The Denver Broncos are entering 2023 with more wide receiver depth than they had in 2022. That starts with the return of wide receiver Tim Patrick, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered last August.

Patrick and fellow receiver Courtland Sutton were recognized by new Broncos wide receivers coach Keary Colbert during a June 15 mandatory minicamp press conference. Colbert said the wide receiver duo should have a significant impact on opposing defenses in 2023.

“Both of those guys are kind of like the glue in the room,” Colbert said to the media. “They provide size and and just toughness on the outside and they move around they move well for big guys.”

Sutton also dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him out two games last season. He did, however, put up 64 catches for 829 yards and two touchdowns, marking his best statistical season since 2019.

Despite their circumstances last season, the duo has proven to be effective when healthy. Patrick and Sutton combined for 111 catches, 1,510 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.

Colbert, a former Broncos wide receiver himself, was hired by the Broncos on Feb. 25 in his first professional coaching stint. He said both Patrick and Sutton have progressed through organized team activities and minicamp this off-season.

“They’re strong at the point of attack and catching the football and stuff like that,” Colbert said. “I’ve been impressed and enjoyed watching them practice and compete these last few weeks.”

Depth Behind Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton

After Patrick and Sutton, the Broncos’ wide receiving corps is perhaps the strongest it’s been in quite some time.

Jerry Jeudy had 67 catches, 972 receiving yards and six touchdowns (all career-highs) on a Broncos offense that ranked 32nd (dead last) in the NFL in points per game (16.9). He looks to take the next step in his fourth NFL season with two years remaining on his contract, as the Broncos picked up his fifth-year option on May 1.

Behind Jeudy is Marvin Mims Jr., who was taken as the Broncos’ first pick in the 2023 draft (Round 2, No. 63). Mims Jr. will likely compete with fourth-year wideout K.J. Hamler for snaps at the slot receiver position.

New head coach Sean Payton’s influence has stretched from New Orleans (where he coached the Saints for 15 years) to Denver. The Broncos picked up former Saints wide receiver Marquez Callaway earlier this off-season, who could also play some snaps off the bench if needed.

Keary Colbert Addresses K.J. Hamler’s Road to Recovery

Hamler was expected to be an explosive weapon for the Broncos since he was drafted in the second round in 2020. While he has shown flashes, injuries have hindered him throughout his career.

The former Penn State Nittany Lion has experienced a slew of hamstring injuries, a concussion, an ACL tear and, most recently, a torn pec during his three-year NFL career.

Colbert said that despite Hamler’s unfortunate injury history, he is continually growing during his recovery.

“He’s a pitbull, he’s a dog, you know what I mean?” Colbert told the media. “He’s gone through some stuff, but at the end of the day, he attacks everything the same way — whether it’s an injury, whether it’s a practice, whether it’s a meeting.”

There is some light at the end of the tunnel for Hamler in his recovery, however. NFL Network’s Kevin Patra reported on March 23 that Hamler has a chance to return for training camp after undergoing surgery to repair his torn pec.

On a personal level, Colbert said he admires Hamler’s positive disposition and willingness to compete in every aspect.

“He has the perfect mindset for anybody that’s experiencing injury or comeback and stuff like that. I mean, he’s attacking, and that’s the best way I can explain it.”

Former Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon is not shy about making headlines throughout the offseason.

On June 21, Gordon appeared on The Jim Rome Show and explained that playing running back is the worst position in football.

“It’s so tough for running backs right now, man. You have a lot of running backs that are out there and we just don’t get no love. It’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks. I’m just staying ready because I know what I can do. I know once I get in camp or any camp, I can turn some heads. I know what I need to do. I know my mistakes that I’ve made and you have to be able to correct them, but I’m ready to go.”

Gordon remains a free agent after his practice squad contract expired after the season with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rome asked Gordon if he’s staying ready if the right playing opportunity presents itself.

“I still want to play. I still got some tread left on the tires and (Chiefs) coach (Andy) Reid kind of sat me down and he told me, ‘You still can play.’ It’s about the right situation.”

“I’m just staying ready — it’s hard, though. It’s hard training knowing that you’re not going to be on a team. It’s tough mentally. But I talked to some players that went through it and I’m just taking their advice, being a sponge, and it kind of helps you get through it.”

Melvin Gordon Still Believes in Russell Wilson

After being traded to the Broncos in March of 2022, there was hope that Denver was going to return back to the playoffs because of the acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Through his first 10 seasons playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was on pace to becoming a Hall of Fame quarterback.

Instead, things took a turn.

Wilson had the worst season of his career statistically as his Broncos finished with a 5-12 overall record.

Gordon was asked if Wilson can still have an MVP-caliber season in him and he stood up for his former NFL and college teammate.

“Yea he do and he got an MVP coach.” Gordon continued, “They got the pieces there now that’s going to put him in the best situation.”

Melvin Gordon Took Shots at Broncos Fans on the Way Out

Just one day after being released by the Broncos, running back Gordon went to social media to take a shot at Broncos fans.

Gordon posted a picture of himself driving the white Ford Bronco that was carrying O.J. Simpson across the 91 freeway in California in a police chase back in 1994.

In the caption of the picture, Gordon also wrote, “Hahaha boy y’all fans was hell lmfaooo. Thank y’all too broncos country. Let’s at least laugh on the way out.”

Gordon also posted a picture on his Instagram of him hugging cornerback Patrick Surtain ll with the caption saying, “Can’t say it’s been the easiest 3 years. But thank you anyway Broncos for helping me continue my dream.”

This comes after Gordon argued with Broncos fans on social media over the past three seasons because of his fumbling issues that occurred in crucial parts of games.

In an interview back in April of 2021, Gordon talked about how difficult his previous season was because of the fans.

“It was probably one of my most difficult seasons. I am not going to lie. Just ’cause a lot of fans and a lot of people weren’t too happy with me coming in and Phil (Phillip Lindsay) wanting to get paid and everything like that.” Gordon added, “It was tough, man, because I felt like a lot of people didn’t accept me.”

The Denver Broncos signed free agent defensive end Zach Allen to a three-year, $47.75 million deal with $32.5 million guaranteed on March 15. Despite not having not played a snap for the team, Allen is garnering off-season recognition.

Doug Farrar of USA Today’s Touchdown Wire revealed his NFL All-Underrated Team on June 12, featuring a “secret superstar” from each team. Farrar ranked defensive lineman Zach Allen as the Broncos’ most underrated player.

“The Broncos did a lot to solidify their pass rush, both interior and exterior, with the agreement to sign former Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Zach Allen,” Farrar said. “It’s a significant bet on an ascending player.”

2022 proved to be Allen’s best statistical season despite playing in just 13 games, leading to him signing a significant first veteran contract with the Broncos.

The former third-round pick out of Boston College notched 47 total tackles and eight deflected passes last season. In regards to his pass-rushing ability, Farrar noted that Allen also tallied six sacks, 15 quarterback hits and 14 quarterback hurries in 427 pass-rushing snaps.

Part of the reason Farrar thinks Allen is underrated is due to his skill set and versatility, which initially caught the attention of scouts when he was a 2019 draft prospect. Farrar said Allen proved he was able to effectively line up anywhere on the defensive line to wreak havoc on opposing passers.

“Allen’s sacks came everywhere from the edge to aligned over the guards to true nose-shade alignments,” Farrar said. “He’s developed into a guy who can harass quarterbacks from any place you’d like.”

Denver’s Pass-Rushing Room

After edge Bradley Chubb was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a first-round pick last November, the Broncos needed to address his vacancy – and depth – at the position following his departure.

The team did so by reeling in not just Allen, but also two-time Super Bowl champion Frank Clark this off-season.

The Broncos still have some question marks at the edge position given last year’s knee injury to Baron Browning, which could keep him out for a portion of 2023. Still, the Broncos received good news in May as Randy Gregory participated in organized team activities.

Despite the impending return of Gregory and Clark’s signing, Farrar still believes Allen has the chance to be the team’s catalyst when attacking opposing quarterbacks.

“The recent addition of Frank Clark does something for a Denver defensive front in need of pass rush, but it’s Allen who could be the primary disruptor,” Farrar said.

All in all, Allen said the Broncos’ defensive personnel is talented and he feels he can add to it.

“It’s been great,” Allen said during a May 25 press conference amid Phase 1 of OTAs. “We’ve had great attendance, great effort and the guys have been awesome. Defensive-wise, it’s a really talented group – that’s a reason why I came here.”

Zach Allen’s Development Influenced by Vance Joseph, J.J. Watt

Former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph led the team from 2017-2018 before joining the Cardinals as defensive coordinator from 2019-2022. That stint marked the same time frame in which Allen played in Arizona.

As Allen embarks on a new journey in Year 5 of his career, he’s reuniting with Joseph, who actually re-signed with Denver in February as the team’s defensive coordinator.

During his press conference, Allen said Joseph’s ability to implement a personable coaching style has helped his career.

“I think Vance is one of the best coaches in the NFL and was really fortunate to be with him for four years,” Allen told the media. “If you have a chance to make it five, six, seven (years), then you’re going to do that, so I’m a believer in his stuff and his coaching style. At this point, he’s just a really good friend.”

Another notable connection between Allen and Arizona is his experience as a teammate of longtime NFL great J.J. Watt. Allen played with Watt on the Cardinals from 2021-2022 before Watt announced his retirement last December.

According to Farrar, it was clear that Allen’s development accelerated once Watt showed up in Arizona.

“Allen was off to a relatively unremarkable start to his NFL career through his first two seasons,” Farrar wrote. “But then, J.J. Watt came to the Valley of the Sun in 2021 with a few ideas on how to be a multi-gap disruptor, and Allen was a willing disciple.”

In his first two seasons, Allen only put up 43 total tackles, two sacks, three passes defended and no turnovers. But in 2021-2022, alongside Watt, Allen notched 95 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 12 passes batted down, three fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown.

Watt recently showed support for Allen, tweeting a message to the new Denver Bronco on March 13 after Allen signed his deal.

After owning the worst scoring offense in the NFL last season, the Denver Broncos need to add as many weapons as they can if they want to contend for a fourth Lombardi Trophy sooner than later.

Rumblings have continued to surface about the Broncos adding another running back to their roster while Javonte Williams returns from his torn ACL.

During his radio show “Keyshawn, JWill, and Max,” on June 21, former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson named the Broncos as the best landing spot for former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.

“I think when you look at what Sean Payton wants to do, he wants to get back to early age Russell Wilson with the Seahawks. Play defense, let him manage the football and run the ball extremely well.” Johnson continued, “You go back to Drew Brees and what he had every single year when he was cookin’ in New Orleans was they could run the football. That’s Sean Payton, he wants to run the football and do those things. When did Russell Wilson have early success in Seattle? They ran the football. He got a lot of the credit, but it was about defense and Marshawn Lynch. If they can land him that’ll help ’em a lot.”

Cook was released by the Vikings on June 9 due to money reasons after he was going to be owed a base salary of $10.4 million this upcoming season.

The 27-year-old has been voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his last four seasons averaging over 1,200 yards each season and over 10 trips to the endzone.

Broncos Have Reported Interest in Cook and Other RBs

On June 8, just one day before Cook was released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos were one of two teams expected to have interest in the former Minnesota running back.

Schefter also mentioned that there were going to be other teams interested in Cook as well as the Miami Dolphins, but Denver has “been monitoring Cook for weeks.”

On June 7, Heavy’s very own Matt Lombardo reported that a league source told him, “Denver is definitely interested” in the former second-round pick out of Florida St.

Cook isn’t the only running back that they have been linked to in recent days.

On June 16, Jordan Schultz reported that Denver has been named as a possible suitor for former Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt.

“A scout told me that his pass protection alone elevates his value,” said Schultz.

Back on May 6, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported on Sports Center that the Broncos are “a team to watch” in the Hunt sweepstakes.

Update on Javonte Williams

On May 14, Payton spoke to the local media and gave some positive news surrounding Williams.

“We expect him to be ready for the start of training camp and that’s good news.” Payton continued, “His rehab is going well.”

If Williams is not ready for the start of training camp, he would have to the PUP list.

“We’re hopeful that he’s someone that might not have to go to PUP.”

Last season, Williams finished with just 204 rushing yards and 76 receiving and failed to find the endzone.

As a rookie, Williams proved that he could be the starting running back for the Broncos moving forward. The former North Carolina Tar Heel rushed for 903 yards and scored four touchdowns while ranking atop the NFL in broken tackles.

The Denver Broncos wrapped up mandatory minicamp on June 15 after three consecutive days of team practices.

New head coach Sean Payton officially took the helm in February after the Broncos traded a first-round pick to the New Orleans Saints. Since arriving, Payton has made his presence known, pledging to veer Denver in a positive direction after it finished 5-12 in 2022.

Payton said despite working throughout OTAs and minicamp on the practice field, he’s still eager to see the kind of team the Broncos are post-mandatory minicamp.

