ESPN suggests blockbuster Broncos trade
The Broncos are in a tricky situation going into the 2023 NFL draft. They currently hold zero first and second-round picks and will not make their first selection until pick 67. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for them to make a move. ESPN recently released a mock draft that proposes one trade per […]
The Broncos are in a tricky situation going into the 2023 NFL draft. They currently hold zero first and second-round picks and will not make their first selection until pick 67. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for them to make a move.
ESPN recently released a mock draft that proposes one trade per first-round pick. While the Broncos do not get mentioned for the first 29 picks, they finally had their moment when the Eagles were up. ESPN proposes that the Eagles get pick 3-68 and the Broncos' 2024 first-round pick in exchange for pick 1-30 and 3-94.
For the Eagles, this move makes a lot of sense. They are essentially betting that the Broncos will not be one of the best two teams in the NFL next season. As long as that happens, they will have "moved up" in the draft over the course of a year. For the Broncos, the rationale is clear. Russell Wilson isn't getting any younger, and they just traded a first-round pick for head coach Sean Payton.
Moving up allows you to draft a true difference-maker, and if the Broncos believe they can contend this season, that is a must-have. Here is what ESPN had to say about the deal:
Bet you didn't think the Broncos were going to make an appearance! After trading away a first-round pick for QB Russell Wilson and sacrificing their first-rounder from the Dolphins to acquire new coach Sean Payton, this would be a move for Denver to get back into Round 1. Payton's Saints teams were naturally aggressive in trading future assets for present value and placed an emphasis on building their offensive line; this could be a move for a prospect such as guard O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida) or defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (Clemson).
For the Eagles, this would be delayed gratification; they would move up 26 spots in the third round and wait a year to use this first-round pick on another player. If the Broncos finish as one of the two best teams in football, Philly will have essentially wasted its time. The upside of trading for this pick should be obvious after what happened with Denver last season; there's a chance the Eagles could turn the 30th pick into a top-10 selection.
While this deal most likely won't happen, it is a good indicator of the type of trade the Broncos could make if they were set on moving back into the first round.
