Five Broncos Veterans with Most to Prove for the Long Term
The NFL's 2022 regular season is about five months away, and Denver Broncos fans have plenty of reasons to be excited, chiefly that the team now has a reliable veteran quarterback on the roster in Russell Wilson.
Wilson is just one of the players the Broncos either extended or acquired to be part of the team's plans for the next few seasons. The extensions that wideouts Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick received last season, the two-year deal for linebacker Josey Jewell, and the free-agent signings of edge rusher Randy Gregory and defensive tackle D.J. Jones were among the most notable moves.
But when the 2022 season arrives, several players will have something to prove when it comes to their future with the team. Some are entering the final year of their respective contracts, while others will see their contracts expire in 2023 but could be a cap casualty then.
Today, I'll break down the players that arguably have the most to prove in showing they should remain part of the team's plans in 2023. And while some of them are players currently on a one-year deal with the Broncos, the most notable are those with rookie contracts expiring or who could be cut for cap reasons in 2023.
Let's look at those players.
Bradley Chubb | OLB
Dre'Mont Jones | DL
Dalton Risner | IOL
Graham Glasgow | IOL
Ronald Darby | CB
As with Glasgow, if Darby plays well, he could still be traded for a Day 3 draft pick if the Broncos decide to prioritize other players. But if Darby's play declines this season, he's likely to be a cap casualty next year.
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