Kansas City hosts the 2023 NFL Draft from April 27-29. Since the Broncos have no first-round picks, they’ve had to make aggressive trades and spend in free agency to head in a winning direction, yet not all are guaranteed successes. Here are their best and worst offseason moves.
Best | Trading for Sean Payton
Denver dealt two draft picks, including a 2023 first-rounder, to acquire Payton’s rights from the Saints. Although it was a high asking price, it was worthwhile. Few HCs are the same caliber as Payton, a Super Bowl champion. His winning percentage (63.1 percent) is sixth among active HCs.
His maniacal approach to winning is what the Broncos need after six consecutive losing seasons and missing the playoffs for seven, which is the second-longest drought in the NFL. In a recent news conference, owner Greg Penner indicated he already feels a shift, saying, “(Payton) has brought a different tone” to Denver.
Best | Improving the O-line
Last season, Denver allowed the most sacks in the NFL (63). The unit struggled because it battled injuries. No member started 17 games. After former second-team All-Pro Garrett Bolles suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 5, the Broncos never found anyone to substitute as the anchor.
The Broncos signed RT Mike McGlinchey and LG Ben Powers in free agency. Each was a dependable starter in 2022, missing zero games. Per Pro Football Focus, Powers is among the league’s best pass-blockers, posting the second-highest passing-blocking grade (86.7) among guards.
Worst | Overpaying Zach Allen
Per Spotrac, the Broncos spent the second-most money ($241.5M) in free agency. Nonetheless, they overspent on some free agents, such as Allen. Denver signed him to a three-year, $45.8 million deal, making him the 11th-highest-paid DE in the NFL. Yet, he’s never made a Pro Bowl or started 17 games in four seasons.
The Broncos did need to improve their pass rush after they traded Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb to Miami and let DE Dre’mont Jones, the team’s sack leader in 2022, walk in free agency. However, they didn’t have to give Allen the exorbitant contract. His market value was a three-year deal worth $27.9 million, according to Spotrac.
Worst | Letting defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero go to Carolina
Even though Payton wants to bring in the staff he’s familiar with, he and the Broncos brass botched the Evero situation and should’ve held on to the sharp 42-year-old coach. In his first season as a DC, the Broncos ranked seventh in yards allowed. Also, second-year CB Patrick Surtain II, 22, became Denver’s youngest first-team All-Pro under Evero.
After he signed with Carolina, former Broncos HC and Arizona DC Vance Joseph replaced him. Joseph is a decent defensive mind but doesn’t have the same defensive acumen. In four seasons as the Cardinals DC, his units never ranked in the top 10 in yards or points allowed. Denver should’ve had an upgrade in mind before letting Evero go.
