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The 2024 NFL Draft may be over, but that doesn’t mean that the Denver Broncos are done filling up their roster. There are still some notable free agents after the draft that the team could go after.
It’s an interesting time for the Broncos coming into the 2024 season. Russell Wilson is now gone, and his replacement looks to be rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who was the team’s first-round pick in the draft. However, the effects of Wilson still remain, even if he’s not going to be on the team.
The Broncos and head coach Sean Payton are looking toward the future, and Wilson was not a part of that plan. However, the fallout from Wilson, which goes back to his initial trade from the Seattle Seahawks, has left the team with limited resources. At the moment, the Broncos have just $8.7 million in cap space available, per OverTheCap. That, of course, leaves little room for the team to do much of anything in free agency unless they decide to make post-June 1 cuts. But only two players in those cuts can be used to split up the cap charge.
It was unlikely that the Broncos draft or even undrafted free agents were going to solve all their problems. But, if the Broncos do decide to reach back into the available veteran free agents, the financial resources leave them even more limited. Nonetheless, let’s look at three free-agent players who could fill some necessary holes for the Broncos.
Logan Thomas, TE
The Broncos’ tight end room is probably the worst in the entire NFL. There really isn’t a single notable player in that room for them currently, which doesn’t help Nix in his first season. Their current tight ends are Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Thomas Yassmin, Dylan Leonard, and Nate Adkins.
Not that the Broncos could afford a highly-rated free-agent tight end, but the bad news is that this is a similarly terrible free-agent market for tight ends this season. The best available currently is former Washington Commander Logan Thomas.
Though injuries plagued Thomas back in 2021 and 2022, where his production took a major dip, he made a bit of a comeback season in 2023. Granted, coming out of a putrid Washington offense, Thomas had 55 receptions for 496 yards and four touchdowns. A solid catcher and blocker, Thomas would have to be immediately tabbed as the Broncos’ starting tight end if he were signed.
Steven Nelson, CB
The Broncos ranked 23rd in passing yards allowed last season, averaging 233.6 yards per game, along with a total of 29 passing touchdowns. Right now at the cornerback position, you have Patrick Surtain II and Levi Wallace. Bringing in a player like former Houston Texans corner Steven Nelson could definitely bolster the room.
No one is taking Surtain’s job, but Nelson could definitely compete with Wallace as the other outside corner. Last season, Nelson, who started in every game but one, tied his career high for interceptions with four. He also had 63 total tackles and 12 pass deflections, per Pro-Football-Reference.
At 31 years old, getting on the backside of his career, it’s likely Nelson wouldn’t get anything more than a one- or two-year deal, which fits best for the Broncos right now.
Connor Williams, C
Perhaps one of the biggest losses in free agency for the Broncos was that of center Lloyd Cushenberry. He’ll now be suiting up for the Tennessee Titans in 2024. At first, it looked like the Broncos were going to leave the battle for center up to Alex Forsyth or Luke Wattenberg, both unproven at the position. But then they added unrestricted free agent Sam Mustipher on a one-year deal.
Mustipher actually was a full-time starter for the Chicago Bears for the last two seasons. But at such an important position, especially one that will likely be helping a rookie quarterback, the Broncos may still be looking. That leaves the only real option available in former Miami Dolphin Connor Williams. However, with Williams, there are some concerns.
Williams is coming off a season where he dealt with some pretty significant injuries, including a groin sprain and later on a really bad torn ACL. Sure, he comes in at a big risk, but his experience and expertise at the position could go a long way to help the Broncos in 2024.
More must-reads:
- Former NFL GM has huge praise for Packers QB Jordan Love
- 11 NFL teams gain cap space from post-June 1 cuts
- The 'Recent seasons with 1,000 receiving yards' quiz
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