“I always feel like when the season gets near training camp, a lot of times — and this will be the case this year — I’ll say I’m anxious to see what kind of team we have,” Payton told the media in a June 15 Zoom press conference. “And there are a lot of things that can dictate that, especially in the first four weeks of the season.”

Expectations are high for Payton to bring a winning culture to Denver. Payton’s resume is notable, as he coached future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees for 15 years while also winning the Super Bowl in 2010.

Despite any on-the-field concerns Payton might have during his first off-season with the Broncos, he noted that the players are in a position to be successful in the future.

“To the conditioning level, to the strength to the running to the offseason program, I like where we’re at. I like where we’re at now,” Payton said.

Sean Payton’s Influence on Vance Joseph

Part of Payton’s change in culture was bringing in new coordinators under his regime.

One of those coordinators is a familiar face in the Broncos’ team facilities.

Vance Joseph was hired in February to become the team’s defensive coordinator. He has the opportunity to help the same Broncos defense he managed as the team’s head coach from 2017-2018, when he accumulated an 11-22 overall record.

But according to Joseph, one of the biggest factors in returning to Denver is the opportunity to coach with Payton.

“Obviously, I had some choices after leaving Arizona, but Denver being home, this is a great place – great fan base,” Joseph told the media in a June 14 press conference. “We have a home here still. So for me, it was home and I was looking to work with Sean. It was a perfect spot.”

Joseph moved on from the Arizona Cardinals after serving as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2019-2022. But by returning to Denver, Joseph looks to take control of a defense that ranked 22nd and 13th under his leadership in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Other Coaches Experience First Off-Season in Denver

Joseph wasn’t the only new coordinator to be hired by the Broncos this off-season. In fact, all three phases were addressed through Joseph, Joe Lombardi (offensive coordinator) and Ben Kotwica (special teams coordinator).

One of the biggest questions of the off-season related to the Broncos was whether or not Payton and Lombardi would be able to help quarterback Russell Wilson’s play in 2023. Wilson led a Denver offense that ranked 32nd in the NFL in points per game (16.9) last year.

Lombardi once served as the Saints’ quarterbacks coach under Payton from 2009-2013 2016-2020, and previously as an assistant from 2006-2007.

The now-former Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator said watching Wilson’s game film has been key in his continued improvement.

“You want to see what a player does — maybe what he struggled with, but also you don’t want to make too many assumptions,” Lombardi said in a June 14 press conference. “It’s a new year and a new coaching staff and a new scheme and so we got a lot of time to figure out exactly the best plan for all these players.”

Kotwica, on the other hand, previously coached the Minnesota Vikings as assistant special teams coach last season before joining the Broncos this off-season.

By moving to Denver, Kotwica is once again working alongside new Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff. The pair initially coached together on the New York Jets from 2007-2013.

Another special teams assistant that was just hired by the Broncos is former 10-year NFL pro Chris Banjo, who played under Payton on the Saints from 2016-2018.

All in all, Kotwica said learning from each coach has been valuable for the growth of the special teams unit so far.

“(Westhoff) has been doing it for 30 plus years, and then he got coach Banjo who’s been doing it for about three weeks,” Kotwica said during a June 14 press conference. “I’m somewhere in the middle and that dynamic has been excellent. So everybody brings a little bit of things that are different to the table and so far, so good.”

The Denver Broncos seem to have a formidable group of starting wide receivers in place for the 2023 season between Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick, but a blockbuster trade opportunity could be on the horizon for them if they are unsatisfied with the trio’s injuries and inconsistencies of the past few seasons.

During the June 19, 2023, episode of Broncos Country Tonight, NFL insider Benjamin Albright discussed the possibility of the Broncos making a high-profile trade for All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs should the Buffalo Bills not be able to make peace with him.

Diggs stirred up some drama in Buffalo last week when he opted not to attend the first practice of the Bills’ mandatory veteran minicamp on June 13, prompting head coach Sean McDermott to say he was “very concerned” about the star receiver’s absence. The Bills later downplayed concerns, but Ben Volin of The Boston Globe has since reported that “Diggs’ frustration is with his role in the offense and his voice in play-calling.”

“I talked to some people in Buffalo on the condition of anonymity and they said that, ‘Publicly, we’re not moving him. Privately, we would consider it under the right circumstances,'” Albright said.

With that situation in mind, Albright pointed to Diggs’ relationship with Broncos general manager George Patton — who was part of the Minnesota front office that originally drafted him in 2015 — and beamed about how good of a fit he believes the 29-year-old receiver could be in Sean Payton’s new offensive system. He also suggested, if the Bills want to talk trade, the Broncos could offer Sutton as part of the compensation.

“So what could a guy like Stefon Diggs fetch in return? Well, quite a bit,” Albright said. “The question, in the end, is can Denver afford that big contract that he got? You’d have to ship out one of the big receivers to do that, and it would have to be more than that. You’re not just going to give up Courtland Sutton and get Stefon Diggs. You’d have to give up Sutton, draft picks, that kind of thing to make it work.”

Broncos Would Gain Top-Level WR in Stefon Diggs

The Broncos would no longer be walking on shaky ground with their receiving corps if they pulled the trigger on a trade for Diggs. He has racked up 338 receptions for 4,149 yards and 29 touchdowns over his combined three seasons with the Bills, finishing with at least 1,200 yards and 100 receptions in each of those years. As Albright noted, Diggs is also still very much in his prime even as he approaches the start of his 30s.

The benefits for quarterback Russell Wilson alone could justify the expectedly high trade price. Diggs would provide Wilson with a reliable No. 1 superstar to lean on in the passing game, one who has caught more than 70% of his targets in two of his last three seasons in Buffalo. Replacing Sutton (125 catches in the past three years) with Diggs would also alleviate some of the pressure for Jeudy to emerge as a top passing weapon and could even allow him to shine brighter with Diggs drawing the focus of defenses.

In terms of cost, the Broncos are not currently in a position to add Diggs’ enormous contract to their books with about $8.8 million in remaining cap space for 2023, but dealing away Sutton would solve that problem. They would free up about $14.44 million if they traded Sutton before the start of the season, giving them enough space to add Diggs’ $14.875 million cap hit for 2023. They would still have to figure out how to handle Diggs’ rising cost (more than $27 million in each of the next three years) for future seasons, but that’s a problem worth taking on to get firmly into win-now mode.

How Motivated Are Broncos to Add Another WR?

GettyJerry Jeudy has shown flashes of being a No. 1 receiver for the Broncos.

The idea of the Broncos trading to acquire an elite receiver like Diggs might sound great on paper, but do they actually believe they need such a substantial receiver upgrade?

Right now, the Broncos have three starting wide receivers who, despite inconsistencies, have high potential for 2023 if the offense can take a step forward under Payton. Jeudy has shown signs of being able to develop into a true No. 1 receiver over the past three seasons and may finally be ready to take the leap with Payton on the scene and a full year of chemistry banked with Wilson. When healthy, Sutton and Patrick have also both been more than capable of acting as complementary options in the passing game.

The Broncos are also freshly stocked with depth behind their trio of starters with K.J. Hamler, free agent signing Marquez Callaway and second-round rookie Marvin Mims Jr. Injury troubles have kept Hamler off the field for much of the past two seasons, but he was a promising rotational option as a rookie in 2020 with 30 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Mims was the Broncos’ first pick of the 2023 draft and has the potential to push for the No. 4 receiver role right away as a rookie.

If even one of their three depth pieces can shine alongside the starters, the Broncos could be in great shape with pass-catchers without Diggs, especially with a collection of sturdy tight ends in Greg Dulcich, Albert Okwuegbunam and Adam Trautman.

The Denver Broncos need all the help that they can get on offense after owning the NFL’s worst-scoring offense in 2022. With their recent signings of Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers on the offensive line, many believe that Denver is going to try and run the ball more often to take a load off Russell Wilson.

With Javonte Williams still recovering from a torn ACL dating back to Week 4 of last season, the Broncos have been linked to former Pro Bowl running back Kareem Hunt.

On June 16, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports made the bold prediction that the Broncos will sign Hunt before Week 1 of the regular season.

“Kareem Hunt will be only 28 years old by the time the regular season starts, so he has plenty left in the tank to help a franchise.” Sullivan added, “Hunt could come in and assume the bulk of the carries early in the year and assume a backup/change of pace role whenever Williams is healthy enough to assume more of the workload The Broncos were one of the teams linked to Dalvin Cook this offseason, so if they strike out on him Hunt would be a nice consolation prize.”

Hunt was drafted in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs back in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Hunt led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,327 and added eight rushing touchdowns. The Chiefs running back was also named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

In 2018, Hunt was released by the Chiefs after a video surfaced of him physically assaulting a woman and kicking her while on the floor. Hunt was never charged with a crime, but was suspended eight games by the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns signed Hunt in February of 2019 and rushed for just 179 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.

Over the past four seasons with the Browns, Hunt has been the No. 2 running back behind All-Pro Nick Chubb. In that time span, Hunt has averaged 468.5 yards on the ground and four trips to the endzone.

Hunt has also averaged 33 receptions for 243.3 yards in the air.

Insider Lists Denver as Possible Suitor

There have been plenty of reports that the Broncos could be looking to add another running back to their room and Denver has been named as a possible suitor for Hunt, per Jordan Schultz.

“A scout told me that his pass protection alone elevates his value.”

Back on May 6, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported on Sports Center that the Broncos are “a team to watch” in the Hunt sweepstakes.

Update on Javonte Williams

On May 14, Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke to the local media and gave some positive news surrounding Williams.

“We expect him to be ready for the start of training camp and that’s good news.” Payton continued, “His rehab is going well.”

If Williams is not ready for the start of training camp, he would have to the PUP list.

“We’re hopeful that he’s someone that might not have to go to PUP.”

Last season, Williams finished with just 204 rushing yards and 76 receiving and failed to find the endzone.

As a rookie, Williams proved that he could be the starting running back for the Broncos moving forward. The former North Carolina Tar Heel rushed for 903 yards and scored four touchdowns while ranking atop the NFL in broken tackles.

The Denver Broncos are facing a bit of a shaky situation in their running back room heading into 2023 training camp with Javonte Williams coming off an ACL tear and Samaje Perine having spent most of his career as a No. 2 back.

Could the mistakes of one of their AFC West rivals net them a grand prize, though?

NFL analyst Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently examined some of the most notable running back names with uncertain futures and pitched a “curveball” of an idea for the Broncos, suggesting they could be players for 2022 NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs if his situation with the Las Vegas Raiders does not improve in the coming weeks.

Jacobs notably held out of the Raiders’ entire offseason program, including mandatory minicamp, and is technically not under contract with the team because he has not yet signed the $10.1 million franchise tag that Las Vegas placed on him in early March.

“We doubt the Raiders would prefer to trade their franchise player inside the division, but Denver’s new coach, Sean Payton, gushed about Jacobs earlier this offseason, paid decent money for starting RBs in New Orleans, and could use downhill insurance as Javonte Williams returns from injury with newcomer Samaje Perine better suited for No. 2 duties,” Benjamin wrote. “Las Vegas could simply rescind the franchise tag if it knows Jacobs is committed to netting a bigger deal elsewhere, allowing the Raiders’ quasi-Patriots regime to save an instant $10M and revert to an RB-by-committee approach.”

Sean Payton Hinted at Jacobs Interest in February

The Broncos would be pulling off one of the most surprising moves of the offseason if they were actually able to pry away Jacobs from their rival Raiders. The 25-year-old rushed for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023 and would upgrade the Broncos’ backfield to one of the most fearsome in the league if he joined them, even though it would still take a number of dominos falling for it to become truly realistic.

One thing that supports the potential link between Jacobs and the Broncos, though? New head coach Sean Payton loves Jacobs and gushed about his “outstanding” 2022 season back in early February before the new league year opened on March 15.

“He was outstanding this year,” Payton said during a pre-Super Bowl appearance on ‘Up & Adams’ on FanDuel TV in February. “A downhill, physical runner. For a team that wasn’t necessarily always having success, he was always consistently playing well. I’m glad he’s a free agent. I encourage everyone to look at him, get him out of the West.

“Maybe we look at him.”

Now, Payton might just be talking up a talented player whom he genuinely respects — and this was said before the team signed Perine — but it is at least worth noting that the Broncos ‘new head coach is a big fan of what Jacobs brings to the table as a rusher.

Dalvin Cook Could Still Offer Better Option for 2023

GettyDalvin Cook could also still be in play for the Broncos.

Jacobs would undoubtedly supercharge the Broncos’ backfield behind Russell Wilson for the 2023 season, but it would take a strange turn of events for the Raiders to rescind the franchise tag they placed on him given how valuable he was to their team in 2022. More realistic, perhaps, is the newly available Dalvin Cook, who was released from the Minnesota Vikings on June 9 and could fit right in with the Broncos’ murky rotation.

