5 Players Broncos Might Consider Signing if They're Cut

With the 2022 NFL season in the books, teams will now start making decisions about which players they may need to release, either because they need cap space, they have fallen out of favor with their current teams, or their teams find an upgrade.

The Denver Broncos will have to make some decisions about a few players on their roster, given that the team is about $9.3M under the cap and will need more space if it wishes to be active in free agency.

Along with players set to become unrestricted free agents, the Broncos could consider players who other teams release from their contracts. In some cases, the Broncos could find a player who fits what new head coach Sean Payton and his staff need for their schemes and likely get the player at a low cost than an unrestricted free agent.

Here are a few players that the Broncos may consider if they get released from their current deals.

Marcus Mariota | QB

Mariota started 13 games for the Falcons in 2022 but was eventually benched for Desmond Ridder. Though Ridder didn't impress, the Atlanta Falcons are rumored to be interested in acquiring another veteran.

The Falcons could be a potential suitor for the recently-released Derek Carr, and they may be interested in Lamar Jackson if the Baltimore Ravens cannot extend him regardless. Suppose they do acquire another veteran. That makes Mariota expendable.

While you would want to avoid signing Mariota as your starter, he's the ideal backup QB. The only question would be how much salary he'd want, but if he was cut, he might have to take less money than other backups might get paid.

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Tyron Smith | OT

Smith has been one of the better offensive tackles in the NFL, as evidenced by his seven Pro Bowl bids. However, Smith has missed 22 games in the past three seasons.

After Tyler Smith played well at left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys this past season, the Cowboys could release Tyron to spend money elsewhere.

Tyron Smith does have experience at right tackle, though he wouldn't be a long-term option. However, he could stabilize the position in the short term. If he is released, you can consider him, but you don't want to pay him solely based on his past reputation.

Frank Clark | EDGE

Clark renegotiated his contract for 2022, taking a base salary of $3.275M with $2.5M in bonuses. He had a good but not great season, and he'll be due $20.5M in 2023, with $10M becoming guaranteed if he's on the Kansas City Chiefs roster on March 21.

Clark didn't play at a level that justifies $20.5M, and given that the Chiefs have other priorities to address, it wouldn't be surprising if they cut Clark to avoid paying the $10M guarantee.

Depending on who the Broncos hire to be defensive coordinator, Clark could be a good fit if he's released. He would give the Broncos a veteran option for the pass rush who, while missing a handful of games, hasn't missed as many as Randy Gregory

Adoree Jackson | CB

Jackson signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants and played reasonably well in 2021. But in 2022, his season was cut short because of an ankle injury.

Though the Giants have plenty of cap space, the current regime didn't sign Jackson, and they may want to look at other options. If he's on their roster as of March 20, they'll have to guarantee $2M of his salary.

Jackson is one of several cornerbacks the Broncos could consider if he's released. It all depends on the salary — with Ronald Darby due $9.5M in base salary for 2023, a cornerback who is cut and willing to take less money could take Darby's place.

Harrison Smith | S

The Minnesota Vikings are currently $23.2M over the cap and need to find ways to address that. It could mean they cut some players, and Smith might be one in which they have little choice.

Smith is due $14.7M in base salary for 2023, and while he has played well, he's not playing at a level that justifies the salary. If the Vikings do release Smith, he could be worth a look.

The only thing to remember is that Smith will be 34 years old in 2023. He's not somebody to sign to a long-term deal, but given some concerns about Caden Sterns' health, Smith might be a player to add as veteran insurance.

Bottom Line

The five players I've mentioned are just a few from a list of potential cuts around the league. Other names to keep an eye on would be QB Mitchell Trubisky, EDGE Bud Dupree, OT Taylor Lewan, and CBs Shaquil Griffin and William Jackson III.

It's easy to think of released players as not worth much, but some can offer you quality play and, more often than not, at lower prices than the more prominent names in unrestricted free agency. Furthermore, they don't count in the compensatory pick formula.

With the Broncos not having much in the way of draft capital and likely plenty of suitors for what isn't a deep field in unrestricted free agent, the Broncos can only afford to turn away from some players who get cut. And sometimes, a player who does get released will find new life with a new team.

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