Broncos May Have Three Players Worth Trading Instead of Cutting

As the Denver Broncos decide which players are most likely to make the 53-man roster, they have to be prepared to expose some players to the waiver wire. Any player who hasn't accrued at least four seasons is subject to waivers and, thus, could be claimed by other teams.

Waiver claims don't happen as often as fans think, but they are frequent enough to make people realize that the wire carries the risk of another team claiming a player who might otherwise be a good practice squad addition. Remember, practice squad players can be elevated on game day, and a team can always promote them to the 53-man roster at any point.

When waiver claims happen, though, they tend to be for players with a larger sample size of NFL snaps, whether from the regular seasons or past preseasons. When it comes to recently undrafted rookies, teams are more likely to focus on keeping their own for a practice squad, unless they have a desperate need for help at a particular position.

Because players with NFL experience to some degree could be coveted, teams with lower waiver priority might be willing to trade for them. The Broncos have a couple of players who have seen plenty of NFL snaps and might return something in a trade from a team that's lower in the waiver priority and wants to ensure they get that player.

Let's look at three such Broncos other teams might be willing to trade for the right price.

Troy Franklin | WR

Franklin became a bigger part of the Broncos' offense last year, and while he was solid, he didn't make a big impact. He now finds himself buried on the depth chart with the arrival of Jaylen Waddle and the improvement shown by Pat Bryant this summer.

If the Broncos decide to keep just five wide receivers and opt to keep somebody other than Franklin as the fifth wideout, he would likely fetch considerable draft pick compensation because, while he's not an impact player, he could be good for a team that needs pass-catching help.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Broncos take a route that means exposing Franklin to waivers. They could cut Lil'Jordan Humphrey and sign him to the practice squad, and will likely be able to expose other players to waivers, then get them to the practice squad without worrying about another team claiming them.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting that Franklin is absolutely going to be cut; such a move would raise some eyebrows. However, his role has diminished and the Broncos may want to prioritize a more versatile skill set when it comes to the fifth receiver they keep on the roster, and Franklin can't block or play special teams.

Jaleel McLaughlin | RB

The Broncos don't appear to be prepared to keep four running backs on the 53-man roster. That would mean McLaughlin would get exposed to waivers because he's only accrued three NFL seasons, and the top three running backs are set.

McLaughlin has done some good things but is buried behind J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Jonah Coleman, all of whom have more to offer to the team for one reason or another. But McLaughlin could be a good fit with other NFL teams.

McLaughlin won't command significant trade compensation, but even if it were just a seventh-round pick, it would be better than nothing, and not a bad return on a former undrafted player.

JL Skinner | S

Skinner has stuck around with the Broncos for the past three seasons because of his special teams play. However, the former sixth-round pick hasn't shown much on defense, particularly when it comes to the Broncos' need for the third safety on the depth chart.

The recent signing of Taylor Rapp indicates the Broncos aren't happy with their depth at safety. Add in the fact that the All-Pro Devon Key is the Broncos' best special teams player, and the roster math may not work out for Skinner to stick around.

In this case, it might be a long shot, but a team with a great need for special teams help might be willing to do a Day 3 draft pick swap to acquire Skinner.

The Takeaway

Franklin has the most trade value of these players, but that doesn't mean the Broncos will move him. However, if a team made an offer too good to refuse, the Broncos would likely take it.

McLaughlin and Skinner are less likely to be traded because they aren't as valuable, but such trades can't be ruled out. One team that's low in waiver priority could be prepared to make a trade to ensure they get that player.

Other players I considered are unlikely to get traded for one reason or another. Case in point is linebacker Drew Sanders, who may have netted a draft pick if he had stayed healthy this summer, but his most recent injury means teams aren't going to be interested, especially given his history.

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