The Denver Broncos will wrap up their 2023 NFL season on Sunday when they face the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Week 18.
Once the final whistle blows, the offseason will begin immediately for the Broncos, and coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton are poised to have a busy spring with many challenging decisions.
Denver is projected to be $18 million over the salary cap in 2024, according to an estimate from OverTheCap.com, and that’s before potentially releasing quarterback Russell Wilson and creating an even bigger cap mess.
The Broncos will have to dig out of a salary cap hole this offseason, forcing the team to make some tough decisions. To become cap-compliant, Denver will likely have to part ways with multiple players either through cuts, trades or free agency.
Ahead of the team’s season finale, here’s a quick look at ten players who could play* their final game for the Broncos on Sunday. (*We’ve also included a few injured/benched players who could depart in 2024.)
1
DL Mike Purcell
Purcell has been a key member of Denver’s defensive line since 2019, but he’s scheduled to become a 33-year-old free agent this spring. The Broncos might let him walk in March and bring in cheaper options.
2
DL D.J. Jones
Jones has been excellent since since signing a three-year, $30 million contract two years ago, but Denver will need to make tough decisions to get back under the salary cap. Jones has a contract option for the 2024 season and if the Broncos do not pick it up, the team would save about $10 million in salary cap space. Denver could also consider restructuring Jones’ contract or attempt to trade him.
3
C Lloyd Cushenberry
Cushenberry has been superb this season and the Broncos would undoubtedly like to bring him back, but the 26-year-old center is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March and Denver might not be able to afford a big contract extension, especially if other teams drive up the price.
4
LT Garett Bolles
If the Broncos re-sign Cushenberry, they might have to make a cut elsewhere on the offensive line. Releasing Bolles would save the team $14.5 million in 2024 and trading him could free up $16 million.
5
DB Justin Simmons
Simmons is a great Bronco on and off the field, but if Denver is about to enter a rebuilding phase, trading away a 30-year-old safety while he still has high trade value might be a prudent decision. Trading Simmons this offseason could save the team $14.5 million in salary cap space.
6
WR Jerry Jeudy
The Broncos have been flirting with the possibility of trading Jeudy for more than two years now. The team could free itself from all of Jeudy’s 2024 cap hit ($12,987,000) through a trade in the spring. Jeudy is a talented receiver so he would likely draw suitors. A trade might be the best move for all parties, giving the receiver a fresh start while also giving Denver more cap space and additional draft capital.
7
WR Tim Patrick*
Patrick won’t play this week because he’s still on injured reserve, but Sunday might mark his final time standing on a Broncos sideline. The 30-year-old receiver will be returning from back-to-back serious injuries in 2024 and he will have a cap hit north of $16 million. There’s no way Denver will pay that much. The Broncos might try to restructure Patrick’s contract. Alternatively, releasing him would free up $10 million in cap space.
8
ILB Alex Singleton
Signleton has been a tackling machine in Denver, but he has also struggled in coverage and is set to have a cap hit of $7.33 million in 2024. A post-June 1 release could net the Broncos $3 million next year and $6 million in 2025.
9
CB K'Waun Williams*
Williams won’t suit up on Sunday because he’s on injured reserve, but his scenario is similar to Patrick’s. The veteran cornerback will become a free agent in March before turning 33 in July. It’s hard to imagine Denver re-signing Williams after he missed 19 games due to injury over the last two years.
10
QB Russell Wilson*
Barring injury, Wilson is not expected to play on Sunday, but the game will likely represent his final time suiting up for the Broncos. The 35-year-old quarterback expects to be released in March, which would be Denver’s first step toward getting away from his contract. It will take several years, but releasing Wilson would eventually net more cap space for the Broncos down the road.
Buckle up, Broncos Country. The next few months will be interesting.
