Four Broncos Vets Who Could Be Traded Before Season

As of this writing, there are 16 days until the Denver Broncos kick off training camp and 60 days until the start of the regular season. Significant roster activity is expected to take hold between that time in forming their 53-man squad.

And while player cuts will represent most of the turnover, Denver is likely to shop a few of its assets on the NFL trade market, potentially recouping draft compensation for 2024 and/or 2025.

Who are these assets? Let's explore four.

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WR KJ Hamler

The Broncos reportedly explored trade talks involving Hamler (and fellow teammates Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton) throughout recent months, finding no takers. This was before Hamler suffered a torn pectoral muscle and prior to Denver selecting WR Marvin Mims in the second round of April's draft.

Hamler's rookie contract was recently reworked, giving him better odds of cracking the final roster. But it also makes him easier to move, provided he's healthy, as a prospective suitor would take on just $1.583 million in base salary and $417,000 in incentives.

Denver has a logjam in its receiving corps, and with the acquisition of Mims, the organization may force Hamler to draw the short straw.

C Lloyd Cushenberry

Back in March, head coach Sean Payton offered a tepid endorsement of Cushenberry as the team's starting center. Entering his fourth season, Cushenberry is one of three incumbents on the offensive line after Denver broke the bank on new right tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Ben Powers.

Though it's entirely possible (if not probable) that Cushenberry is indeed snapping to Russell Wilson in Week 1, the Broncos did add insurance at the pivot in the form of free-agent addition Kyle Fuller and seventh-round pick Alex Forsyth.

Payton hand-chose Fuller and Forsyth — but not Cushenberry, a holdover from previous regimes. Should Forsyth show well this preseason, Denver may opt to dump Cushenberry, who's an unideal fit in a power-based blocking scheme.

DT Mike Purcell

The Broncos' defensive line is something of a mystery, as only Zach Allen and DJ Jones are cemented atop the depth chart. It's unclear who will start at defensive end opposite Allen or at nose tackle if Jones is stationed as the five-tech.

Purcell provides value as a two-down run-stuffer, though he's in the final year of his deal and could be deemed cost-prohibitive. Denver can save $3.5 million against the salary cap by trading Purcell, leaving behind little ($286,765) dead money.

The Broncos signed DT Tyler Lancaster in free agency and picked up rookie undrafted NT PJ Mustipher — two options to replace Purcell in the event of his departure.

TE Albert Okwuegbunam

Is this the season that Okwuegbunam emerges from the doghouse? He might not get the opportunity. Payton put him on notice in June, essentially saying it's now or never for the 2020 fourth-rounder, whose lack of consistency remains a bugaboo.

The Broncos have sophomore TE Greg Dulcich as its starter, and Payton imported two of his ex-Saints pupils, Chris Manhertz and Adam Trautman. Where does that leave Okwuegbunam? Perhaps on the outside looking in.

Okwuegbunam has receiving upside — much of which is yet to be unlocked — but grades out poorly as a run-blocker, something Payton demands from his tight ends. There's a non-zero chance that another team gambles on Okwuegbunam's pass-catching prowess.

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