According to Outkick’s Armando Salguero, Cook had identified two ideal landing spots — the Buffalo Bills or the Miami Dolphins — prior to the Vikings’ decision to release him. With the Dolphins, Cook would have an opportunity to return home to Miami and play for a burgeoning AFC contender, whereas the Bills could offer him a chance to play with his brother, fellow running back James Cook, on a full-fledged AFC contender.

None of that, however, should stop the Broncos from entering the running to land him. Cook has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in each of his last four seasons and earned Pro Bowl recognition in each campaign, reaching his career peak in 2020 when he rushed for 1,557 yards, caught 44 passes and scored 17 total touchdowns. Even if they feel good about Williams’ recovery timeline, pairing him with Cook would give them a stout three-back rotation to fuel their rushing offense.

The Broncos don’t have a ton of cap space — about $8.8 million, per Over the Cap — remaining for the 2023 season, but there are cuts they could make to create more room for Cook and what would presumably be a multi-year deal for him.

While the Denver Broncos struggled last year with quarterback Russell Wilson leading the charge, many criticized Wilson for being overweight last season.

So far in the offseason, Wilson has looked like he has slimmed down while making the rounds during his appearances at the Denver Nuggets playoff games.

On June 17, Wilson posted a video on his Twitter account show a unique and intense workout showing that he means business entering the 2023 football season.

On May 25, Wilson told the Denver media, “I feel great. I feel lean and mean, ready to go, and focused.”

Wilson was asked a follow up question on how many pounds that he has lost and he made sure to not say the exact number.

“I’m not worried about that, I’m not counting. All I know is that I’m excited to play again.”

Wilson Turned Down a Trade to the Eagles in 2022

On April 8, Ian Rapoport jumped on the Joey Mulinaro Podcast and explained that there was a real chance that Wilson could’ve been traded to one of two NFC East teams.

“There were times last year where I was pretty convinced either the Eagles or Commanders were going to trade for Russell Wilson,” Rapoport said. “That was one where you kinda stop everything and you’re like, ‘Hang on.’ Now, it turned out that that was not something he was into and he was only into going to the Broncos.”

Since Wilson had a no-trade clause in his last contract with the Seahawks, he was able to control his destination on where he wanted to play.

We have now discovered from Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated that Wilson turned down the trade to Philadelphia.

During a radio interview with Seattle Sports on May 31, Bishop said, “I think the Eagles really wanted him.” Bishop continued, “I think they liked his style of play; I think that makes sense, right? It’s similar to Jalen Hurts, especially when he was in his prime and a little bit faster, I think, than now. And, yeah, my understanding at that time is that Russ wanted to stay here and then ultimately that’s not what happened.”

The top choice for Wilson the entire time was Denver, according to Ian Rapoport.

“My understanding was this was the only team Russell Wilson wanted to go to,” Rapoport said during NFL Total Access on March 8, 2022. “A couple teams had talked to Seattle about trading for Russell Wilson. Washington Commanders were among the teams that made an offer. It was a big offer, as good or even better than this. Russell Wilson wanted to go to the Denver Broncos. It’s a place he likes, it’s near his family, it’s on the West Coast and they have a roster that is essentially stacked at receiver, on defense, at running back. All they needed was a quarterback, and they got one.”

Sean Payton Must Fix Wilson’s Issues From Last Year

After the Broncos started the season off with a 2-2 overall record, former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton jumped on “The Herd With Colin Cowherd” in October and explained that Wilson can be fixed.

“You correct flaws immediately, and then we don’t worry about how long the process is going to take,” Payton said. “In other words, I’d want a cut-up today of all of Russell’s pass plays of 30 or more yards from the field and I’d want to see, ‘Are there some schemes that he felt very comfortable with?’”

Payton also mentioned that he would like to see what Wilson did successful in Seattle.

“I know that they did a great job in Seattle of bringing him off of a naked-boot and then pulling up,” Payton said. “And then we all saw that throwback to [Tyler] Lockett across the field where the ball traveled 60 yards in the air.”

Payton would also want to see the touchdowns that Wilson has thrown in the red zone.

“I’d want to look at another film of his red zone touchdown passes inside the 20,” Payton said. “What I’m asking for from assistants is, I’m asking for some of his greatest hits, and to make sure that we have those song lyrics available, and if not, let’s put them in.”

During the final two games of the season, the Broncos named Justin Outten the offensive play caller and Wilson ended up playing his best football of the season.

In the first 13 games of the season, Wilson averaged just 232.2 yards per game in the air while completing 60 percent of his passes. The former Super Bowl winning quarterback had thrown for 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Over the final two games with Outten, Wilson’s average jumped to 252.5 passing yards per game and 62.9 percent of his passes being completed. The Denver gun-slinger also threw four touchdowns to two interceptions and his quarterback rating jumped from 82.6 to 96.5.

Looks like there was proof that after all the injuries, getting to a more creative play caller, and an improved offensive line, there is hope that Wilson can play like he did in Seattle.

New Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been a notable supporter of the Denver Nuggets since he went to the Mile High City in February.

With the Nuggets’ recent championship at the top of his mind, Payton turned an NBA Finals observation into a teaching moment during the team’s first mandatory minicamp practice on June 13. During a press conference, Payton said he took note of Nuggets guard Christian Braun’s NBA Finals Game 3 performance.

“I don’t know if that was his (Braun’s) normal performance, but he gained confidence that night and we’ll never forget that night,” Payton said during his June 13 presser. “That is how it’s born. That’s confidence and it’s born out of demonstrated ability. So as a coach, it’s exciting to see.”

In the June 7 game to which Payton is referring, Braun provided a significant spark off the bench. He scored 15 points (11 in the second half) en route to the Nuggets’ 109-94 win over the Miami Heat. Denver ultimately took the series in five games to win their first-ever NBA title.

Similar to what Braun showed during the Nuggets’ championship run, Payton said he wants to see tight end Albert Okwuegbunam continue his development.

“He’s at that stage where this is the time (to break out),” Payton said during his presser. “He did make a few plays [during Day 1 of minicamp]. I was encouraged with that and I think that as a teacher, our job is to hit the ceiling with these guys.”

Just as Braun’s “demonstrated ability” helped the Nuggets, Okwuegbunam’s accelerated development would be a welcome sight by the Broncos. Okwuegbunam is a xx-year pro, but hasn’t been able to be consistent in the NFL.

Payton said he’s hoping Okwuegbunam takes the next step during the fourth season of his NFL career.

“I’ve said this a million times: confidence is born out of demonstrated ability,” Payton said. “We can wish for confidence. And [as a player] you can say, ‘I’m confident,’ but we’ve all seen moments where players do something in a game all of a sudden. So it has to be born out of demonstrated ability.”

How Can Albert Okwuegbunam Grow in 2023?

‘Albert O’ seemed to be one of the Broncos’ rising stars in 2021 after putting up 33 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Just one season later, however, he didn’t even hit the 100 receiving yards mark.

The former Missouri Tiger was inactive for much of 2022 due to personnel-related decisions. Per The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel, Okwuegbunam fell out of favor with former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett due to blocking struggles and the emergence of Greg Dulcich.

But after Hackett was fired last season, then-interim head coach Jerry Rosburg said he took notice of Okwuegbunam’s athletic ability, according to a Jan. 3 tweet from DenverSports.com’s Andrew Mason.

“I think he’s (Okwuegbunam is) a highly-talented individual and I haven’t seen him much on the field this year,” Rosburg said on January 3. “I was just curious as to why that was, because he’s a good-looking athlete.”

Payton bringing up Okwuegbunam during a post-practice minicamp presser in June is a positive because of the 6-foot-5 tight end’s lack of playing time last season. He only appeared in eight games in 2022.

With more practice and game experience alongside quarterback Russell Wilson, two could better develop chemistry. The pair has already shown flashes of potential, as Wilson connected with Okwuegbunam on five completions for 33 yards during the Broncos’ Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last year. Okwuegbunam also caught a touchdown pass from Wilson as part of a three catch, 45-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17.

Tight end room entering 2023

The Broncos’ entire tight end group is one to watch as minicamp comes to a close. In addition to Dulcich and Okwuegbunam, new acquisition Adam Trautman and Chris Manhertz are so far the Broncos’ top four tight ends on the team’s 2023 depth chart.

Payton said he discovered that one of Okwuegbunam’s best traits is his athleticism — just like Rosburg.

“He can run, he’s athletic,” Payton said of Okwuegbunam during his presser. “He’s made progress.”

The tight end with the most similar attributes to Okwuegbunam is Dulcich, who led Denver’s tight ends in receiving yards last year (33 catches for 411 yards). But with Okwuegbunam capturing Payton’s attention at minicamp, the competition for the starting spot could be heating up.

“The tight end position is interesting,” Payton said during his press conference. “Some of them are better run blockers. Some of them are better receivers. He (Okwuegbunam) is certainly athletic.”

From 2017-2018, the Denver Broncos had a head coach by the name of Vance Joseph. Things didn’t go well for Joseph in those two seasons, but he has returned to be the defensive coordinator under head coach Sean Payton.

When speaking to the Denver media on June 14, for the first-time since being hired, Joseph mentioned that he had “some choices” as he looked for a new gig after coaching the Arizona Cardinals’ defense over the last four seasons.

When asked why he decided to return to the mile high city, Joseph said, “”Denver is home. This is a great place with a great fan base. We have a home here still. For me, it was home.”

Joseph played football at the University of Colorado from 1990-1994 before becoming a graduate assistant from 1999-2001. The following year, Joseph was promoted to defensive backs coach for the Buffaloes.

The 50-year-old also explained that there weren’t any hard feelings after he was fired as the Broncos head coach.

“It was a fair process,” Joseph said. “This is a league of winning, so when you don’t win, there is going to be change. It was never personal for me. I came here and I worked my butt off, but it didn’t work. I’m back now, and that’s my focus, playing great defense for Sean [Payton] and win games. I’ve never had that in my heart, even leaving here four years ago.”

Payton Drew Joseph to Denver

After being asked about Payton, Joseph praised his new head coach calling him “one of the best play callers in NFL history.”

Joseph then explained that he was drawn to Denver because of Payton.

“Just watching Sean operate on a daily basis as a head coach has been fun to watch. He’s doing a great job with the culture of the football team, and his message everyday is really strong. He spends time on his message and it’s been fun to watch him operate everyday as an experienced head coach.”

On June 14, Payton talked about how good of a leader Joseph is.

“Well, there’s a calmness to him and professionalism to him that I appreciate and we always found a way to shake each other’s hand after a game or talk to each other. I just think that there’s a poise and a credibility when he presents that’s impressive. I think he’s an extremely good communicator, and I think he’s an extremely good leader.”

Joseph’s Time as Head Coach of the Broncos

The Broncos hired Joseph in 2017 after Super Bowl winning head coach Gary Kubiak told the team that he was stepping down as head coach before the final game of the 2016 season.

With candidates available like Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, the Broncos decided to go with Joseph who called plays for the first time with the Miami Dolphins in 2016.

Before the Broncos hired Wade Phillips to be the defensive coordinator in 2015, Denver tried to hire Joseph as their defensive coordinator, but the Cincinnati Bengals blocked Denver’s request even though he was their defensive backs coach.

After going 5-11 during his first season, there was a real chance that the Broncos were going to move on from the first-time head coach, but former general manager John Elway told the media that he needed to “sleep on it” before making his final decision.

After waking up the next day, Elway decided to keep Joseph for another year before firing him after the 2018 season with an improved 6-10 record.

In Joseph’s two seasons with the Broncos, his defenses ranked 22nd and 13th in scoring.

While the Broncos front office didn’t help Joseph much by not giving him much control of the team, Elway tossed out quarterbacks, Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, and Case Keenum for Joseph to work with.

None of the quarterbacks had winning records in the two years under Joseph.

During training camp last season, Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending torn ACL after catching a pass from Russell Wilson down the sideline. Now, he’s back and ready to be better than ever after getting his knee repaired by a renowned sports medicine specialist.

Speaking to the local media on June 13, Patrick explained why he chose Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who is team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams, to perform surgery on his injured knee.

“He did Joe Burrow’s and Nick Bosa’s (knee injuries) and both that next year, they were Comeback Player of the Year. That was my decision of going to him because the guys he has done recently have come back better than they were before,” Patrick said. Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback won the 2021 Comeback Player of the Year after tearing his ACL in November 2020. Bosa, of the San Francisco 49ers, also tore his ACL in 2020 but received no votes for the 2021 award.

Patrick, 28, also mentioned that he has plenty to prove to everyone.

“I’ve always got something to prove,” Patrick said. “I think my whole mindset is just being a better version of myself. I see some of the stuff you guys say and handicap you your first year, and then second year is the best year. I throw all that out the window. My best year’s going to be right after.”

Fellow receiver Jerry Jeudy said he knew it meant a lot to have Patrick back out on the practice field during OTAs.

“It’s great just having Tim back out there,” Jeudy said. “His energy, the big playmaking ability he has and just having another great receiver out there with you is a big deal.”

