As the NFL’s trade deadline approaches, teams are calling the Denver Broncos about a potential fire sale.
Going into Sunday’s showdown with the New York Jets, the Broncos are 1-3 and far outside the early playoff picture. Consequently, teams have called Denver about the trade statues of left tackle Garett Bolles, edge rusher Frank Clark, safety Justin Simmons and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, according to a report from Armando Salguero of Outkick.com.
The Broncos fielding calls for Clark was also reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who noted that Clark would only cost his new team $1.21 million because Denver has already paid his $4.2 million signing bonus.
“[M]any sources around the league believe the Broncos would be willing to listen to trade interest in almost any player on the defensive side,” according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
One call about Simmons was a “short exchange,” according to Salguero, presumably a sign that he’s not on the trade block. Denver also seems unlikely to trade star cornerback Pat Surtain.
The Broncos apparently aren’t currently interested in trading “any” offensive players, according to The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini. That suggests Denver is not interested in parting with Jeudy or Sutton, at least at the moment, despite interest from multiple teams dating back to last season.
Right now, Clark seems like the most likely trade candidate. The Broncos previously traded pass rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers last week. The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 31.
1
LT Garett Bolles
Bolles, 31, is under contract through the 2024 season. He has a $17.8 million salary cap hit this season and a $20 million cap hit next year.
2
OLB Frank Clark
Clark, 30, has become expendable for the Broncos following the emergence of Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper and the looming return of Baron Browning. If traded, he would have a team-friendly cap hit for the rest of this season before becoming a free agent in 2024.
3
DB Justin Simmons
Simmons, who will turn 30 next month, has a $18.15 million cap hit this season. His cap hit will jump to $18.25 million in 2024 before Simmons becomes a free agent in 2025.
4
WR Jerry Jeudy
Teams have been calling the Broncos about Jeudy for more than a year. The 24-year-old receiver has a $4.83 million cap hit this year and a fifth-year option for 2024 worth $12.98 million.
5
WR Courtland Sutton
Sutton, who will turn 28 on Tuesday, has a cap hit of $18.26 million this year. His cap hits will be $17.32 million and $17.82 over the next two seasons before Sutton becomes a free agent in 2026.
