Denver Broncos Should Avoid Unloading Key Players At Trade Deadline

Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett has purchased himself a while — for now.

Following the Broncos’ Week 8 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars — their first since Week 3 after they defeated the San Francisco 49ers — Denver is feeling considerably higher about themselves.

A number of the identical points are nonetheless there. The sturdy quantity of penalties. The pinnacle-scratching turnovers. The truth that Hackett nonetheless doesn’t look like able to be main the Broncos’ sideline.

However Denver confirmed some struggle of their win over the Jaguars. In actual fact, Denver was trailed 17-14 late within the fourth quarter when Russell Wilson and the Broncos made some clutch performs. Heck, the offense — the league’s worst — one way or the other went 3-for-3 within the pink zone relating to scoring touchdowns.

And whereas the Broncos should sport a mediocre 3-5 file heading into their bye in Week 9, meaning one large factor — Denver can’t be sellers on the commerce deadline.

Heading into their Week 8 matchup versus the Jaguars, the Broncos have been presumed to be sellers on the commerce deadline — particularly in the event that they misplaced. In actual fact, if that they had misplaced, it wouldn’t have shocked anybody if Denver fired Hackett on the aircraft journey again house to Colorado.

Names akin to Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and Bradley Chubb have been well-liked names thrown on the market in commerce rumors.

You may shut these rumors down— for now.

Previous to the sport, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos weren’t planning on buying and selling both of their receivers.

“Though they’re fielding commerce inquiries on Chubb, the Broncos don’t plan to commerce Jerry Jeudy or KJ Hamler regardless of getting calls on the third-year extensive receivers, in accordance with sources conversant in the group’s pondering,” stated Schefter.

Schefter burdened that it might take a “sturdy provide” for Denver to commerce away their prime two younger receivers.

“The Broncos, who play Sunday in London towards the Jacksonville Jaguars, as an alternative need to use Jeudy and Hamler to revive their struggling offense, the sources instructed ESPN,” stated Schefter. “Denver may finally nonetheless commerce one of many receivers by Tuesday, however it solely could be for what the group believed to be a robust provide, in accordance with sources.”

The one participant who presumably may very well be moved is Chubb, Denver’s prime pass-rushing specialist. As Schefter famous, one group is keen to supply the Broncos a first-round draft choose. Chubb may additionally command extra compensation that what Denver fetched from the Los Angeles Rams — second and third-round picks — within the Von Miller commerce final season.

Moreover, Chubb is the ultimate yr of his rookie deal and is predicted to command a contract price at the very least $20 million yearly. If he’s not moved by the deadline, the Broncos are anticipated to maintain him on a long-term deal.

As engaging as a first-round choose could also be for Chubb — particularly contemplating Denver doesn’t maintain one for the 2023 NFL draft because of the Russell Wilson commerce — now isn’t the time to commerce a key determine of Denver’s No. 3-ranked protection.

If you happen to commerce Chubb now — or any of Denver’s different key gamers — for draft capital, you’re sending the sign that the win over Jacksonville means nothing. Most significantly, you’re sending the message that you just’re waving the white flag on this season.

As Mark Kizla of The Denver Submit notes, buying and selling Chubb — the cornerstone of the protection that’s preserving the Broncos afloat — would ship Denver right into a rebuilding mission.

The Broncos would additionally waste a useful season after signing Wilson to a $245 million contract extension.

“Buying and selling Chubb wouldn’t solely be waving the white flag it might ship a sign to Wilson that he signed a $245 million contract extension to steer a rebuilding mission,” stated Kizla.

Since successful Tremendous Bowl 50, this franchise has been on a downward spiral. They’ve gone six consecutive years with out clinching a postseason berth — a file for a group after successful a Tremendous Bowl. They will ill-afford one other rebuild of a season simply weeks after signing Wilson to such a giant contract with excessive expectations.

The Broncos could not make it to the postseason this yr. They face a troublesome slate over their 9 remaining video games, with 5 of these towards groups with successful information.

However it’s important to give this group an opportunity. Let this group go down swinging with its finest gamers.

Retaining Chubb ensures that the Broncos are certainly all-in on this season and never trying forward in the direction of the long run.

Merely put, it’s the proper transfer to make.