Tim Patrick Is Learning From a Distance

The former Utah Ute is not the only Broncos wide receiver who has dealt with a torn ACL in recent years. Teammates Courtland Sutton and K.J. Hamler have had to deal with the same injury and Patrick is using them as inspiration.

In 2020, Sutton suffered a torn ACL during Denver’s Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.

In 2021, Hamler tore his ACL in Week 3 against the New York Jets.

Patrick mentioned that he is having Hamler live with him during the offseason because it will benefit both of them as they recover from injuries.

“I feel like I’m a good routine guy, and I felt like I just wanted him to get on my routine to help him be able to achieve the goals he wants to achieve in the NFL,” Patrick said. “It always starts with your routine, and I felt like if we both got on the same routine, we could help each other out.”

Not only is Patrick being inspired from teammates who’ve suffered torn ACLs, but he’s also been inspired by a certain Denver Nugget who just won an NBA championship.

“Another guy — Jamal Murray, ACL — and to be able to prove people wrong and how he came back as a better player than he was before and to be able to win the whole thing was huge.” Patrick continued, “It was a good sight to see from somebody that’s playing in the same city as you that went through the same thing you did and now, he’s on the mountain top. It’s definitely motivation seeing him win.”

Tim Patrick Has Been the Most Reliable WR for Denver

If a Broncos quarterback needed a wide receiver to make a play, they made sure to Patrick.

After being undrafted, Patrick signed on to Denver’s practice squad as a rookie in 2017 but didn’t play that season.

In 2019, Patrick started in 15 games and had his breakout season. Catching 51 passes for 742 yards, Patrick found the end zone six times.

The following season, Patrick added another 734 yards on 53 catches and 5 touchdowns.

Over the last two seasons in which Patrick has played, he leads the Broncos in receiving yards and touchdowns in 31 games.

With a new head coach, new offense and a quarterback needing to bounce back, the Broncos are going to need to rely on Patrick if this team wants to get back to the postseason for the first time since the 2016 Super Bowl.

The Denver Broncos have been a constant source of support for the Denver Nuggets during their NBA playoff run. The Nuggets won their first-ever NBA title on June 12 by defeating the Miami Heat in five games.

Commemorating the start of mandatory minicamp on June 13, new Broncos head coach Sean Payton held a press conference to speak about his team. But it was seemingly the Nuggets that were the recurring theme throughout the presser.

Payton said the Nuggets’ championship run will be memorable and have a significant impact on Denver.

“It’s tremendous for the city — there’s nothing like it,” Payton said. “To have the confetti fall on those guys for what they achieved, special. We always use this term: ‘Walk together forever.’ That team will — forever.”

The Nuggets have caught the eye of Payton since he signed with the Broncos in February. In fact, Payton was in attendance to watch the Nuggets’ Game 5 win.

During his presser, Payton also touched on winning a championship as head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2009. With that and the Nuggets’ recent title run in mind, Payton said his ambition to win factored in him signing with Denver.

“Last night, being in that moment watching them (the Nuggets) enjoy it — there’s just nothing like it,” Payton said. “It’s just borderline obsessed.”

The now-16-year NFL head coach knows winning a championship is no easy feat in any sport. Because of that, Payton said the feeling of winning it all is so exciting that he wants everyone around him to experience it.

“You know that fulfillment [you get] when you give a great gift [to] someone and they’re like, ‘Freakin’ A’? Where you take them somewhere and it’s everything?” Payton said. “It’s the same thing, but just times 100,000.

Broncos Players Take Notice of Nuggets’ Big Win

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has supported the Nuggets since his Denver arrival last year. He was once again in attendance for Game 5 of the Finals and even shared a moment with Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. postgame.

The Nuggets’ title run serves as a stark reminder that the Broncos haven’t had a playoff appearance since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016, marking the second-longest current playoff drought in the NFL.

That’s top of mind for Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton, who signed a three-year, $18 million deal in March and is slated for a significant role with the Broncos in 2023. He said the Nuggets’ win is a telling reminder that the Broncos can’t repeat their 2022 season in which they finished 5-12.

“I think last night kind of speaks for itself about what you want in the city, so it was pretty easy for us to come in here today and be motivated,” Singleton said during his June 13 press conference. “Like, let’s not do what we did last year. Let’s do that (win a championship).”

Tim Patrick Using Jamal Murray as Motivation

The Nuggets’ title might even be more inspiring to Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick because of his unfortunate similarity to point guard Jamal Murray.

Murray tore the ACL in his left knee in April 2021. Patrick suffered the same injury in training camp (except in his right knee) before the start of the 2022 season.

Patrick said he’s using Murray as a source of hope as the former Utah Ute makes his return to the football field in 2023.

“It was a good sight to see from somebody that’s playing in the same city as you, that went through the same thing you did and now he’s on the mountaintop,” Patrick said of Murray during his June 13 presser. “It’s definitely motivation seeing them win and especially seeing him win.”

The 29-year-old noted that he has never spoken to Murray because he’s “not the talking type.” But Patrick said that Murray proved a lot of people wrong in his comeback from injury, and he hopes to do the same.

“I just watch from a distance,” Patrick said. “I’m happy that they (the Nuggets) won and I’m happy he (Murray) was able to win and prove people wrong.”

The Denver Broncos haven’t made a playoff appearance since 2016, when Peyton Manning was slinging touchdown passes. Denver has failed to beat their division rival Kansas City Chiefs in that time span as well, but their new pass rusher believes in the Broncos.

Frank Clark joined the Undefined with Josina Anderson podcast and explained why Denver can flip the script.

“You can say what you want about their record, but if you know football, if you understand it, that’s the type of team that can turn it around in a heartbeat,” Clark continued, “I’ve seen it and I know it. They just need to add a few pieces to get the job done, and I feel like they’re doing the right thing adding me.”

Clark even told Anderson on Twitter that he chose the Broncos because, “The situation with Sean Payton is good for me. I get to play alongside Randy Gregory and stay in my in division that I am very familiar with. I also want to help the Broncos get back to the mountain top.”

Clark signed with the Broncos on June 8 after he was released by the Chiefs back in March after both sides were unable to agree on a deal to keep him in Kansas City long-term.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Clark will receive a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million. The deal includes a $5.5 million guaranteed base salary with $2 million worth of incentives.

Denver’s Defense Has Potential to be Elite

Since the Broncos won their last Super Bowl in 2016, they’ve been known for having some of the best defenses in the NFL.

Last season, the Broncos had one of the best defenses in the NFL through the first 12 games of the season when they were giving up an average of just 17 points per game. Things began to fall apart in the final five games of the season when they were giving up 31 points per game.

Denver brought back former head coach and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph who had two top-12 scoring defenses in his four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Over the last five seasons, the Broncos have owned a top-15 scoring defense including the third-best in 2021. The good news, Denver is bringing back nearly every starter from those teams.

The Broncos’ secondary is returning with All-Pros Patrick Surtain and Justin Simmons. Denver also brought back hard-hitting safety Kareem Jackson to fill the void for young safety Caden Sterns.

Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton are back as the starting middle linebackers in the Denver defense.

Jewell is coming off a career year with 128 total tackles and seven tackles for a loss.

Singleton also had his best season of his underrated career with an NFL best 163 tackles.

In the offseason, the Broncos also improved on their defensive line by signing Zach Allen to Joseph’s defense.

Last season, Allen had the best season of his career by sacking the quarterback a career high 5.5 times, hitting the quarterback 20 times, and had a career best 10 tackles for loss. Allen also knocked down eight passes which is twice as many as he had the previous year.

Broncos Needed Help on the Edge

Bradley Chubb and Dre’Mont Jones were the top two sack leaders for the Broncos last season. The only issue with that statement now is that neither of those players are on the roster entering the 2023 season.

The duo combined for 12 total sacks last season, even though Chubb was traded to the Miami Dolphins after Week 8 and Jones missed the final four games of the season.

The Broncos also signed Randy Gregory last offseason with the hope that he can put up Pro Bowl numbers, but that wasn’t the case either.

In six games, Gregory only sacked the quarterback twice and had seven quarterback hits.

In 2022, the Broncos had the seventh-worst number of sacks in the NFL with just 36. Denver also totaled up just 36 sacks in 2021.

The current pass rushers on the current roster from last year are Gregory, Browning, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper. All four combined for 10.5 sacks.

Over the last four seasons with the Chiefs, Clark has added 23.5 sacks to his resume in 58 games. Clark has also been named to the Pro Bowl during three of those four seasons in Kansas City. The veteran pass rusher has also won two Super Bowls by beating the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Clark has also been healthy over the last four seasons, by playing in an average of 14.5 games per season.

Last season, Clark had 5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits.

The 2023 NFL off-season is still in full-swing but a Denver Broncos defender is garnering praise from his All-Pro campaign last year.

Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson released his 2023 pre-season cornerback rankings on May 31 in which he ranked Denver corner Patrick Surtain II the fourth-best corner in the NFL. Monson said Surtain II’s reliability is one of his most significant assets.

“Surtain’s play doesn’t look as flashy as that of some other cornerbacks, but few players can play with his level of consistency and control,” Monson wrote.

Ahead of Surtain II on Monson’s rankings are Philadelphia Eagles’ Darius Slay (No. 3), Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey (No. 2) and New York Jets’ Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner (No. 1).

Surtain II is hoping to take another step in his development as a third-year player in 2023. After being drafted No. 9 overall in 2021, Surtain II has established himself as an elite corner, garnering Pro Bowl honors last year.

In regards to significant cornerback stats, Surtain II’s numbers actually did not improve from 2021 to 2022. His interceptions (four in 2021, two in 2022) and passes broken up totals (14 in 2021, 10 in 2022) fell.

But a surface-level look at Surtain II’s statistics doesn’t tell the whole story – especially when it comes to pure pass coverage. Monson argued that Surtain II’s second-half season performances and increased PFF grade prove he gradually improved as 2022 went on.

“His PFF coverage grade jumped from 66.3 as a rookie (in 2021) to 86.7 last season, which put him in the All-Pro conversation,” Monson wrote. “He had 12 games allowing fewer than 25 receiving yards, including his final six outings.”

During that span, Surtain II lined up in front of some of the top wide receivers in the league, including Keenan Allen and DeAndre Hopkins.

Per PlayerProfiler.com, Surtain II faced a target rate of 12.4% in 2022, marking the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. In 17 games, he allowed just 42 receptions (an average of 2.5 receptions per game).

Patrick Surtain II Surrounded by Veteran Safeties Yet Again

The Broncos’ defensive backs room consists of players with various levels of NFL experience.

Denver re-signed safety Kareem Jackson to a one-year deal on May 8, reuniting the 13-year NFL pro with eight-year Broncos safety Justin Simmons for a fifth-straight season.

Still just 23 years old, Surtain II said in a June 1 press conference that it’s key for the Broncos’ secondary to have Jackson return alongside Simmons.

“He (Jackson) provides a ton of knowledge, a ton of experience and that’s what we need in the DB room,” Surtain II said. (He) and Justin, those two help the DB room a lot. So when you got guys that have been in the DB room, it helps a lot with the confidence in your play.”

After Jackson and Simmons, however, the Broncos’ secondary is fairly young.

Patrick Surtain II Embracing Role in Year 3

With cornerback Ronald Darby entering free agency, Surtain II and now-second-year player Damarri Mathis are slated as the Broncos’ two starting corners entering 2023.

Denver also drafted Iowa cornerback Riley Moss in the third round of the 2023 draft to fill in behind Surtain II and Mathis. Moss was the 11th corner off the board.

The Broncos could still add a free-agent defensive back as a depth move this off-season, but it currently appears the team’s young group of corners has high expectations entering 2023.

Surtain II said he has already noticed improved play by the likes of Mathis and fellow second-year corner Ja’Quan McMillan in organized team activities this off-season.

“They definitely have an edge, a chip on their shoulder,” Surtain II said in his June 1 presser. “They’ve been practicing very well, and they had experience last year playing games. They’re looking to step it up in the secondary.”

But as the Broncos’ secondary continues to mature, Surtain II plans on doing the same as a leader – especially now, as he enters year three of his professional career.

The former Alabama star said he wants to lead by example this season, making it a priority to “coach up” younger guys in the secondary.

“I feel like that’s a focal point of mine, just helping the young guys adjust quickly,” Surtain II said. “Make it an easy transition for them, because I know how tough it could be in your rookie year – I experienced that. So just providing that leadership and providing a helping hand for them.”

A former Seattle Seahawks veteran is signing with an AFC foe.

As reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz of The Score on Thursday, July 8, former Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark is signing with the Denver Broncos.

“Breaking: Free agent pass rusher Frank Clark is signing with the #Broncos, sources tell theScore,” writes Schultz. “The 3x Pro Bowler and 2x Super Bowl champ with the #Chiefs finds a new home in Denver.”

As noted by Zac Stevens of DNVR, the deal is for one year and $5.5 million guaranteed (up to $7.5 million with incentives).

