Strike 3: The good news is that even as badly overmatched as the Denver Broncos appeared to be Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers – for three quarters at least – an energized fourth quarter rally, even though it fell short – does provide a spark of momentum going into Thursday night’s game at struggling New Orleans.
So there’s that.
At 3-3, the Broncos are still slightly better than we thought they’d be, and rookie quarterback Bo Nix, while very far from perfect, has shown some flashes. He’s done nothing to remove the “QB of the future” tag from his name.
The not-so-great news is on the injury front, where the Broncos lack of depth was on full display against the aggressive Chargers, especially along the offensive line.
That brings back the same refrain from this past summer: Before Denver becomes a legit threat in the AFC, they need a deeper roster. In order for that to become reality, they’ll need to be patient.
Maybe the front office just sits back and waits for the next couple NFL Drafts to use their picks to try to restock that way? Or perhaps dipping their toes into the free agent pool a bit as well? But how patient can playoff starved Broncos County rightfully be expected to be during that time?
Another option is to make trades. Be willing to give up something in order to get back something you need sooner rather than later. The last Broncos trade of substance sent edge rusher Bradley Chubb to Miami for a late first round pick. That pick was used to bring head coach Sean Payton to town. Turned out okay. The more famous Broncos trade (aside from bringing holdout rookie QB John Elway to Denver more than four decades ago) was Denver sending star running back Clinton Portis to Washington in 2004 and getting future Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey in return. That trade worked out nicely for both organizations.
In almost any scenario, you have to part with something valuable – like a Pro Bowl running back – in order to get back something you need. Yes, to acquire a premium draft pick, we could very well see Denver be forced to part with, say Courtland Sutton. It would hurt short term, but could be a long term win.
Right now with the Broncos, there’s one trade scenario where a valuable piece – like a mid-round draft pick – could be acquired in exchange for something the Broncos aren’t even using and likely never will.
Circle Nov. 5. It’s not just for Presidential elections anymore. That’s also this year’s NFL Trade Deadline. And the Broncos have a nice, valuable trade asset just sitting on the shelf gathering dust. In order to maximize its value, the Broncos really should take it down, dust it off, and show it off just a little bit.
Showcase Zach Wilson. Just a little.
This is where it has to be reiterated that no one is looking to bench or replace Nix. Keep that in mind. But what if he sat out a series or two, would that be catastrophic? Would it doom Denver’s playoff chances or Nix’s future development for him to stand next to Payton and Davis Webb with the headset on and observe for a single second quarter series?
The fact of the matter is that Wilson has no future in Denver. Everyone knows that. But he’s still the same guy who was the second overall pick out of BYU with a rocket arm. He’s young (same age as Nix) and more experienced. He could help another NFL team. At this moment, he’s doing nothing for the Broncos.
That being the case, what would be wrong with making him the primary backup, and inserting Wilson into the game Thursday night against a crummy New Orleans defense with the rest of the league watching? Just imagine how much more valuable Wilson would become as a trade commodity if stepped in and looked even slightly ready to play against the Aints?
Denver could then trade Wilson to someplace like Miami or somewhere where a QB is badly needed, and get another building block. Who loses in this scenario?
No one. The Broncos need to be aggressive in the trade market. Fortune favors the bold, not the rigid.
