The Denver Broncos are off to a 2-4 start to the season, fueling disappointment amongst the fanbase whose expectations were a mile high. Coming with the territory of being 2-4, trade rumors have begun to circulate involving several key players, but how serious are the rumblings?
Various Denver Broncos mentioned in trade rumors on Sunday
Early on Sunday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that several key Denver Broncos names have been inquired about from other teams around the National Football League.
Pass rusher Bradley Chubb and wide receivers KJ Hamler and Jerry Jeudy are the key names linked to teams who have called the Broncos with interest. It’s worth noting that Schefter also reported that the teams who have called the Broncos do not believe they will trade anybody away unless the trade possesses instant value both short and long-term.
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Chubb is off to a strong start to the season, amassing 5.5 sacks through Denver’s first six games. When you turn on the tape, he’s been one of their most dominant and consistent players inside the Broncos’ top-five defense.
It makes sense for teams to inquire about Chubb who is playing in the final year of his rookie contract. For a team to trade extensive value for him, it would likely require both a 2nd and 3rd round pick. If a team were to offer that and it were to be accepted, they take on the risk of Chubb hitting free agency after the regular season and having no draft capital in the process.
As it pertains to Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, it doesn’t make much sense at this juncture for Denver to trade them elsewhere this season with Russell Wilson still trying to navigate this new offense which has struggled.
While Courtland Sutton is the team’s true WR1 and Tim Patrick’s presence has been missed this season, it doesn’t seem realistic for the Broncos to remove receiving options for Wilson who does have some offensive personnel-based influence with Broncos general manager George Paton.
Hamler has been brought along each week within Denver’s offense after having ACL and hip surgery last season and has maintained his role as an explosive downfield threat. The Broncos’ third-year receiver has 4 catches this season for 109 yards including explosive receptions of 55 and 44 yards despite only playing 42% of the team’s offensive snaps. Unless Denver believes that undrafted rookie free agent Jalen Virgil or Montrell Washington can offer them impact value in the role Hamler plays, it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be traded.
Jerry Jeudy’s value with the Broncos is very high considering his route running and ability to create separation.
It appears the perception of Jeudy’s role or impact inside of the Broncos offense has been skewed in the eyes of Broncos fans by the unit’s overall struggles this season. The former first-round draft selection has 17 catches on 36 targets for 290 yards. Fans often reference a high number of drops with Jeudy, but that hasn’t been the case so far this season with him only having three drops to date on 36 targets. Of his 17 catches this year, 13 of them have moved the chains for a first down. For Russell Wilson, Jeudy is and will be even more valuable for him as the offense tries to find its way.
There is a belief internally within the organization that the offense will start to put it together, but as the saying goes, seeing is believing.
One player who does have the chance to find a new home before the trade deadline is tight end Albert Okwuegbunam who various teams around the NFL have interest in according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. Okwuegbunam’s role inside of the offense has decreased since Week 1, but what was even more surprising was that he was a healthy scratch against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.
Broncos general manager George Paton had stated after the 2022 NFL Draft that heading into 2023, he’d like to have more than the five picks they currently possess. However, with the roster that Denver currently has, they may be able to navigate and address short-term needs in free agency. It’s worth noting that the 2023 NFL Draft is the final year that the Broncos do not possess a second or third-round pick.
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How Paton maneuvers this Broncos football team as they sit 2-4 right now will be very interesting toward how they project themselves for the remainder of the season and heading into next year.
Cody Roark is Mile High Sports lead Denver Broncos Beat Reporter — Cody covers every practice, every home and away game plus community events related to the organization. He also co-hosts The Afternoon Drive with Aniello Piro on Mile High Sports Radio and is the host of the Locked On Broncos podcast. You can follow Cody on Twitter and Instagram @CodyRoarkNFL.
