Later this offseason, the Denver Broncos will cut its roster from 90 players to 53 players. Denver will have to make some tough cuts: The Broncos could make it easier by swapping a few players and creating additional roster space without having to make as many cuts.
Here are five players that the team should consider swapping.
1. LB Josey Jewell
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Jewell has two years left on his contract, but there doesn’t seem to be much more emerging than a backup and special-team partner. Todd Davis and Alexander Johnson are the clear headlines and Justin Strnad and Justin Hollins are useful backups behind them.
With Joe Jones and Josh Watson also competing for playing time, Jewell could be an expendable player for the Broncos.
2. RB Royce Freeman
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Denver has a pair of Pro Bowl runners at Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon, making it hard to imagine Royce Freeman having a lot of playing time. Instead of letting his contract run out, the Broncos should consider switching Freeman. Khalfani Muhammad would be a good third rope runner.
3. TE Jeff Heuerman
(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
Neither team would trade for Jake Butt, but the Broncos could get something for Jeff Heuerman before becoming a free agent in 2021. Denver has decent depth on the field with Noah Fant leading the way. Nick Vannett was signed during free agency and Albert Okwuegbunam was drafted in April, which could be a sign that the Broncos are preparing to break out of some of their closed ends.
4. WR DaeSean Hamilton
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
Denver suddenly has a crowded receiver room after selecting Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. Courtland Sutton, Jeudy and Hamler are locks to form the 53-man roster and Tim Patrick and Diontae Spencer are locks to form the team. That leaves just one more place on the list for a WR. Will the Broncos give up on Juwann Winfree so early? Hamilton trading could be an option.
5. DL DeMarcus Walker
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
DeMarcus Walker is a perfectly helpful rotating defensive lineman but he’s slated to become a free agent next spring and it’s hard to imagine Denver signing him again. The Broncos have three clear starters in Jurrell Casey, Shelby Harris and Mike Purcell. If the team traded to Walker, Denver would still have three quality backups at Dre’Mont Jones, McTelvin Agim and Christian Covington.
