The 2023 season was supposed to be the start of a new era in Denver with new head coach Sean Payton at the helm. Yet, it has been a continuation of the team's 2022 struggles, and with the team sitting at 1-5 it is time to trade away anything that can bring back value to the team.
There have been various names floating around the trade buzz scene such as Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and lockdown corner Patrick Surtain II. Yet the main question is who are the Broncos willing to keep if they decide to tear it all down?
With Denver already being limited on draft capital after giving up its 2023 first-round pick for Sean Payton, the team needs to acquire capital and fast.
1. Patrick Surtain II to the Cowboys
What better than to pair a stud cornerback with America's team? After losing standout corner Trevon Diggs to a torn ACL for the season "them Boys" have been giving up over 30 points per game and just got dismantled by the 49ers last week on Sunday Night Football.
The trade makes sense for Dallas because it would fill a clear void left by Diggs and the team has to push hard for a Super Bowl with some of their key players starting to age and get back to how dominant the team looked the first month of the season. Surtain is certainly worth multiple first-round picks and then some, but what can a possible trade look like?
Denver could ask for arguably two first-round picks plus a veteran like Brandin Cooks to give the team an experienced wideout to help them this year and next. Denver could also throw in late-round picks in the swap to try and get more of a haul for Surtain.
At the minimum, Surtain is the team's most valuable player by far and approaching his prime which the team must trade and collect as much draft capital as possible.
2. Russell Wilson to the Jets
With Aaron Rodgers potentially being done for the season and Russell Wilson struggling why shouldn't the Jets take a flier on Wilson? Russ was phenomenal for the Seahawks winning one Super Bowl and leading the 43-8 domination over the Denver Broncos.
Wilson was awful last season yet has seemed to bounce back under Sean Payton and is at his best with quick screens, short passes, and rolling out of the pocket. Wilson thrives at being a game manager and airing it out deep downfield on play action.
The Jets have a dominant defense and are missing a quarterback to solve their puzzle. Breece Hall's aggressive running paired with Russell Wilson's deep play actions to Garrett Wilson has Super Bowl contenders written all over it.
The Broncos would need to eat the majority of Wilson's contract and due to his poor play cannot get as much as they hoped for him. Denver can throw in the towel and start Brett Rypien and stack draft capital through its firesale. Or, the Broncos can hope for a package of mid-round picks and a few young players such as Zach Wilson or Izzy Abanikanda who is buried behind Hall and Dalvin Cook.
Trading Wilson seems like a move that might need to happen as the team needs to rebuild and garner as much capital as possible.
3. Jerry Jeudy to the Packers
Jeudy in the green and yellow would provide struggling Jordan Love with an experienced receiver while not costing much for the Packers. Jeudy is labeled as a what-if at this point of his career after being selected 15th overall by Denver in the 2020 NFL Draft and not living up to his expectations.
Green Bay is sitting at 2-3 and making a deal for Jeudy can help the team try and chase down the stout Lions or look for an NFC Wild Card berth. The Packers desperately need experienced wide receiver help with Christan Watson and Romeo Doubs leading the way in their second seasons with the team. Behind them are rookies Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks leaving the team very thin with veterans and in dire need of help.
Denver can dish out Jeudy and expect a mid-round draft pick and their choice of Doubs, Reed, and Wicks with Watson being the untouchable of the bunch. The Broncos need to get as much as they can for Jeudy and I predict the team can land one of the Packers' young receivers plus a mid-rounder for Jeudy and a late-round pick.
