ESPN report: 7 Returning Broncos Affected by the NFL Draft
Annually, the NFL Draft alters not just the perspective of the Denver Broncos as a team and the lives of players selected, but also the course of veteran players’ careers.
And when the Broncos == returned this week to resume their offseason training, many of them saw that things had altered in terms of where they would fit into the team.
QB HARRETT STIDHAM
When George Paton held a media conference during the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando on March 25, he hinted that the Broncos will be expanding its quarterback room prior to the NFL Draft. Thus, the actions of the Broncos, first with Zach Wilson and later with Bo Nix, should not have come as a surprise to the sixth-year veteran.
Stidham’s issue is that a trade or release of him would free up $5 million in cap space, more than a move involving any other quarterback. Stidham may move from being a starter until the end of the season to the roster bubble if Wilson performs at the same level as him and Nix demonstrates that he can be ready when needed.
RBs Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine
Both players are in the latter year of their contracts, and Sean Payton has described Audric Estimé, a fifth-round choice in the NFL Draft, as “a first- and second-down runner.” Additionally, Williams’ rookie contract ends after this season, and he faces a ticking clock given his struggles during his valiant but painful return from multiple knee ligament rips last year. Even after a season in which he averaged 3.6 yards per rush while playing behind an offensive line that ranked third in the NFL in terms of run-block win rate, according to ESPN Analytics, Williams still has the talent to hang onto the starting position if he can rediscover his pre-injury explosion.
The Broncos would save $1,868,967 by cutting Williams, but they would also save more than $1.1 million by selling or releasing Perine, who frees over $3 million in salary space. The Broncos may carry four running backs, but if that’s the case, it appears likely that two of them will be speedster Jaleel McLaughlin, who is back, and rookie Blake Watson, who was not selected but received a big guarantee from the Broncos.
LB Drew Sanders
Broncos general manager George Paton stated that the 2023 third-round pick would “probably” wind up at edge rusher during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 27.
It’s still an ongoing project. At the time, Paton stated, “We felt he finished well on the edge.” “He has the flexibility, but I think he’ll wind up on the edge. He is incredibly gifted. It’s challenging. It resembles Baron Browning in certain ways (as a rookie in 2021).
“.. Because he is unable to settle into one place, it may be both a blessing and a curse at times. We feel comfortable about Drew going forward because he finished strong once we left him outside.
Paton listed Sanders as one of the players he thought was a “starter in this league” a few weeks prior to that. Where is the spot, though, assuming such is the case? After a poor year at inside linebacker the previous year, he was replaced by free agency Cody Barton, and the Broncos also received the return of former starter Jonas Griffith from a season-ending injury. Jonah Elliss, a third-round selection, has now entered the congested field at edge rusher.
WR BRANDON JOHNSON
With four total touchdowns last season, the third-year receiver tied for third place on the team behind only Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams. The receiver has appeared in 20 games for the Broncos over the previous two seasons. However, the Broncos now have a receiver shortage after Tim Patrick recovered from a damaged Achilles tendon and an ACL the previous season, while Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele were selected in the draft.
Vele might have to join the practice squad. However, Johnson might be squeezed if Patrick stays healthy and Sutton isn’t traded, particularly with backup and special teams ace Lil’Jordan Humphrey and speedster Jalen Virgil back in the mix.
CB Riley Moss
The Broncos selected Kris Abrams-Draine with their first of two fifth-round selections, acquiring a cornerback known for his ability to compete with elite receiving prospects, most notably Malik Nabers of LSU, who was selected by the New York Giants with the sixth overall choice. And the Broncos added Levi Wallace, a former cornerback for the Steelers and Bills, earlier in the week; Wallace may be a veteran starter opposite Pat Surtain II, much like Fabian Moreau was for a large portion of the last campaign.
Moss will probably be included since cornerback depth will be required. Additionally, some may look at safety as a byproduct of his skill set. However, compared to two weeks ago, there are a few more challenges in his way of getting playing time.
CB Mathis Damarri
Mathis, who lost his starting position to Moreau last year, may find himself squeezed out of an increasingly crowded cornerback room. What goes for Moss probably doubles for Mathis. Although Mathis showed a lot of promise as a rookie, especially following a pass-interference-filled starting debut against the Los Angeles Chargers six games into the 2022 season, the club still has some faith in him. However, he needs to make some progress quickly or he might end up being another mid-round loss for the Broncos in the recent NFL Draft.
