7 Broncos Veterans Who Might Not be in the Rebuild Plans

These Denver Broncos are under contract next year but are they part of the long-term plan?

The Denver Broncos' decision not to make any significant moves before the trade deadline doesn't guarantee that certain veterans will be with the team in 2024.

With the Broncos needing to rebuild the roster, it's still possible that older players with one or more years left on their deals could be either cut or traded during the offseason.

Today, I'm breaking down the notable veterans who still have at least a year left on their current contracts to determine the likelihood that they will be retained in a rebuild. The players in question have higher salaries and cap hits, and only one is under a rookie contract.

The rest are on their second NFL contracts. Let's see which of these veterans could be kept in a rebuild and which veterans the Broncos may have to move in the near future.

Garett Bolles | OT

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Bolles will have a cap hit of $20 million for 2024. He has been the subject of trade rumors, dating back all the way to the 2023 offseason.

While Bolles isn't an elite left tackle, he's a good one and has been consistent with his play. He did suffer a broken leg during the 2022 season, but that hasn't impacted his play this year.

It's not unusual for offensive tackles to play well at an older age. Thus, Bolles might be worth keeping for a while, particularly if the Broncos decide to draft a quarterback in 2024. Don't rule out the possibility of the Broncos extending him for a couple more years.

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Justin Simmons | S

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Simmons will have a cap charge of $18.25M next season. He's fallen into a pattern of starting the season slowly but playing better in the latter half.

However, Simmons will be 31 years old next season, and unlike offensive tackle, safeties tend to see their play decline as they get older. Simmons is a popular player, but the Broncos will have to ask themselves how much longer they can afford to keep him. He may be back in 2024, but he's not somebody to extend as part of a rebuild.

Courtland Sutton | WR

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Sutton has been the Broncos' most consistent receiver this season. He's shown the ability to make tough catches and keep drives going.

Sutton will have a cap charge of $17.325M in 2024. His name has come up a lot in trade talks, and that pattern could continue in the 2024 offseason.

While there is an argument for keeping Sutton in 2024, the Broncos need to avoid extending him. Though plenty of wide receivers have shown they can live up to a second contract, that's not the case with a third contract.

In fact, Sutton is a player that the Broncos might have to move during the 2025 season, assuming he stays for 2024. The Broncos would be better served with younger wide receivers by 2025.

Tim Patrick | WR

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Patrick was a productive player for multiple seasons, and few argued about the three-year extension he received back in 2021.

Unfortunately, Patrick has missed the past two seasons with significant injuries. And though his base salary is just $9.5M in 2024, the Broncos have twice restructured his deal, and his cap charge will be $16M.

Sadly, the Broncos may have no choice but to cut Patrick. While the contract wasn't really a bad one, and it would be nice to see what he could do in Sean Payton's system, the Broncos can't be sentimental here.

D.J. Jones | DL

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Jones received a generous contract in 2022 and was good but not great for the Broncos. This season, he started slowly but has played better in more recent games.

However, Jones comes with a cap charge of nearly $13M in 2024. Given the Broncos' need for cap space, Jones isn't somebody to keep at that number.

Perhaps the Broncos can get Jones to renegotiate his 2024 salary. However, if that doesn't happen, the Broncos will likely have to cut him. If he does take a pay cut, 2024 needs to be his last season with the team.

Jerry Jeudy | WR

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The Broncos reportedly received an offer of a 2024 third- and fifth-round pick for Jeudy but turned it down. While it appears the coaching staff and front office think he can be part of the team going forward, the Broncos will have to make a decision about him in 2024.

Jeudy will be nearly $13M on the fifth-year option of his draft pick contract. If the Broncos plan to keep him, they need to get his cap number lowered.

But then the question becomes how much he should get in an extension. While it would be his second contract in the NFL, the Broncos have to ask themselves how much he's really worth.

If, after the season ends, the Broncos aren't convinced he's part of the team's future, they need to move forward with a trade. They will get a better idea about where teams fall in the draft order, which could make them more inclined to deal him.

Other Players

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DL Zach Allen, RT Mike McGlinchey, LG Ben Powers, and LB Alex Singleton were all signed to new contracts this past offseason, so it's likely you'll see them all be back with the Broncos in 2024.

The only way to move from any of these players is to trade them. Perhaps the Broncos move one of them in this way, but that's not guaranteed. Thus, Broncos fans should operate under the assumption that the four in question will be back next year.

The Broncos could get out of the deals for Allen, Powers, and Singleton in 2025 by cutting them. It would be wise for the Broncos not to restructure those deals if at all possible, so they will be able to cut them in 2025 if their play declines next season.

Other veterans such as RB Samaje Perine, QB Jarrett Stidham, TE Chris Manhertz, and CB Tremon Smith are on lower-cost deals with no guaranteed money. It's possible one or more could be cut to make room for younger players.

In our next segment, we'll go over players with expiring contracts and see which players, if any, could be brought back for 2024 and which need to be allowed to depart.

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