Frank Clark Posted Best Numbers During Years With Seahawks

Clark more recently spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs after he was traded by the Seahawks during the 2019 offseason. Following his trade from Seattle, Clark emerged as a three-time Pro Bowler, racking up 18.5 sacks during that time frame (2019-2021).

Prior to his stint with the Chiefs, Clark posted his best statistical numbers with the Seahawks. He initially joined Seattle as a second-round draft pick back in 2015 and racked up a career-high 47 tackles to go along with 10 sacks during the 2016 season. During his final season with the Seahawks back in 2018, Clark posted a career-high 13 sacks.

While Clark has always posted decent numbers during the regular season, it’s during the playoffs where he’s made his biggest impact. During Kansas City’s Super Bowl season in 2019, Clark racked up five sacks in three games after posting just eight in 14 regular season games.

Clark also racked up three sacks in three games during the Chiefs’ 2020 postseason run after posting just six sacks during 15 regular season games.

Frank Clark’s Signing Ends Potential Seahawks ‘Reunion’

As Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated notes, there won’t be any reunion between the Seahawks and Clark following the signing. Former NFL general manager Jeff Diamond of The 33rd Team previously considering Seattle to be a “perfect” landing spot for Clark.

“Seattle has added Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed on the defensive line in free agency and drafted Derick Hall as a second-round edge player,” Diamond writes for 33rd Team. “But Clark could play a role as the designated pass rusher from the edge. … Clark could be the player who nudges the Seahawks past the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.”

While Diamond considered a potential reunion between Clark and Seattle to be a viable option, Fisher writes that the Seahawks’ youth movement made the potential signing of the 29-year-old Clark to be an unlikely one.

“But we made the argument before in our prediction (which turns out to be accurate) that Seattle – which swapped Clark to Kansas City during the 2019 offseason in exchange for a first-, a second- and a third-round pick, a fine treasure chest – is now committed to a youth movement to upgrade at this position, and that the shifting defensive style here may not be his best fit,” writes Fisher. So no reunion for Clark in Seattle.”

With Clark out of the picture, the Seahawks will continue to move forward with free agent signees Dre’Mont Jones, Jarran Reed and Mario Edwards Jr at defensive end.

The Denver Broncos were in need of pass rushers and they went out and found one from one of their division rivals.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Broncos are signing former Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Frank Clark.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Clark will receive a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million. The deal includes a $5.5 million guaranteed base salary with $2 million worth of incentives.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old was released by the Chiefs back in March after both sides were unable to agree on a deal to keep him in Kansas City long-term.

Schefter also added that Clark spoke with Broncos head coach Sean Payton earlier in the week and “hit it off.”

Clark was a second-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, where he spent four seasons where he totaled up 35 sacks.

In 2019, Clark was traded to the Chiefs where he signed a monster five-year contract worth $105.5 million with $63.5 million guaranteed.

Over the last four seasons with the Chiefs, Clark has added 23.5 sacks to his resume in 58 games. Clark has also been named to the Pro Bowl during three of those four seasons in Kansas City. The veteran pass rusher has also won two Super Bowls by beating the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Clark has also been healthy over the last four seasons, by playing in an average of 14.5 games per season.

Last season, Clark had 5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits.

Broncos Dealing With Injury at Pass Rusher

On the same day that it’s being reported that the Broncos are adding Clark, news broke that Denver is losing one of their own pass rushers to an injury.

Per Mike Klis of 9News, outside linebacker Baron Browning underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus.

Klis also reported, “While there is hope Browning could return sometime during training camp that may be optimistic as the start of the regular season could be in question.”

Browning suffered the knee injury after spending part of the offseason working with Frank Matrisciano, who has also trained former Broncos linebacker Von Miller.

Browning who finished with just five sacks in 14 games in 2022.

Broncos Needed Help on the Edge

Bradley Chubb and Dre’Mont Jones were the top two sack leaders for the Broncos last season. The only issue with that statement now is that neither of those players are on the roster entering the 2023 season.

The duo combined for 12 total sacks last season, even though Chubb was traded to the Miami Dolphins after Week 8 and Jones missed the final four games of the season.

The Broncos also signed Randy Gregory last offseason with the hope that he can put up Pro Bowl numbers, but that wasn’t the case either.

In six games, Gregory only sacked the quarterback twice and had seven quarterback hits.

In 2022, the Broncos had the seventh-worst number of sacks in the NFL with just 36. Denver also totaled up just 36 sacks in 2021.

The current pass rushers on the current roster from last year are Gregory, Browning, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper. All four combined for 10.5 sacks.

If Denver is still looking to add another pass rusher right before training camp, they could target Yannick Ngakoue who appeared in 15 games last year for the Colts. The 28-year-old recorded 9.5 sacks and added 16 quarterback hits.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has been one of the hottest names related to trade and release rumors in the NFL this off-season. Social media speculation continued on June 8, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that the Vikings told Cook he would be released or traded by June 9.

According to Schefter, the Denver Broncos are one of the teams potentially in pursuit of the four-time Pro Bowl running back along with the Miami Dolphins. Heavy’s Matt Lombardo initially learned of the Broncos’ interest in Cook on June 7.

“There likely will be others (teams pursuing Cook), but those two have been monitoring Cook for weeks,” Schefter tweeted.

Schefter clarified that if the Vikings can’t find a trade suitor by June 9, Minnesota plans to release Cook. If he is released, the Vikings owe Cook $2 million this year.

The prospect of Cook in Denver would likely be a welcome one by Broncos Country, especially since he has established himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL.

Despite tearing his ACL as a rookie in 2017, he came back in 2018. Ever since then, he’s put up stats that are among the best in the NFL.

In 73 games across six years in Minnesota, Cook notched 5,993 yards on 1,282 attempts (4.7 yards per carry) and 47 rushing touchdowns. He is also a notable pass-catching threat, hauling in 221 receptions for 1,794 yards (8.1 yards per reception) and five touchdowns across the same time frame.

Broncos Insider Discusses Dalvin Cook News

Adding to the conversation, Denver7’s Troy Renck tweeted about the Cook news on June 8. Renck said none of his sources have told him the Broncos are interested in Cook, but that the team could make a move for the running back if they really wanted to.

“I haven’t heard of Denver having interest,” Renck said. “But I never say never this offseason. Cook will have suitors.”

A six-year veteran but still just 27 years old, Cook has the ability to elevate any backfield. He’s posted four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including a career-best 2020 season in which he posted more than 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The Broncos haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay, who did so in 2018 and 2019.

How Realistic is it for the Broncos to Sign Dalvin Cook?

Despite Cook’s talent and availability, the Broncos are still just a team with interest.

That interest might only go so far because Denver already has running back Javonte Williams. He tore three ligaments in his right knee last October, but is gearing up for a return in 2023.

In fact, Williams is ahead of his scheduled comeback. New Broncos head coach Sean Payton told the media on May 13 that he expects Williams to be ready for the start of training camp, and that the hope is Williams will avoid the PUP list.

Williams even participated in organized team activities on May 25 in a limited capacity, further signaling he could be ready for the start of the season.

Plus, the team has already signed a notable running back this off-season: Samaje Perine. He put up 681 total yards and six touchdowns in what was mostly a backup role with the Cincinnati Bengals last year.

Money could also be a factor in the Broncos’ potential pursuit of Cook. The Broncos signed edge rusher Frank Clark to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million on June 8, per Schefter.

Prior Clark’s signing, DenverSports.com’s Andrew Mason said that Denver had almost $8 million available in cap space. Given Clark’s guaranteed salary of $5.5 million (with the possibility of an additional $2 million in incentives), Mason said cap space now makes it more difficult for the Broncos to land Cook.

“If the Broncos want to pursue Dalvin Cook, they have a bit of rearranging to do,” Mason tweeted.

June 8 was a big day for former Kansas City Chiefs veterans. First, ex-wide receiver Demarcus Robinson signed a new deal in the NFC. Then the breaking news dropped that pass rusher Frank Clark would be remaining inside the division with the Denver Broncos.

So, why would Clark choose a long-time rival of the Chiefs after rumors that he wanted to return to KC? CBS Sports NFL insider Josina Anderson face-timed with the two-time Super Bowl champion after his signing was announced, and here’s what he had to say.

“Frank Clark to [Anderson] on why he chose the Broncos on FaceTime: ‘The situation with Sean Payton is good for me. I get to play alongside Randy Gregory and stay in my division that I am very familiar with. I also want to help the Broncos get back to the mountain top,'” she relayed.

Let’s be real, the contract probably helped too. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the financial details of the deal, which features $5.5 million as a fully guaranteed base salary. Schefter added that the one-year agreement worth up to $7.5 million also includes “$1 million in makeable incentives and another challenging $1 million in incentives.”

Ex-Chiefs DE Frank Clark ‘Hit It Off’ With Broncos Coach Sean Payton

Another reason that Clark signed in Denver, according to Schefter, was his conversation with Payton — the new Broncos head coach.

Anderson touched on this, but Schefter provided more intel, stating: “Broncos’ HC Sean Payton and Frank Clark spoke on the phone earlier this week and ‘hit it off.’ Now the three NFL HCs Clark will have played for are Pete Carroll, Andy Reid and Payton – three standout coaches with Hall-of-Fame resumes.”

Considering Clark’s strong relationship with Coach Reid, it’s no surprise that a conversation with Payton helped seal the deal in Denver. It is somewhat unexpected that a heart and soul team leader like “the Shark” would join a bitter rival.

ESPN senior writer Jeff Legwold provided some context on Clark’s offseason journey and its conclusion after the move.

“Clark, who will turn 30 on Wednesday, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on March 1 when they were unable to find common ground with his agent, Erik Burkhardt, on a reworked contract,” he reminded. “The Broncos have some room on the depth chart on the edge, given that linebacker Baron Browning, who has not participated in the on-field work in OTAs, recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair some cartilage damage and Randy Gregory had an injury-marred season in 2022 that included a knee injury.”

Clark made a name for himself during the playoffs with the Chiefs. Of course, the Broncos haven’t made the postseason since their Super Bowl 50 win under Peyton Manning (2015-16) — a stat the Shark will attempt to impact in 2023.

Chiefs Roster Includes 8 Edge Rushers

A Clark return on the cheap would have been nice, but it wasn’t absolutely necessary for the Chiefs in 2023. After the NFL Draft and UDFA signing period, Kansas City now has eight natural edge rushers on the 90-man roster.

Those players are 2022 first-rounder George Karlaftis, free agent signing Charles Omenihu, 2023 first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah, veteran Mike Danna, third-year draft pick Joshua Kaindoh, 2021 UDFA Malik Herring, 2023 fifth-rounder BJ Thompson and 2023 UDFA Truman Jones.

It’s a solid group and one that should make for a competitive training camp at the position. That’s not to say the Chiefs won’t add a veteran at a later date. They just won’t pay for one the way the Broncos paid for Clark.

Having said that, a more affordable reunion with either Carlos Dunlap or Melvin Ingram III could still make sense as the offseason rolls on.

As the Dalvin Cook rumor mill churns, the Denver Broncos are among the teams lining up to sign the four-time Pro Bowl running back, if he’s released, according to league sources.

“Denver is definitely interested,” a league source told Heavy. “But, it’s not just the Broncos in the mix.”

Cook is the most prolific, and balanced, running back available as training camps near.

But, for the Broncos to be a fit, the Minnesota Vikings would likely need to release the 27-year-old, because Denver currently has just over $10 million in cap space and Cook is set to count upwards of $10 million against the cap this season.

In 2022, only five running backs rushed for more than Cook’s 1,173 yards, while his 8 touchdowns ranked 12th in the league.

If the Broncos are able to scoop up Cook, it isn’t difficult to envision him occupying a dual role, both as a between-the-tackles bruiser, but also as a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield. After all, Cook caught 39 of his 51 targets last season for 295 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Cook could potentially fill a similar role to how Broncos head coach Sean Payton deployed Alvin Kamara during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints.

The combination of quarterback Russell Wilson’s mobility and Cook’s versatility would be a fascinating offense to watch.

Other Potential Dalvin Cook Destinations

Miami Dolphins

There might not be a better schematic fit than Cook landing in Mike McDaniel’s system, surrounded by the abundance of speed the Dolphins have surrounded quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with.

“Miami would have a hammer to go with all of that speed,” an AFC scout recently told Heavy, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about another team. “With Dalvin Cook, they’d really be hell to stop on offense. It would almost be unfair to drop him in that situation.”

The Dolphins have displayed a relentless commitment to championship aspirations in the past two offseasons, bolstering their roster with game-changers like superstar wideout Tyreek Hill, shutdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey, dominant edge rusher Bradley Chubb, and a host of other impactful additions. Adding Cook would certainly follow that trend.

Chicago Bears

It would seem highly unlikely that the Vikings would consider trading Cook to an NFC North rival, but if Cook is released, expect the Bears to be among the teams most aggressively pursuing him.

Chicago has a definitive need at running back, and has invested significant resources in surrounding quarterback Justin Fields with premier talent the past two seasons; adding receivers Chase Claypool, D.J. Moore, and top free agent guard Nate Davis.

