Sean Payton talks about Denver Broncos rumors
The Denver Broncos have made some big offseason moves, but first-year head coach Sean Payton shot down two rumored trades. Payton was the first major trade for the Broncos this offseason. They swapped their 2023 first and 2024 second-round pick to the New Orleans Saints to obtain Payton’s services.
The Broncos then added some offensive line help for quarterback Russell Wilson. They landed a top offensive tackle prize in Mike McGlinchey. Wilson’s contract and the Broncos’ March spending spree have left the team with just over $7 million to play with in the salary cap for 2023, according to Over The Cap. They are also short on draft capital after trading for Wilson and Payton.
Could the Broncos trade a wide receiver?
The Broncos could find some wiggle room in their cap if they trade Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton. But Payton doesn’t want to part with either of their wide receivers. According to Bobby Kownack with the NFL Network, Payton said a trade was not forthcoming:
“I see and read just like everyone else does,” Payton said. “Then occasionally, when someone really crowds the plate, I throw a fastball right at their chin, and they back up, and they’re like, ‘Alright.’ And so I haven’t thrown any fastballs lately, but we’re not trading those two players.
“When people call and the phone rings like it does this time of year, (general manager) George Paton’s job is to pick it up and say, ‘Hey. Tell you what, we’re not.’ And so, we’ve received calls, you bet. Those are two good football players. But we’re in the business of gathering talent right now. Why do people call? Because they know we’re void of draft picks and that we might, because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding Courtland. But we like the current group that we’re working with.”
The Broncos should consider trading Sutton or Jeudy. But the team needs a veteran wide receiver to help the team become competitive before Wilson’s Super Bowl window fades.
