From Russell Wilson to regular joes

The bye week is when in-season business typically gets done for an NFL team.

On the surface, the Broncos did nothing on their bye week after beating Green Bay and Kansas City to get to 3-5. A flurry of behind-the-scenes action and two major endeavors that didn’t happen, however, set the eventual course for their offseason.

The first is the well-chronicled ask that quarterback Russell Wilson adjust his contract, which not only didn’t happen but inflamed the relationship between the sides and became a point of major contention when Wilson got benched ahead of Week 17.

While they negotiated fruitlessly with Wilson’s agent in late October, the Broncos also held their assets at the trade deadline, rebuffing what offers did come their way on wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and others.

Heading into the offseason now, Wilson’s contract and the fallout for likely severing ties this spring will govern Denver’s financial flexibility.

Around the quarterback position, many other questions need answering.

The Broncos aren’t young and they aren’t cheap.

They have several major decisions to make on high-priced players still under contract.

They have 14 unrestricted free agents — a group that doesn’t feature any elite players but constitutes 23% of Denver’s offensive snaps and 21% of its defensive snaps. Just as important: With perhaps an exception here and there, they don’t have clear successors on the roster.

The Broncos start the offseason about $20 million over the projected 2024 salary cap and currently have just six selections in April’s draft, though they’re set to pick in the first round (No. 12 overall) for the first time since 2021.

Bottom line: The next six months are going to be busy.

“We know there’s a lot of work to be done, and we’re excited to begin this process,” general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “The process is already underway.”

Here’s a position-by-position look at Denver’s starting point.

Quarterbacks

Also: Ben DiNucci

Analysis: Only the most consequential question mark on the Broncos roster and the most consequential position in the game. Russell Wilson is unlikely to return in 2024 and the machinations begin with the exact nature of his departure. Jarrett Stidham’s under contract in 2024 and has expressed confidence in his ability to be Denver’s starter. Could the Broncos draft one? Trade for one? Sign one in free agency? That will be the club’s biggest offseason storyline. If Wilson does indeed leave, he’ll do so having never actually played a down of the five-year contract extension he signed in 2022, which covered 2024-28. That’s why the cap fallout ($85 million in dead money) is set to be so large. The cost of Denver’s quarterback room in 2024 is Wilson’s $35.4 million plus Stidham’s $7 million (barring a restructure or release) plus whatever the Broncos add. … DiNucci is a developmental player who handled the scout team well this year.

Running backs

Also: Tyler Badie

Analysis: Williams did an admirable job playing in 16 games (1,002 offensive yards) after a devastating knee injury in October 2022, but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. More of his pop may return next year, but Denver still needs to address this position in the offseason, whether via free agency or the draft. Perine played his role well and McLaughlin was a post-draft steal, but are either a featured back? Perine is steady, but his cap number in 2024 might make him expendable ($3 million saved by releasing him). … McLaughlin’s an exciting talent who Payton says can be a versatile offensive weapon. He got 107 touches as an undrafted rookie. … Burton played 290 special teams snaps and was steady at fullback.

Wide Receivers

Also: Phillip Dorsett, David Sills V

Analysis: At some point, an overhaul to this room is coming. This might be the offseason. The Broncos have $46.4 million on the books for Sutton, Patrick and Jeudy, but could be active with any or all of them. One possible set of moves: Extend Sutton, release (and perhaps re-sign) Patrick once he’s healthy and trade Jeudy. But you could make an argument for any number of variations on how to handle that trio. The Broncos stood pat last offseason and again at the October trade deadline. It’s hard to see that being the case again this offseason, especially with another deep draft class in April. Denver could address the position as early as the first round. … Mims excelled as a returner in his rookie year, but needs to make progress in his route running and overall offensive mastery to become a consistent threat. He certainly showed flashes of his dynamic ability.

Tight ends

Analysis: It’s difficult to overstate how much Denver’s plan at the position changed when Dulcich re-injured his hamstring Week 1. He didn’t play an entire game in the season and appeared in just two. He’s confident in a healthy future, but the Broncos must plan as if they don’t know what he’ll provide in 2024. … Trautman is a trusted Payton-er. Will Denver try to upgrade his spot or elsewhere? Manhertz did the dirty work and is a good locker room presence. Krull was a nice find and has potential as a receiving threat. Adkins is versatile and could actually replace Burton should the fullback not re-sign.

