Broncos Urged to Fill Two More Glaring Roster Holes
The first wave of free agency is in the books. With the Denver Broncos’ flexing their wealth and the new ownership group spending more money than any other team so far this offseason, it’s safe to say the days of the Broncos shopping in the bargain bin are behind them.
Denver signed the likes of Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers to add to the offensive line, defensive lineman Zach Allen, running backs Samaje Perine and Tony Jones Jr, along with blocking tight end Chris Manhertz, and fullback Michael Burton, and retained linebacker Alex Singleton, all of which points to two goals for the Broncos this offseason: drastically improving the run-offense personnel and getting better along both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Even if the Broncos didn’t make a single draft pick in the upcoming NFL draft, it seems pretty safe to say they accomplished those goals. Fortunately for the Broncos, though, they do have draft capital left to add to the roster (even if it's minimal in comparison to league counterparts) and also some avenues to add talent still available through free agency.
The question isn’t if Denver will bring in anyone else, but rather what areas of the roster the team could use further talent to help bolster the roster. According to Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus, the Broncos' two areas of need are wide receiver and linebacker.
The Broncos have been busy this offseason, signing Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers and Zach Allen to starting spots, as well as Samaje Perine, Chris Manhertz, and Tremon Smith to contributing roles. Their linebacker room could use extra athleticism, even with the Alex Singleton re-signing. And depending on what happens with their wide receivers amid trade rumors surrounding that corps, they could be in need there, too.
Given where the Broncos are picking in the draft and the limited resources remaining, the reality is the team should not limit the scope in its search for talent. After the initial wave of free agency, Denver still has some holes and question marks on the roster, but none of the projected starting depth chart is an issue to the point that it could not field a quality team in Week 1 — assuming no major injuries occur between now and then.
Linebacker is a position the Broncos could add if the right player falls to them in the draft. But given the money spent on Josey Jewell and Singleton, as well as retaining last season’s day-one starter Jonas Griffith, developmental depth could be added, but it's not a gaping hole.
Wide receiver, on the surface, doesn’t seem to be a huge need for Denver either. However, with the added context of the Broncos “taking calls” on Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton and the team’s rumored pursuit of Allen Lazard and Adam Theilen, as well as KJ Hamler's pec injury recently suffered, the team seems determined to turn over its wide receiver room much like it did the offensive line.
However, the Broncos' biggest remaining hole is that of the center position. Lloyd Cushenberry III has not proven to be a viable starter three years into his NFL career.
With limitations in his ability to anchor against strong bull-rushing defensive tackles and in his power in a gap-rushing scheme, Cushenberry just hasn’t played well enough to feel comfortable starting him.
An indictment on his level of play last season, Cushenberry was not even activated from the injury reserve list after he became fully healthy, with the team opting instead to play Graham Glasgow at center (who was recently released and now in Detroit). If Cushenberry is starting at center in Week 1, Broncos Country had better hope he has taken massive steps forward in his game.
Finally, and perhaps most under the radar, is that of offensive tackle and boundary cornerback (boundary corner does not include K’Wuan Williams or Essang Bassey, who are slot cornerbacks). On paper, the starters at these positions look fine, with Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey at offensive tackle and Patrick Surtain II and Demarri Mathis at boundary corner. The depth behind these duos is, at best, massively unproven.
One injury at offensive tackle and Denver would have to turn to Isaiah Prince or Christian DeLauro. One injury at boundary corner, and Denver is calling upon Tremon Smith or Ja’Quan McMillian.
It’s possible that any of these players could step up and perform if called upon in 2023, but that's a large risk to take on such unknown players at such premium positions without a strong pedigree in college or the NFL.
Linebacker and wide receiver are certainly positions the Broncos could still add this offseason. But the Broncos’ biggest needs are debatable, looking over the current state of the depth chart.
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