As teams head into Week 9 of the NFL season, they’re making and fielding calls about the upcoming trade deadline.
The cutoff for trading players arrives at 2 p.m. Tuesday, so if the days before this weekend’s set of games are the run-up, then the hours after play finishes will be when action really starts to heat up.
Often, the hype around the NFL’s trade deadline ends up outstripping the actual moves that take place.
It’s hard to get players up to speed in a short period of time. There are a ton of teams that will finish this week feeling like they’re either right in the mix or just a two or three-game run from getting there.
Plus, even bad teams are often reluctant to part with real talent.
All the same, there are bound to be at least some moves made.
The Broncos are squarely in the buying camp at 6-2 and leading the AFC West. They’ve got a well-rounded roster, but one that’s been pecked at by injury in some areas, by underperformance in a couple of others, and, in one instance, both.
So, with that in mind, here’s a look at a handful of positions the Broncos would be justified in making calls about and a measure of their need midway through the season
Tight end
Need: Medium
Likelihood of deal: Low end of moderate
The Broncos’ tight ends are producing at a better level than in previous seasons. Still, they’re not changing games the way head coach Sean Payton was accustomed to before arriving in Denver.
Free-agent addition Evan Engram is starting to get into rhythm, but he’s not been a major impact player so far. Still, his 26 catches are already more than any tight end has logged in a season for Payton in Denver.
That’s how rough it’s been. Here’s the production from the group over the past three seasons
2023: 39 catches, 362 yards, 4 TDs
2024: 51 catches, 455 yards, 5 TDs
2025 (17-game pace): 87 catches, 714 yards, 6.4 TDs
The need here is somewhat about that still middling production, but it’s also about injury. The team signed 41-year-old marvel Marcedes Lewis to the practice squad on Wednesday to help fill the gap with Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins both out, but the Broncos could certainly use more help.
The problem: Tight ends who can make a real impact in both the running and passing games are rare. Teams don’t part with them easily.
The Broncos have a pass-catcher (Engram) and a blocker (Lewis). Adam Trautman does a little of both. Denver could use a guy who can do a lot of both.
Most of the players reportedly available, however, are one or the other. Somebody like Cleveland’s David Njoku could add in both departments.
Wide receiver
Need: Low (unless…)
Likelihood of a deal: Low
The Broncos like their receiving rotation. For two seasons now, they’ve apparently liked it better than many around the league think they should.
There have been consistent rumblings dating back to last year about the Broncos needing receivers. It percolated this time last year. Then through free agency. Then the first round of the NFL draft. (The latter never seemed likely, but it’s easy now to wonder what might have happened had budding star Emeka Egbuka made it one more pick past Tampa Bay at No. 19.)
Denver drafted Pat Bryant in the third round, but their biggest move, really, was trading away Devaughn Vele rather than adding more to the group.
Troy Franklin’s taken a nice step forward in Year 2 and some weeks he looks like a true No. 2. Marvin Mims Jr. is capable of making big plays. Bryant’s seen more and more playing time and is a force in the run game.
The Broncos don’t need another rotational piece. They’ve got a fine group. A top-of-the-room guy, though? That’d certainly be interesting, not only for the stretch run but theoretically well beyond. That’s Garrett Wilson or Chris Olave territory.
That also would be a major departure from the way Payton and general manager George Paton have operated, built Denver’s roster and planned for the future.
Offensive line
Need: Lower than it was two weeks ago
Likelihood of a deal: Low end of moderate
Watching the Broncos struggle against the New York Jets in London, it’d have been easy to call offensive line Denver’s biggest need. Ben Powers had just gone down with a torn biceps a week earlier and Matt Peart was struggling mightily against the Jets. Turns out, Peart had a torn left MCL. That put Denver down two guys from their initial 53-man roster.
Since then, though, Alex Palczewski has calmed the waters at left guard considerably.
“He doesn’t look like a throw-in left guard,” Payton said Wednesday. “He’s smart. He’s tough. It’s good to see him playing.”
The depth has been dinged — Powers won’t be back for a while and Peart’s season is likely over — but ‘Palcho’ is playing well and Denver has Calvin Throckmorton and Alex Forsyth as depth inside, plus Frank Crum as their now swing tackle.
If there’s a cheap reinforcement out there, it’s worth considering. But the Broncos have come up with good answers in-house so far.
Inside linebacker
Need: Low, but could change quickly
Likelihood of a deal: Low
The Broncos get Dre Greenlaw back this week, putting him in line to play just his second game of Denver’s first nine. He missed six due to a quad injury, played in Week 7, but then was suspended for Week 8.
In the meantime, Denver’s seen a jump in performance from Justin Strnad. Alex Singleton looks more comfortable as the season goes along.
This hasn’t been Denver’s strongest position group so far this year, but is there somebody out there to be had for cheap who will knock one of the Broncos’ existing three out of a rotation? Seems unlikely.
What also seems unlikely: Singleton, Strnad and Greenlaw cruising through the rest of the season without any availability issues. Without much proven production behind them, this is a spot at least worth considering.
One wildcard that won’t happen but would be fun: Saints RB Alvin Kamara. He’s said flatly he doesn’t want to be traded. New Orleans brass doesn’t seem inclined to go against his wishes.
At the same time, Payton loves few players more than he loves Kamara. The pair had a dynamic run in New Orleans for years after Payton selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft.
The Broncos’ ground game has been good. Rookie RJ Harvey just scored three touchdowns Sunday against Dallas, and J.K. Dobbins is third in the NFL in rushing yards. Kamara’s working on career lows in yards per carry and per reception so far this fall.
He doesn’t want to leave, and the Broncos don’t have a major need. Simple as that, probably. But you have to admit, if this deal did come together, the reaction would be, “Oh, of course, we should have seen this coming.”
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