Offensive Line

Also: Demontrey Jacobs, Will Sherman

Analysis: The Broncos spent big on their offensive line last offseason and got better production overall for it. They finished third in ESPN’s run-block win rate and eighth in pass-block win rate, one of just five teams to crack the top 10 in both. Now, though, they face two big questions and a series of smaller ones. Cushenberry played his best ball in a contract year and should have a nice market. Does Denver pay him or turn to Forsyth, who did not play as a rookie but the staff thinks has a bright future? Then, what do the Broncos do with Bolles? He played well in 2023 after a 2022 broken leg but has a huge cap number in the final year of his deal and will be 32 when the 2024 season starts. What’s his trade market? Denver could save $16 million by cutting him but has no clear succession plan unless a fully under-the-radar player like Jacobs is ready or the Broncos find a ready-made player in the draft. … McGlinchey and Powers, the prizes of the 2023 free agency class, are restructure candidates.

Defensive line

Also: Jordan Jackson

Analysis: Denver made the right call last spring in signing Allen instead of Dre’Mont Jones in free agency. Allen played high-quality football and, in a quietly impressive feat, played all 17 games for the first time in his career, logging a whopping 911 snaps (81%). He anchored a group that has two highly paid players (Jones the other) and a bunch of question marks. This is a group that needs work. Almost all of the best teams in football dominate up front defensively. The Broncos do not. … Purcell could return, but only on another low-cost deal. None of Harris, Henningsen or Garcia proved themselves a no-doubt future starter and Uwazurike is suspended until late July for gambling violations that could end his career. If the Broncos make a big move in free agency or on the acquiring end of a trade, this would be a place to do it. A first-round draft pick isn’t out of the question, either.

Inside linebackers

Also: Durell Nchami

Analysis: Singleton and Jewell are a tight-knit pair who’ve played a ton together. They both said they’d like to play together again in 2024. At the same time, the Broncos would do well to infuse more athleticism into the middle of the field. Can they re-sign Jewell and still find a way to do that? Perhaps if Drew Sanders ends up returning back inside — though defensive coordinator Vance Joseph indicated he likes Sanders on the edge. Griffith looked like a starting option, but he’s played in just nine games the past two years due to a 2022 foot injury and 2023 ACL tear. … Singleton’s the only player in the room under contract, so how does Denver fill out around him? … Strnad has played 85% of Denver’s special teams snaps the past two years.

Outside linebackers

Also: Ronnie Perkins

Analysis: The Broncos went young on the edge and benefited from it both in 2023 and likely beyond. Bonitto, Browning and Cooper all took strides and they should be the bedrock of this group in 2024. They combined for 21 sacks and each improved on run defense. It’s not all perfect, of course. Randy Gregory chewed up $14 million on the 2023 cap and counts $7.12 million in dead money in 2024, along with Frank Clark’s $1.125 million. And though the young trio is good, none of them or Sanders is a sure-fire elite edge rusher. Those cost a pretty penny in free agency, so this becomes yet another position where the Broncos could easily justify spending a first-round draft pick. … Amazing as it is, Browning and Cooper will each be entering the final years of their rookie contracts.

Cornerbacks

Also: Reese Taylor, Keidron Smith

Analysis: Surtain is already perhaps the finest cornerback in the NFL and looks like a perennial All-Pro for years to come. He’s now extension eligible, meaning sometime in the next 12-18 months the Broncos will make him the highest-paid corner in the game if they don’t trade him for a trove of draft picks (unlikely). McMillian blossomed from little-used undrafted rookie in 2022 to one of the feistiest nickels in the league. After that, question marks. Mathis regressed in Year 2 and rookie Moss has promise, but played sparingly on defense. He became one of Denver’s best special teamers, so perhaps the long-term vision for him is on schedule. … Who is CB2 in 2024? For all the luxury that comes with Surtain being able to do anything on any given week, that makes the other guy’s responsibility wide but also varied. No easy job. Moreau handled it well, but can the Broncos upgrade? Probably so in the draft if they use an early pick. Trickier to find quality play for modest money in free agency.

Safeties

Also: Devon Key

Analysis: At 1-5, many wondered if the Broncos would trade Simmons, the franchise stalwart. Now following an 8-9 season, there will be similar considerations but with a big caveat: Simmons stayed healthy after the first month, continued to play well and continued his vital role in a defense that showed promise. Not many guys earn third contracts from the same team in the NFL, but Simmons should be a candidate as he enters the final year of his current deal. An extension ensures Denver keeps him for a couple more seasons and lowers his cap number for 2024 in the process. … Locke took a big step and is worth re-signing unless his market explodes. The Broncos will need depth anyways, because Sterns has recovering to do from a patella tendon rupture, Turner-Yell is likely out until well into next season after a major Week 17 knee injury and Skinner wasn’t ready for defensive action as a rookie. This is a group where continuity makes sense.

Special Teams