The 2024 NFL season will be a huge season for the Denver Broncos. How well the team performs will provide a huge indicator regarding how soon this team can get back into contention. Of course, Sean Payton would like for that to happen this season.
But the team has a long way to go. The word "rebuild" has never officially been used. Still, when you're eating $85 million in dead cap money after releasing Russell Wilson and starting over with a rookie QB, that's exactly what you're doing.
The Broncos will likely take a wait-and-see approach to the 2024 season and then decide how to proceed with critical decisions including which players they could explore trading. Who are some players the team could part with?
These trades could happen anytime starting now up to this year's trade deadline. If the Broncos are not contending for the playoffs when that deadline approaches, a drastic measure — such as trading Garett Bolles to a contender — could be taken.
But that is for down the road and as a result, would not be as "likely" as some of the other moves the team could potentially make before that. Sometimes, a team will have several productive players at one position on their 90-man roster during training camp but knowing they won't be able to keep them all, they'll look to deal one for some compensation rather than just waiving them for nothing in return.
Some of the players on this list could find themselves in that situation.
4 most likely Denver Broncos players to be traded during 2024 season
Courtland Sutton, WR
Starting with the most obvious, trade talks surrounding the veteran wide receiver are not going to stop until the Broncos either give him the pay increase he is looking for or just deal him.
Sutton caught 10 touchdown passes last season and several teams would be interested in the size he brings as a red-zone threat. In Denver, he is the No. 1 wide receiver but several teams could make him a viable No. 2.
Not convinced many watched what Courtland Sutton was doing last year
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) July 13, 2024
At the same time, Bo Nix is going to need a reliable target in the passing game to help his growth, so it is not an easy decision. If the Broncos see Troy Franklin ahead of schedule as a rookie and enough production out of guys like Marvin Mims Jr. and Josh Reynolds, Sutton could easily be dealt during the season or right before the deadline.
Riley Dixon, Punter
The Broncos signed Trenton Gill this offseason and if he wins the punting battle, the Broncos could send Riley Dixon off to a team in need of a veteran punter. The Broncos did the same thing ahead of the 2018 season in Dixon's first stint with the team, trading him to the New York Giants after signing Marquette King in free agency.
Damarri Mathis, CB
The Broncos signed Levi Wallace as a veteran corner this offseason and he is in line to be the starting boundary corner opposite Pat Surtain II. With Ja'Quan McMillian in the slot, it seems the Broncos may not need both Damarri Mathis and Riley Moss.
Since Moss was a third-round pick last year, the team may want to see more from him in terms of development and they could decide they've already seen enough from Mathis, who struggled mightily last year.
The team could try and recoup a day three draft pick for the former fourth-round selection.
Samaje Perine, RB
This may be a surprise to see Samaje Perine on this list, especially since Sean Payton values veteran leadership, but the team has a major logjam at running back and could easily give up a great talent by keeping Perine on the roster.
Javonte Williams is the current starter but Jaleel McLaughlin is going to push for playing time. Audric Estime was selected in the fifth round but I firmly believe that undrafted signing Blake Watson is going to duplicate the preseason performance McLaughlin had last year and make it impossible not to keep him.
Despite Perine being quite productive last season as a receiver out of the backfield, the Broncos could be sacrificing a great future asset by holding onto him as there almost certainly won't be five runnings backs on the 53-man roster.
Trading Perine for a day three draft pick in the future might be a better idea than cutting Watson and hoping he clears waivers in order to stash him on the practice squad.