Dropping Cook into an offense built around Fields’ prolific ability as a runner has explosive potential and could move the Bears significantly closer to vaulting to the top of the NFC North this fall.

Cincinnati Bengals

Don’t dismiss the Bengals as a potential Dalvin Cook dark horse.

Yes, Joe Mixon has been a dominant and proven commodity in the Bengals’ backfield, but Cincinnati can move on from the 26-year-old this summer. Releasing Mixon would create $10 million in cap space, while triggering dead money charges of $2.75 million both in 2023 and 2024.

Cook is likely a better fit in the Bengals’ scheme that stretches the field vertically more than most offenses both because of his explosiveness as a runner, but because he’s productive with the ball in his hands after the catch as a receiver, as well.

The Denver Broncos are in the middle of organized team activities as they continue to implement a new game plan under new head coach Sean Payton.

It turns out that Payton is also instilling new expectations within the team.

New Broncos signee and left guard Ben Powers spoke with the media in a June 2 press conference in which he wore a shirt reading: “Uncommon.” When asked about its meaning, Powers said the shirt holds significant value within the locker room — even during organized team activities.

“It means winning football in the National Football League is uncommon,” Powers said. “It’s hard to do – that’s why there’s not a lot of winners. There’s no there’s only one Super Bowl champ. It starts with winning, and that’s an uncommon thing and that’s exactly what we’re trying to be.”

It’s likely the team’s values are changing with a new head coach at the helm – especially with Payton, who is also a previous Super Bowl winner with the New Orleans Saints. But Powers said it’s been difficult to assess the team’s ‘new culture’ so far – especially since just he arrived in Denver in mid-March.

“If I was here last year, then I could tell you kind of what’s changed,” Powers said in his presser. “But we’re still trying to figure out our culture.”

Signing with a new team is an evergreen ‘work in progress’ for any football player. But by signing a four-year, $52 million deal on March 13 (per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), Powers is ready to take the next step in his career.

Why Ben Powers Signed in Denver

A 2019 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, Powers completed his fourth NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He became a free agent shortly after the team’s season ended in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Despite being a mid-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens, Powers had few opportunities to play games until 2021 and 2022. Across those two seasons, he started 29 games (appearing in 30), including all 17 games last year.

He became a free agent shortly after the Ravens’ season ended in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Powers said the Ravens likely moved on from him due to financial reasons.

“I don’t think they could afford me,” Powers said during his June 2 presser.

It wasn’t just money that impacted Powers’ decision, however. Earning game minutes was difficult for Powers, particularly early on during his Baltimore tenure.

Powers said a number of factors led to frustration in Baltimore, but he is ultimately happy with being a Bronco.

“Looking back on my NFL career – first four years – back then I’d tell you how mad and upset I am. I’m not playing, I’m not getting the opportunity – things aren’t going how I want them,” Powers said. “But standing right here in front of you all (the Denver media), it worked out exactly how it was supposed to.”

Where Does Ben Powers Fit Within Denver’s O-Line?

New Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been notoriously known to value offensive guard play in his offensive gameplay.

Powers said that was a key factor in him when testing the waters of free agency.

“That’s something I knew coming in here, and so that obviously influenced my decision,” Powers said.

Due to his breakout 2022 season (an 86.5 pass-blocking grade by Pro Football Focus) as well as his contract, Powers is set to start at left offensive guard for the Broncos in 2023.

In terms of what the Broncos’ starting offensive line could look like in 2023, ESPN currently lists Bolles, Powers, center Lloyd Cushenberry, right guard Quinn Meinerz and McGlinchey as the team’s starters.

The Broncos made it a priority to address offensive line this off-season by bringing in Powers. The former Oklahoma Sooner will make about $12.9 million annually, ranking third on the team among linemen behind left tackle Garrett Bolles ($14 million) right tackle Mike McGlinchey ($17.5 million).

Powers said his journey to reaching a substantial NFL contract has been a long time coming.

“I’ve always been a guy that’s come from under the radar, come from behind, no one’s been expecting me,” Powers said. “I’ve taken my opportunities and seized them and that’s something I take a lot of pride in in my game.”

The Denver Broncos’ receiving corps has the potential to be one of the NFL’s most productive groups during the 2023 season, but one of their forgotten young weapons could find himself on the trade block before Week 1.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently picked one player for each of the 32 teams in the league that he feels should garner trade consideration before the start of the 2023 season in September and landed on a somewhat predictable choice for the Broncos with wide receiver and former 2020 second-round pick K.J. Hamler.

Hamler’s first three seasons in Denver have been frustrating, to say the least. Despite showing promise as a rookie with 30 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns, he has played just 10 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. He is also currently not participating in OTAs after — according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network — he underwent surgery to repair a partially torn pectoral in March, something that does not bode well for him trying to earn the confidence of Sean Payton’s new coaching staff.

“Hamler’s injury complicates things, but his reported 4-6 month recovery timetable could still allow him to be ready by Week 1,” Knox wrote in his June 5 article. “Denver should make Hamler available now. His future probably isn’t with the Broncos, and with other receivers competing for spots in organized team activities [OTAs] and training camp, he might not even find a role with Denver this season.”

Broncos’ New WR Additions Could Ouster K.J. Hamler

GettyThe Broncos used a 2023 second-round pick on Oklahoma wideout Marvin Mims Jr.

Regardless of injuries, Hamler still possesses upside as an NFL receiver. He has blazing speed, having clocked an electronically timed 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash coming out of college. He is also still relatively young with his 24th birthday coming up in July. Based on how the Broncos have gone about reinforcing the receiver position for 2023, though, it seems more likely than ever that Hamler’s future is not in Denver.

The Broncos signed Marquez Callaway and Lil’Jordan Humphrey to free agent deals back in March, adding a pair of receivers who worked with Payton toward the end of his tenure with the New Orleans Saints. While both have experienced their own share of inconsistencies, the familiarity they have with Payton could help them earn depth spots in the rotation over Hamler, especially with the latter still rehabbing his pec.

The Broncos also used their first pick of the 2023 draft (No. 63 overall) on Oklahoma standout receiver Marvin Mims Jr., who caught a career-best 54 passes for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns for the Sooners in 2022. Mims bears a lot of similarities to Hamler with comparable speed — he clocked an official 4.38-second 40 time at the Combine — and a near-identical build, the only difference being Mims is two inches taller.

Now, Mims might not be ready for a significant workload when the season begins, but his development should be a higher priority than Hamler’s behind the starting trio of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick. And if the Broncos have a sense that they might not be interested in retaining beyond 2023, it would make a lot of sense for them to cut their losses now and get what they can for Hamler on the trade market.

What Trade Return Could K.J. Hamler Get Broncos?

GettyK.J. Hamler could be headed for the trade block after the Broncos added to their receiving corps for 2023.

The Broncos have no hopes of recouping the full value of the Hamler pick from 2020 if they elect to trade him during the 2023 offseason. He was the No. 46 overall pick in that year’s draft and, even at the highs of his rookie season, has come nowhere close to living up to that level of investment. Could a trade involving the young slot receiver at least net the Broncos a mid-to-late Day 3 selection, though? Most likely.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Broncos had trade conversations with teams about Sutton, Jeudy and Hamler prior to the start of the new league year on March 15, and while Payton shot down the possibility of Sutton or Jeudy getting traded, there has been no firm confirmation that Hamler is in Denver’s plans moving forward. With three notable receivers joining the roster since then, the Broncos may want to revisit the trade talks they were having about Hamler and assess whether the return would be worth it.

The trick, as Knox mentioned, is figuring out whether a team wants to take a chance on Hamler with him actively recovering from an offseason injury. An acquiring team would not have trouble fitting Hamler’s $2.27 million cap hit on their books for 2023, but they would essentially be giving up a draft pick for a one-year trial run on a slot receiver who has a troubled history with injuries despite showing sparks along the way.

Perhaps a team like the Philadelphia Eagles — who are projected to have multiple picks in the fifth and sixth rounds of 2024 due to the compensatory formula — would feel more comfortable taking a risk on a once-promising talent, but it could be tough waters for the Broncos to navigate unless they are willing to sell low on Hamler.

Former Denver Broncos Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is the biggest celebrity in the state of Colorado and he’s spotted everywhere.

During Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, Manning was spotted front row to the left of one of the baskets. After halftime, Manning joined ESPN’s “NBA in Stephen A’s World” and gave his thoughts on how he thinks the Broncos will do this season.

“Just saw Russell Wilson down there, Sean Payton is sitting next to me. Sean has brought some new juice here. He’s going to get the best out of Russell. Russell feels rejuvenated as well.”

Smith continued to ask Manning if he thought Payton was a good coach.

“For sure, 100 percent and he’s going to bring that championship mentality back to the Broncos, just like the Nuggets have right now.”

Peyton Manning Wants the Chiefs to Leave the AFC West

Manning was the last Broncos quarterback to beat the Kansas City Chiefs dating back to Week 2 of the 2015 season. During that season, Alex Smith was still throwing touchdowns for head coach Andy Reid.

Denver has lost 15 straight games to the Chiefs and Manning wants something to change.

“I like my Broncos, I wish the Chiefs would get out of the division.”

Patrick Mahomes has never lost to the Broncos. In fact, Denver had a chance to end the streak against Kansas City in 2019 when Mahomes suffered a knee injury on a Thursday night game in Denver.

Matt Moore would replace Mahomes midway through the second quarter as the Chiefs routed Denver 30-6 in one of the most embarrassing games in Broncos history.

While Manning was breaking records for the Broncos, he went 7-1 against the Chiefs with his only loss coming after he was pulled midway through the game for a bad performance. Manning also was playing through plantar fasciitis that he suffered the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts.

Denver lost that game 29-13.

Peyton Manning Knows How Tough the AFC Will Be

After 17 playing seasons, Manning dominated the AFC along with his rival Tom Brady. From the 2004 Super Bowl through the 2019 Super Bowl, Manning and Brady were joined by Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco as the only four quarterbacks to represent the AFC in a Super Bowl.

Since then, only Mahomes and Burrow have represented the AFC in Super Bowls, but another Super Bowl winning quarterback joined the conference as well in the offseason, Aaron Rodgers.

“I like Aaron Rodgers to the Jets. He’s excited, I like the fact that he knows the system. Hackett’s the coordinator, Aaron’s going to be able to speak the language; he’s going to be able to know the system better than anyone in the huddle.” Manning continued, “I like the Jets this year.”

When asked who he likes coming out of the AFC this season not named the Chiefs, Manning mentioned the top dogs.

“I like the usual suspects, I like Cincinnati, I like Buffalo.”

Manning also gave his expectations for Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

“Look the expectations for Josh Allen are fair, I lived that for a long time. Hey you’re having these great regular seasons, you get into the playoffs, it’s not going well. Look it comes with the territory, Josh knows that. I mean nobody wants to bring a championship more to Buffalo than Josh Allen and I think he will.”

The two-time Super Bowl champion also explained that you must beat the best if you want to be the best.

“(Joe) Burrow and Mahomes are going to be here for a while, they’re not going anywhere, so if you’re going to beat ’em, somebody’s got to take it from them.

During the same night that the Denver Nuggets were hosting the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, former Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller held his annual “Von’s Vision” fundraiser in Denver as well.

While speaking with Mike Klis of 9News in Denver on June 1, Miller gave his thoughts on the Broncos this season.

“I love the Broncos. George Paton and the job that he’s done, bringing in (Mike) McGlinchey, bringing in Russ (Wilson).” Miller continued, “We got the best corner in the league with Patrick Surtain, we got the best safety in the league and if he’s not one, he’s number two with Justin Simmons.”

When talking to Klis, Miller continued to say “we” when referring to the Broncos.

“It’ll always be ‘we’. I spent 11 years here; it will always be ‘we.’ But I just have a different outlook of watching this team. I’ll always be a fan of the Denver Broncos. I know how they run things. I know the culture. I know the team chemistry. Had an up-and-down season last year. This year, it will be totally different. I’m excited for those guys. All they have to do is beat the Kansas City Chiefs one time and they’ll be able to win the division, 100 percent.”

Will Miller Return Before Buffalo Plays Denver?

In the middle of the 2021 NFL season, the Broncos were in a situation where they needed to start rebuilding and add draft picks, so they were forced to trade a player that would bring back the most value.

It was time to trade the Super Bowl 50 MVP.

Denver traded Miller to the Los Angeles Rams and went on to win his second Super Bowl ring.

After that season, Miller hit the free agent market and signed a monster deal of six years worth $120 million with the Buffalo Bills.

Last season the former first-round pick appeared in 11 games before suffering a knee injury on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions. It turned out that Miller had a torn ACL that was discovered during surgery.

Miller recently guaranteed that he’ll return no later than Week 6 against the New York Giants.

“You know I love guarantees,’’ Miller told Klis. “It’s me, it’s Von. I love guarantees. I want to play. In 2013, I had (ACL) surgery in January and I played at the beginning of August in the preseason. So that put me around seven months, eight months.”

