broncos hope will involve a clean bill of health for the first time in his career. Tweaks to his deal reflect the injuries which have marred his NFL tenure to date.

The Broncos have agreed to an adjusted pact with the wideout, as detailed by ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). Hamler’s base salary ($1.58MM) will remain the same, but $417K in incentives have been added, giving him extra earning potential ahead of free agency next March. Protections for the team are present as well, however.

An IR split specific to a particular injury has been included in the new deal, Yates adds. As a result, Hamler’s cap hit will be lowered if he spends time on injured reserve with the particular injury mentioned in the clause. The 23-year-old has battled a number of ailments since being drafted by the Broncos, including ACL, hip and hamstring issues.

As a result, he has played just 23 games across his three years in the NFL, including 10 in the past two seasons. Hamler has made 12 receptions over that span, and his 52.5% career catch percentage, coupled with his availability issues, have left his future with the team in doubt. Denver has Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton at the top of the WR depth chart, as well as returnee Tim Patrick. The Broncos also signed Marquez Callaway in free agency and selected Marvin Mims in the second round of this year’s draft to give themselves protection against further injury issues.

Hamler is currently recovering from a torn pec suffered in March. The Penn State product is expected to be healthy in time for training camp next month, but injuries will no doubt be a talking point ahead of his fourth (and potentially final) season in the Mile High City. He will enter 2023 with a new contract in hand, while the team will have insurance against a repeat of his previous missed time.

Broncos WR KJ Hamler Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp

June 28th, 2023 at 1:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering the NFL after an injury prevented a workout at the 2020 Combine, KJ Hamler has not been able to avoid health setbacks as a pro. The Broncos wide receiver finished the past two seasons on IR and is now rehabbing a pectoral tear.

Hamler sustained the chest injury while training independently earlier this year, going down before the Broncos began their offseason program. While Hamler’s latest injury required surgery and put him on shaky ground for training camp, the speedy wideout expects to be cleared by the time the Broncos reconvene late next month, Denver7’s Troy Renck tweets.

Of course, it is worth wondering where Hamler stands with another new Broncos coaching staff. Since Hamler’s pec injury, the Broncos signed ex-Sean Payton Saints charge Marquez Callaway, doing so after pursuing free agents Allen Lazard and Adam Thielen. Most importantly in Denver’s offseason receiver puzzle, Oklahoma deep threat Marvin Mims arrived via a second-round pick. The Broncos traded up to No. 63 for Mims, making him their first 2023 draftee despite entering the draft without a clear receiver need. Mims topped 20 yards per reception during the 2021 and ’22 seasons.

The Broncos are set to go into camp in better shape at wide receiver compared to how they finished last season. In addition to Hamler finishing another year on IR, the Broncos played all of 2022 without starter Tim Patrick. The former UDFA-turned-extension recipient has been cleared from the ACL tear he suffered during Denver’s 2022 camp, while Mims stands to provide an intriguing wild card for a position group still headlined by Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. Both of the Broncos’ top wideouts spent weeks in trade rumors, but Payton said before the draft the team would not move either. This did not stop teams from calling after the Mims pick. It should not be considered a lock Jeudy and Sutton will both be back, though Denver placed a high asking price — first- and second-round picks, respectively — for the veterans.

The Broncos became the first team since the 2003 Cardinals (Bryant Johnson, Anquan Boldin) to use first- and second-round picks on wideouts in the same draft. That move has not produced stability at the position. While Jeudy has grown into Denver’s No. 1 receiver — in an offense that has struggled to establish consistency — Hamler has not topped 400 receiving yards in a season. He has missed 28 career games, with ACL and hip injuries in September 2021 being his most significant deterrents. A hamstring problem sidelined Hamler for the close of last season. He finished with 165 receiving yards in seven games.

In addition to Hamler, Kendall Hinton looms as an uncertainty to be on the Broncos’ 53-man roster. But the former COVID 19-induced emergency quarterback remains with the team and has made steady contributions as a backup over the past two seasons. Hinton is also recovering from an offseason surgery, per Renck, who notes the former UDFA underwent an arthroscopic knee procedure. Hinton, 26, is also on track for what will be an interesting training camp for this position group.

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