Pro Football Focus names the biggest roster decision for the Denver Broncos this offseason
Pro Football Focus recently named the biggest roster decision facing each NFL team this offseason and they went with an obvious choice for the Denver Broncos. PFF thinks figuring out which skill-position players to add is the biggest roster decision that Denver needs to make this offseason. From PFF: Following an encouraging 2024 season in […]
Pro Football Focus recently named the biggest roster decision facing each NFL team this offseason and they went with an obvious choice for the Denver Broncos.
PFF thinks figuring out which skill-position players to add is the biggest roster decision that Denver needs to make this offseason.
From PFF: Following an encouraging 2024 season in which rookie Bo Nix (78.3 PFF overall grade) broke out, Denver sits in a promising spot going into next year. The clear focus will be on improving Nix’s weaponry, as only Courtland Sutton posted a 70.0-plus PFF overall grade — but filtering that down further gets intriguing.
General manager George Paton has roughly $34 million in cap space, and there are big-time receivers on the market. Higgins or Chris Godwin would both be landmark — yet highly expensive — signings. while Darius Slayton or Stefon Diggs could be cheaper complements to Sutton. Moreover, as no Broncos running back compiled a 71.0-plus PFF rushing grade, adding a back at some point this offseason feels logical. The biggest weakness is probably at tight end, as no Bronco at that position reached even a 57.0 PFF receiving grade.
Denver has been linked to both Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland throughout the pre-draft process, with either reasonably in play at Pick 20. But don’t discount the Broncos going receiver or even running back at that pick. Altogether, Sean Payton has a fascinating puzzle of how to maximize the ceiling of his skill-position room.
As PFF notes, there are plenty of different avenues that Denver can take to land some skill-position talent (trade, draft, free agency).
One obvious choice would be to trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who is expected to be dealt this offseason.
Samuel recently spoke highly of the Broncos and he'd seemingly be a perfect fit, thanks to his versatility in the run game and the pass game, in Sean Payton's offense.
Another intriguing (and less expensive) option could be to select Tennessee Vols running back Dylan Sampson in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sampson is a dynamic runner who has elite burst and he set a program record last year at Tennessee for rushing yards in a season. He didn't catch the ball a lot out of the backfield at Tennessee, but that was mostly because of the Vols' offensive philosophy under head coach Josh Heupel.
Payton had plenty of luck with former Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. Sampson is a similar player to who is being similarly overlooked in the draft process.
There will be no shortage of skill-position options for the Broncos this offseason. The key will be identifying the "right" option for Payton's offense.
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