“I feel great, I feel comfortable. I feel like I’ll be ready to go at the start of the season.”

Miller said he wants to be ready when Buffalo takes on the New York Jets to start the season.

“Whenever it’s time for the me to play, I’ll be ready to go. I want to be ready week 1 versus the Jets. Aaron Rodgers, Monday Night Football.”

The Broncos will head up to Buffalo to take on Miller’s Bills in Week 10 and he can’t wait for that matchup.

“I’ll be ready for that,’’ Miller said. “I’ll be ready for that for sure. McGlinchey, Garett Bolles, both of these guys are my guys. I’ll be ready for those guys, 100 percent.”

Miller’s Legacy with the Broncos

In 2011, Miller was drafted second-overall by Denver after the Carolina Panthers selected quarterback Cam Newton with the top pick.

Sacking the quarterback 11.5 times as a rookie, Miller added 18.5 sacks the following season adding is name to first-team All-Pro.

In 2013, Denver would put together the greatest offense in NFL history with Peyton Manning leading the way, but Miller was suspended six games for violating league policy. Appearing in only nine games and totaling just five sacks, Miller suffered a torn ACL in Week 15 against the Houston Texans.

The following season, the Broncos signed Miller’s idol growing up in DeMarcus Ware.

The signing of Ware helped Miller turn his career around by becoming a better leader and player overall.

In 2015, the Broncos put together one of the best defenses in NFL history with Miller and Ware rushing the quarterback off the edge. Adding 11 more sacks to his resume, Miller was leading the Broncos past Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC Championship game with 2.5 sacks and an interception.

In Super Bowl 50, Miller wanted revenge on the Panthers for not selecting him first-overall and revenge is what he got.

Sacking Newtown 2.5 times, hitting him three times, and forcing two fumbles with one resulting in a defensive touchdown, Miller was named MVP and helped bring a third Lombardi Trophy back to the mile high city.

Over the next four seasons with the Broncos missing the playoffs, Miller added 50.5 more sacks to his name and became the team’s all-time sack leader by passing Simon Fletcher.

Miller has 110.5 sacks in a Broncos uniform.

The NBA Finals began on June 1, with the Miami Heat visiting the Denver Nuggets for the first game of the series. But the Heat’s trip to the Mile High City might be more emotional for Miami All-Star forward Jimmy Butler compared to his teammates.

Prior to Game 1, Butler took part in a May 31 press conference and spoke about his connection to Denver – more specifically, former Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. The 2023 Eastern Conference Finals MVP was a good friend of the late Broncos star, who unexpectedly passed away on Dec. 9, 2021 due to complications from seizures.

“That’s my guy, my brother forever – I miss him so much,” Butler said in a Twitter video posted by KOA Colorado’s Brandon Krisztal. “I just spent so much time here (in Denver) with him watching him be great.”

The two became friends in 2014 after Butler learned that Thomas faced childhood hardships, but achieved eventual success in adulthood through football. Butler and Thomas’ unbreakable bond was also strong enough to make Butler a Broncos fan.

Unfortunately, Thomas won’t be able to watch Butler play live in the NBA Finals — something Butler said he still thinks about.

“I miss that guy,” Butler said during his press conference. “I wish he was here to sit courtside and watch me do my thing because we talked about this (being in the NBA Finals) all the time. Maybe not [necessarily] Denver versus my team, but just being able to watch me win a championship like he did.”

The six-time All-Star still, however, has plenty of memories throughout his life with Thomas by his side.

All in all, Butler said he’s found an appreciation for the city of Denver – but mostly because of Thomas.

“He motivated me because his story is really, really incredible through everything that he’s been through to make it and do what he did for the Broncos,” Butler said in his presser. “I actually have a lot of love for this city.”

The Broncos’ official Twitter account even took notice of Butler’s comments before Game 1, posting a photo of Butler and Thomas together at a Broncos home game.

Sean Payton, Peyton Manning Rooting for Nuggets

Since being traded from the New Orleans Saints in late January, Broncos head coach Sean Payton is still somewhat new to the Denver area. But he’s quickly assimilated into Denver sports culture, as he’s already been to some Nuggets games.

That includes Game 1 of the Finals, in which Payton was sitting courtside alongside friends from his alma mater, Eastern Illinois University.

“I’m going to take them (my friends) and convert them to Nuggets fans, so it’ll be exciting,” Payton told local media during a June 1 press conference. “I’m excited for the city and to watch these guys.”

During Game 1, 104.3 The Fan’s Zach Bye tweeted that Payton greeted former Broncos Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning, who was also in attendance. Payton also introduced Manning to his friends sitting courtside.

Manning even narrated the Nuggets’ pre-Game 1 hype video, which was posted by the Nuggets’ official Twitter account on June 1.

Other Broncos Show Support During Nuggets’ Playoff Run

In addition to Payton and Manning, current Broncos players are backing the Nuggets during their playoff run.

Safety Justin Simmons and quarterback Russell Wilson attended Game 1, but it wasn’t the first game they’ve been to in the past couple of months.

On May 16, Simmons sat beside Wilson and Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones at Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

On June 1, Simmons even repped the Nuggets during a press conference by wearing a ‘2023 NBA Finals’ hat with a Denver logo.

“You guys like my hat?” Simmons asked the media as he walked up to the presser podium.

Despite growing up in Stuart, Florida, Simmons isn’t a Heat fan. In fact, he said he mostly supported the Lakers during his childhood because of Kobe Bryant.

“A good amount of my family is Heat fans but I grew up with Kobe fan, so I naturally just cheered for the Lakers most of my life,” Simmons said. “But I think it’d be pretty cool to see the Nuggets win the Finals, so that’s who I’m going for.”

But since spending the entirety of his seven-year NFL career in Denver, Simmons has become accustomed to supporting the city’s sports culture.

Now, with a 1-0 lead over the Heat, it seems like the Nuggets will continue to receive plenty of support from the Broncos — especially as they seek their first-ever NBA championship.

The Denver Broncos are shaking up a few of their offensive skill positions ahead of the final run of 2023 organized team activities next week.

According to the team’s official transaction wire for June 1, the Broncos signed former Tennessee Titans veteran tight end Tommy Hudson and waived 26-year-old running back Jacques Patrick to clear room for him on their 90-man offseason roster.

Hudson, a 2020 undrafted free agent, spent portions of the past three seasons with the Titans and appeared in five career games for them, making three receptions for 31 yards on six targets and seeing the majority of his action as a special teams contributor. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end projects to compete with Chris Manhertz and rookie Nate Adkins for a depth or practice-squad role on the Broncos roster heading into 2023.

Meanwhile, Patrick’s time with the Broncos was short-lived, having only just signed to their 90-man roster back on May 15 prior to the start of their offseason workouts. He will now look to latch on with another team after previously spending time with Cincinnati, San Francisco, Carolina and Baltimore along with two XFL teams.

The Broncos are scheduled to hold their final OTA workouts next week from June 5-8. The team’s mandatory minicamp is scheduled to run June 13-15 the following week.

Greg Dulcich Likely Frontrunner for Broncos TE1 Job

GettyGreg Dulcich appears to be the early frontrunner for the Broncos’ starting tight end job.

An additional tight end helps the Broncos better iron out the depth of the position, but Hudson does not figure to make a legitimate push for the starting job. Right now, the starting battle appears to be between two contenders: 2022 third-round pick Greg Dulcich and 2020 fourth-rounder Albert Okwuegbunam.

While training camp will be a better venue for competition, Dulcich heads into the final week of OTAs looking like the frontrunner following his encouraging 2022 rookie year. A hamstring injury in training camp prevented him from being the Day 1 starter at the position last season, but he showed promise once he returned, catching 33 passes for 411 yards (12.5 yards per reception) and two touchdowns over 10 games and six starts.

“Well, look, he’s got a unique skill set, he’s got traits in the passing game,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said of Dulich after June 1’s OTA practice. “We use [the] term “joker” where we can get matchups. The trick sometimes is to predict what you’re going to get defensively if you’re going to get a nickel package or a base package. But man, he can run. He’s got good ball skills. He had one of his better practices today. So then you begin to build on that.”

Okwuegbunam, on the other hand, had a disappointing third season with the Broncos that saw him finish as the team’s third-most productive tight end, securing just 10 of his 18 targets for 91 yards and one touchdown. He was outpaced by Dulcich and veteran Eric Saubert, who caught a career-high 15 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Will Adam Trautman Break Out for Broncos in 2023?

GettyAdam Trautman will also be vying for a role in the Broncos’ 2023 tight end room.

Dulcich can likely control his own destiny with a strong training camp and preseason, but there is a wild card in the Broncos’ tight end room: fourth-year Adam Trautman.

The Broncos shipped a sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints during the 2023 draft in exchange for Trautman and a seventh-round selection, reuniting Payton with one of his young playmakers from his final season with the Saints. Trautman had his best season under Payton in 2021, catching a career-high 27 passes for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Now, with a familiar coach in his corner and a nine-time Pro Bowler throwing him the ball, he could be in line for a breakout in 2023 for Denver.

Trautman won’t have to search deep within himself for motivation. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and had his contract restructured following the trade, knocking his $2.743 million in non-guaranteed earnings down to $1.5 million guaranteed and baking in incentives that allow him to earn back the difference.

“I feel like I was placed somewhat in a box [in New Orleans],’’ Trautman told Mike Klis of 9News after the trade. “They put a limit on what I could contribute and I felt like I could contribute a lot more. I was primarily used as a blocker. I thought I could do more and I didn’t want to get to the end of my career and think I could have done it, caught the ball a little more. Whatever the case was, the team I was playing for just didn’t let me do it. I want a chance to prove I can do it because I believe I can and I have in the past.’’

As DeMeco Ryans, Frank Reich and Shane Steichen potentially start quarterbacks selected at the top of the 2023 draft, Sean Payton and Jonathan Gannon will look to lead drastic turnarounds with veteran quarterbacks.

Which head coach will orchestrate the quickest turnaround? Who has the best chance to transform a bottom-dweller into a surprise contender? Discover how this year’s head coaching hires stack up, with insight from executives across the NFL.

5. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

Not to put an expiration date on his tenure before it even begins, but Gannon has the best chance to be one-and-done.

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ defensive collapse in the second half of the Super Bowl left much to be desired, as did Gannon for skirting accountability when asked by reporters at the NFL combine about what happened in that game. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals might boast the least-talented roster in the league.

Turning around the Cardinals in one season, in a division that houses two contenders, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, as well as a Los Angeles Rams team that should rebound, would be a difficult task under the best of circumstances. But Gannon’s play-calling flaws were exposed by the Chiefs, and it remains unclear whether he has the temperament to be a successful NFL head coach.

4. Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers

Frank Reich, who was abruptly let go by the Indianapolis Colts last season, now finds himself in Carolina with a golden chance to develop a hand-picked young quarterback, Bryce Young. It marks his first opportunity to mold a potential franchise quarterback since his stint as Carson Wentz‘s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016 to 2017.

“The NFC South is wide open, so Frank will probably do pretty well,” an AFC personnel executive told Heavy. “Frank is the definition of a pro’s pro. His key will be Bryce Young and his ability to stay on the field. I worry that Bryce is going to get killed — like, smashed.”

Concerns about Young’s 5-foot-10 and 194-pound frame aside, Reich gets to oversee an offense that features dynamic dual-threat running back Miles Sanders along with reliable pass catchers Adam Thielen and tight end Hayden Hurst. Reich’s experience, play-calling prowess and track record for being a quarterback whisperer give him the chance to see immediate success.

3. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

Steichen was viewed as one of the most coveted head coaching candidates — and for good reason.

Steichen molded Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts into a legitimate MVP candidate while overseeing a balanced offense that featured dynamic deep-threat receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith yet also finished with the NFL’s fifth-ranked rushing offense.

Now in Indianapolis, Steichen has the chance to work with one of the most gifted quarterback prospects in recent years, Anthony Richardson. If Steichen can tap into Richardson’s immense potential — following the path of Hurts and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert — the Colts will be in phenomenal shape for 2023 and beyond.

2. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

If DeMeco Ryans is anything, he’s a culture driver and one of the brightest defensive minds currently in the sport.

“It’s an easy choice for me,” an AFC scouting director told Heavy. “It’s DeMeco Ryans. They’ve upgraded the talent on that roster significantly, and they finally have a head coach with sustainability.”

An NFC personnel executive echoed those sentiments, citing the Houston Texans‘ easy road in the AFC South as a potential driving force for Ryans to orchestrate a quick turnaround.

Ryans arrives in Houston after leading the 49ers’ top-ranked defense last season. The Texans made bold moves by adding the most highly regarded defensive prospect of this year’s class, Will Anderson, and potential franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud with consecutive picks. While winning the AFC South might be a tall order this season, Houston has assembled a talented and youthful roster that could pose a significant challenge to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023.

1. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos‘ new ownership group made a big splash, luring Sean Payton out of the television studio and coming away with the prize of this year’s hiring cycle.

“Hands down, it’s Sean Payton,” an NFC personnel executive told Heavy when asked his choice for the coach who will make the biggest immediate impact. “Sean’s a proven winner, has a veteran quarterback and [has] a damn good defense.”

Payton, who arrives in the Mile High City with a Super Bowl ring on his finger and the 2006 Coach of the Year award in tow, inherits Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson and a defense built around Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain and All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.

If Payton can engineer a significant turnaround for Wilson after the most disappointing season of his career, the Broncos will have a puncher’s chance in the loaded AFC.

The Denver Broncos made a surprise move on May 23 by releasing longtime placekicker Brandon McManus. Now, the team may have found a new kicker who is expected to at least compete for the Broncos’ vacant special teams spot.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted on May 31 that Denver signed free agent kicker Elliott Fry. The contract is for one year with undisclosed terms, per 9News’ Mike Klis.

Fry graduated from South Carolina in 2017 as the then-Gamecocks’ all-time leading scorer but did not immediately receive a shot in the NFL. Instead, Fry’s professional career began as an undrafted free agent.

He initially spent eight weeks with the Orlando Apollos of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football in 2019. After the AAF dissolved, he got his shot in the NFL.

According to CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan, Fry had stints with the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019-20 before eventually finding his feet on a 53-man roster.

Fry’s first opportunity to kick in an NFL regular-season game was 2020, when he made a 23-yard field goal in his lone appearance with the Atlanta Falcons.

A year later, Fry played a game each for the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. During that span, he went 4-for-5 on field goal attempts (a 44-yard field goal was his longest make).

Fry’s most recent NFL involvement was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who released him just before the start of the 2022 season due to injury. Ironically, McManus joined the Jaguars on May 25 following his release from Denver.

Klis tweeted that the Broncos waived running back Tyriek McAllister just after Fry’s signing on May 31. The move was made to free up space for Fry on the Broncos’ roster.

What Led to Elliott Fry Signing in Denver?

New Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted that McManus’ release was a “best interest” move. After McManus left, the Broncos went to work to find a replacement quickly.

Fry first arrived in Denver on May 24 for an initial tryout during organized team activities. The 28-year-old was joined by his South Carolina successor, Parker White, as well as NFL veteran Brett Maher for the workout sessions.

Clearly, Fry did well enough for the Broncos to sign him exactly one week later. What’s interesting, however, is that the Broncos did not bring in any other veterans to compete — especially since Mason Crosby and Robbie Gould (among others) are still free agents.

DenverSports.com’s Andrew Mason tweeted on May 31 that despite Fry signing with the Broncos, his job isn’t necessarily safe.

“Even if the Broncos don’t sign another kicker, Elliott Fry will have competition: literally every other kicker still on the market or who is currently with a team but ends up being expendable after losing a competition,” Mason said. “That’s how the Broncos got Brandon McManus in 2014.”

More Details Regarding Brandon McManus’ Release

As Payton alluded to with the “best interest” decision to release McManus, money likely played a significant role.

By releasing McManus, Denver is saving $3.75 million in cap space in 2023. Fry is expected to receive much less than McManus did due to lack of experience.

After leaving Denver, it didn’t take long for McManus to find a new NFL home in Jacksonville. The eight-year veteran actually took a pay cut, inking a one-year deal worth $2.35 million with the Jaguars, according to The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov.

But moving to a new team doesn’t change the way McManus feels about Denver. He tweeted that he bought a full-page ad from the May 28 edition of The Denver Post to pen a letter thanking Broncos fans, teammates, coaches and personnel he encountered since 2014.

Moving on from its last Super Bowl 50 player might be a difficult pill to swallow for Broncos fans, but Payton has made his special teams intentions known just a short time into his Denver tenure.

Despite new Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton spending 2022 away from coaching, one analyst is giving him high praise this off-season.

The 33rd Team’s Ross Tucker, a former NFL offensive lineman, revealed his league-wide head coach rankings on May 25. Payton cracked Tucker’s list at No. 4.

Per Tucker, Payton deserves a top spot due to his coaching history, including a Super Bowl win in 2010.

“I give coaches that have success with multiple organizations and/or multiple quarterbacks a huge boost over those that haven’t,” Tucker wrote.

But despite Payton’s coaching career ending up a success, he has essentially only led one team and quarterback while doing so.

Before joining the Broncos, Payton spent 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints as head coach. Drew Brees was Payton’s quarterback each of those years barring 2012 (when Payton was suspended for incentivizing a player bounty system) and 2021 (the year after Brees retired).

2023 marks a new beginning for Payton, as he embarks on a different journey with a new organization and starting quarterback. Tucker said Payton’s performance with the Broncos could weigh heavy on his coaching resume depending on how the team performs.

“Payton’s tenure with the Denver Broncos will prove significant for his coaching legacy,” Tucker said.

Tucker noted that Payton’s 152 career wins as an NFL head coach ranks sixth among current coaches. Only Bill Belichick (298), Andy Reid (247), Mike Tomlin (163), Mike McCarthy (155) and Pete Carroll (161) have more wins than Payton.

Russell Wilson ‘Looking Forward’ to Working with Sean Payton

Payton arriving in Denver isn’t the only new beginning in Broncos Country. It also marks a fresh start for quarterback Russell Wilson.

In 2022, Wilson tossed just 16 touchdowns in 15 games, the lowest total of his career. The Broncos also scored 16.9 points per game last season, ranking dead last in the NFL.

Payton, who had plenty of success coaching the future Hall-of-Famer Brees, now aims to help revert Wilson back to an elite-level quarterback. Wilson was considered one of the game’s top signal callers with the Seattle Seahawks from 2012-2021 — even winning a Super Bowl in 2014.

In regards to Payton, Wilson said he’s one of the best coaches in football history.

“I think Sean’s one of the best coaches that’s ever coached his game,” Wilson said of Payton in a May 25 press conference. “He’s intense, he’s focused. He’s such a great teacher of the game.”

Broncos Continue OTAs on May 30

The Broncos initially hosted its first round of organized team activities from May 23-25. That will continue on May 30-June 1 as well as June 5-8.

The start of OTAs means Payton has begun installing an “entirely new offense. That’s brought a learning curve to all Broncos players regardless of experience.

In a May 25 press conference, Payton said player evaluation is a constant during OTAs, including waiver wire/free agent transactions.

“The process is going well,” Payton said. “Ultimately, you’re constantly looking at what’s the best interest for your team — relative to, in a lot of times, money, and what your ‘musts’ are come into it.”

Aiming for an improved second year in Denver, Wilson said he’s taking things one day at a time — all while absorbing Payton’s philosophies.

“All of us are learning every day, more information,” Wilson said during his press conference. “Just learning how to play the game the right way, how to practice at the highest level and that’s what we’re focused on right now.”

Brett Favre’s lawyers say a photo of Shannon Sharpe taken by a process server proves that Sharpe’s attorneys made false claims in a May 2023 court filing amid a legal battle between the two NFL legends, according to court documents obtained by Heavy.

Favre filed a lawsuit against Sharpe in February 2023 in Laurel County, Mississippi, court, accusing the Hall-of-Fame tight end of defamation.

Favre’s lawyers say Sharpe defamed the Hall-of-Fame quarterback by saying he “stole money from people that really needed money,” discussing a fraud scandal on the Fox Sports show “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed.” Favre has argued that Sharpe’s statements were false. The lawsuit was moved to the Southern District of Mississippi federal court in March.

In an effort to have the lawsuit thrown out, attorneys for the former Broncos and Ravens star argued that their client was not properly served with legal paperwork connected to the lawsuit. But Favre’s lawyers responded in a May 26, 2023, filing disputing that claim.

Favre settled a defamation lawsuit with another former NFL player turned media personality, Pat McAfee, writing on Twitter on May 11, 2023, “I’m happy that Pat McAfee and I have settled this litigation. Like Pat said, he was attempting to be funny and not commenting based on any personal knowledge. We’d both much rather talk about football.”

McAfee said on his show that same day, “As I have previously stated, I respect the hell out of Brett Favre the football player and his Hall of Fame career on the field, and I have no personal knowledge about any case involving Brett in Mississippi. I am pleased to report that based solely on me again clarifying these points now, with no settlement paid, Brett is withdrawing his suit against me.”

Favre is the target of a lawsuit filed by the state of Mississippi, which is seeking to recover some of the welfare money that state officials say was misspent, according to ESPN. Favre is not facing criminal charges, but eight others have been indicted in connection to a 2020 audit that found $77 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) were misused, ESPN reported. That civil case is ongoing, and Favre is seeking a jury trial, court records show.

Here’s what you need to know about the most recent developments in the legal battle between Favre and Sharpe:

Brett Favre’s Lawyers Say Shannon Sharpe Was Properly Served With Court Documents in the Lawsuit & That This Photo Proves It

Southern District of Mississippi Federal CourtA screenshot of the court filing by Brett Favre’s lawyers in his lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe.

According to the May 26 court filing by Favre’s lawyers, Sharpe’s attorneys filed a motion for an extension of time for them to file a reply in support of his motion to dismiss the case based on the “premise … that he was not properly served.”

Favre’s lawyers, Eric Herschmann, Daniel Benson, Jennifer McDougall, Daniel Koevary, Michael Shemper and James Robert “Bob” Sullivan Jr., wrote, “Plaintiff has since learned that that contention is false.”

Lawyers for the former Packers, Jets and Vikings QB included a photo of Sharpe opening what appears to be a door to his home wearing a white T-shirt and glasses and holding a phone, in the court filing.

They said the photo, a screen-grab from a video taken by a process server, along with an affidavit of service, “indisputably show that defendant was properly served.” Sharpe’s lawyers have not filed a response to the latest filing from Favre’s camp. Sharpe’s lawyers sought an extension of seven days to respond to Favre’s lawyers response to his motion to dismiss, court records show. They are currently required to respond by May 31.

Sharpe Has Filed a Motion to Dismiss the Lawsuit, With His Attorneys Saying ‘

On May 3, Sharpe’s lawyers, D. Michael Hurst Jr., James Shelson, Mark Fijman, Mary Ellen Roy and Joseph Terry, filed a 22-page motion to dismiss Favre’s lawsuit.

They wrote, “Favre does not dispute the disclosed factual basis for Sharpe’s commentary—a Mississippi Today news article explicitly cited on the cable television show. Nor can Favre deny that the State of Mississippi has sued him in a lawsuit to recoup misspent welfare funds, that he returned welfare money he received for services not performed, that he has been interviewed by the FBI, and that his alleged misconduct has been extensively set forth in many publicly available court documents and widely covered in news stories.”

The court filing adds, “Rather, Favre’s claim depends solely on the assertion that Sharpe defamed him by offering the opinion that Favre, by engaging in this widely-reported conduct, ‘stole’ or was ‘taking’ from the needy and underserved of Mississippi and was thus ‘a sorry mofo.'” Sharpe’s lawyers wrote:

But Sharpe’s opinions—commentary based on reported facts and couched in rhetorical hyperbole regarding an issue of public concern about a public figure—lie at the core of the protections afforded by the First Amendment and Mississippi law. Sharpe’s comments are not actionable, and the Complaint is irreparably defective on its face. Moreover, Favre failed to comply with Mississippi law concerning the filing of defamation claims.

They added, “Even the most careless viewer of the Broadcast would have recognized Sharpe’s statements as rhetorical hyperbole—robust language used to express Sharpe’s strong views about the new information that emerged about Favre’s participation in the welfare saga. As any reasonable viewer can tell from watching the Broadcast, Undisputed is a debate format sports entertainment talk show, and Sharpe’s comments are properly seen in that context as constitutionally-protected speech.”

Favre’s Lawyers Struck Back in an Effort to Keep the Lawsuit Going, Writing, ‘

On May 24, Favre’s lawyers filed their 32-page opposition to Sharpe’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

They wrote that, Sharpe’s “statements plainly are statements of purported fact, not opinion—no matter how many times Sharpe in his motion asserts otherwise. When it counted, when he made those statements, Sharpe never said he was merely expressing his opinion. Nor did Sharpe take the opportunity to make that clear when Favre, before bringing this lawsuit, asked Sharpe to correct his statements. He does so only now because he is trying to avoid accountability for his maliciously false and defamatory statements.”

They added, “Sharpe cannot escape accountability. His statements accusing Favre of crimes were
false, and Mississippi law has long empowered private citizens to defend their ‘good name.'”

Favre’s lawyers wrote, “Favre’s allegations concerning Sharpe’s statements unquestionably state a plausible defamation claim, and Sharpe does not argue otherwise. Instead, he claims that his malicious and false statements are not actionable because they were rhetorical hyperbole, opinion based on a disclosed factual premise, and a report on an official proceeding. Sharpe is wrong on all counts.”

The case has been assigned to District Judge Keith Starrett, who will issue a ruling on whether Favre’s case against Sharpe can proceed.