3 Burning Moves Broncos Need to Make Before Training Camp

The Denver Broncos are about four weeks away from kicking off training camp. That's when the Sean Payton era in Denver begins in earnest.

Since Payton arrived as head coach, the Broncos have gone to great lengths to upgrade the roster and fill the most glaring roster holes. Alas, while it's true that no NFL team can roster Pro Bowlers at every spot on a depth chart, the pursuit of perfection persists.

The Broncos' roster, while bolstered, is still far from perfect. It might be impractical to expect the Broncos to achieve such lofty roster goals, but there are a few spots that could use an additional veteran to balance things out.

I'm going to break down three roster moves the Broncos should make in that spirit, but I'm not going to pin the team down to a specific player, per se. Rather, the solution to each roster move will feature an ideal guy, with a few different options the team could choose from.

It might be difficult to make all these moves with just $8.8 million in cap space, but if I've learned anything covering the NFL for a decade, it's that when it comes to the salary cap, all manner of voodoo can be conjured by the league's fiscal wizards to satisfy a team's short-term needs.

1. Center

Analysis: I'm willing to trust Payton's read on Lloyd Cushenberry III and wait to see how it pans out in training camp. But if I'm Payton, my finger is hovering over the panic button because if the best predictor of future behavior is the past, then disappointment is likely in Denver's future relative to Cushenberry.

The Broncos drafted center Alex Forsyth in the seventh round and, before that, signed veteran Kyle Fuller, the latter of whom has some experience snapping to Russell Wilson. But I'm not sure either guy is ready for the starting job if Cushenberry fails to launch.

The Ideal Move: Ben Jones

Jones fits the Payton power scheme tremendously well. Alas, he is getting up there in age (34) and has battled some injuries, which is why many analysts expected him to retire after last season. But he hasn't thrown in the towel and is still there for the taking. The Broncos should have him on speed dial because every other spot on the starting five is solid-to-great.

Fallbacks: Rodney Hudson and Pat Elflein

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2. Defensive Line

Analysis: While signing Zach Allen checked one box, on the surface, it failed to be a net positive because it counter-acted Dre'Mont Jones' defection to Seattle. I like Allen's outlook on the D-line, but this team needs one more veteran to hedge against unforeseen obstacles.

The Ideal Move: Shelby Harris

Indeed, I'm advocating for Denver to rekindle things with Harris, a former Broncos starter who was dealt to the Seahawks last year as part of the Wilson trade. Harris returning to Denver would make a lot of sense because it was under the Vance Joseph head-coaching regime that he got his chance in the Mile High City.

Harris eventually became a reliable starter with a knack for making the big play in critical situations. Perhaps not the stoutest run defender, he still brings a lot to the table as an interior pass rusher, and he knows the scheme. But it might be a case of 'too soon.' It's also worth mentioning that there are bigger-name D-linemen available, but the Broncos' cap space is finite, so financial pragmatism must factor in.

Fallbacks: Matthew Ioannidis, Akiem Hicks, and Ndamukong Suh

3. Cornerback

Analysis: You've got to feel good about the Broncos' top-three corners — Patrick Surtain II, K'Waun Williams, and Damarri Mathis. And adding Riley Moss in the third round was a savvy get and could pay off big-time as soon as this year. But Williams has injury concerns, while Mathis is still unproven entering Year 2. One more vet could stabilize a potentially tumultuous cornerback depth chart.

The Ideal Move: Marcus Peters

Peters is a corner Broncos Country knows well. He spent many productive years in Kansas City and is now coming off a two-year stint in Baltimore. At 30 years old, he's not the player he once was, but he fits the bill in terms of the balance between experience/talent/cost.

It would greatly depend on the cost, though. If Peters were to sign, the Broncos wouldn't be as reliant on Mathis as a starter and could allow him time to develop outside of the starting crucible. A first-team trio of Surtain, Williams, and Peters would be formidable. Even if Peters wasn't a starter, he'd make for one heck of a fourth corner to take the field.

Plus, Peters has always been a ballhawk and is only two seasons removed from notching four interceptions. The Broncos will need ball production from the right boundary corner because opponents will not be throwing Surtain's way much, which could limit the team's opportunities for takeaways.

Fallbacks: William Jackson, Bryce Callahan (yes), and Byron Jones.

Honorable Mention: Running Back

Analysis: I mention this one only because I know many Broncos fans still feel a bit apprehensive about the position due to Javonte Williams' recovery from a grievous knee injury. If what the Broncos say about Williams being ahead of schedule is true, this position is a non-issue. But you know what they say: better to have and not need than to need and not have.

The Ideal Move: Kareem Hunt

I know Broncos Country is pounding the table for a certain running back whose name rhymes with Shmalvin Shmook, but I like Hunt's fit in a Payton offense better. Plus, Hunt would come a heck of a lot cheaper than Shmook, the latter of whom is best suited to a zone-blocking scheme anyway.

Hunt has great vision and can still run, catch, and block. He's an ideal Payton back, but he comes with no small amount of baggage. So there is a rub. But Hunt wouldn't be too hard to fit under the cap. And he's only 27. The fallback options beyond Hunt feature a who's who list of former first-rounders still a couple of years out from the dreaded 30-year-old cliff.

Fallbacks: Dalvin Cook (okay, okay), Ezekiel Elliott, and Leonard Fournette.

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