Because of Russell Wilson’s contract, the Denver Broncos won’t be going big game hunting in free agency this offseason; instead, they will be looking in the discount bin to add to their empty larder. Regrettably, before Denver can start to rebuild their squad, they will need to let go of a few well-known players.
Four Broncos—Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, DJ Jones, and Justin Simmons—were mentioned by NFL.com as cut candidates in an effort to free up funds and give Denver greater flexibility. What NFL.com had to say about each potential cap casualty is shown below.
Tim Patrick/Courland Sutton
As of 2024, Denver is $24 million over the limit and, depending on what transpires with Russell Wilson’s precarious condition, may need to undertake a complete overhaul. Sutton didn’t feel worth his $17.4 million cap tag, even though he did totally re-establish himself as a touchdown maker in 2023 (see: career-high 10 touchdowns). He hasn’t topped 70 catches or 1,000 yards in a season since his sophomore year in 2019. The Broncos might choose to part ways with Patrick, who at best appears to be the team’s WR3 and has a $15.6 million salary charge of his own, if they would rather retain Sutton (and perhaps restructure).
Jones, DJ
Although Jones has been a somewhat reliable interior defender for Denver since joining the team two years ago, his $13 million 2024 cap charge may not be justified. He merely isn’t a difference-maker at the position, more than making up for the almost $10 million in contract space his release would create. His 56.2 defensive grade from PFF last season placed him 50th out of 66 interior defensive linemen with at least 500 snaps.
Justin Simmons
“Being one of the best safeties in the NFL, Simmons is much more likely to be extended, restructured, or even traded, but given Denver’s cap concerns and the Pro Bowler’s $18.3 million cap hit, he could be one of the more surprising cuts of the offseason if they can’t work out a deal.”
Of these four players, DJ Jones and Tim Patrick stand the best chance of being cut. In his debut season with the Denver Broncos, DJ Jones made a strong impression by interfering with the quarterback play and stuffing the run game of the opposition. But during the previous season, Jones completely vanished.
Apart from Zach Allen, DJ was the most experienced player leading the defense line, but aside from a couple of fumble recoveries, he had little to no impact on the outcome of games. Despite the mediocre quality behind him, releasing him would free up about $10 million, so it would be a wise decision.
Of all the players on the Broncos roster, Tim Patrick has had the worst luck with injuries in recent years. In 2022, Patrick had an ACL tear in his right knee during training camp. Almost a year later, he tore his left Achilles. Prior to suffering his two terrible injuries, Tim had two seasons of over 700 yards receiving with five and six touchdowns, respectively, and was awarded a three-year, $30 million contract extension.
It’s unlikely that Patrick will play at the level he did in 2020–2021 because of the severe injuries he received to both of his legs. He has probably lost most of his explosiveness. Tim’s 15.6 million-dollar cap hit will not be retained if he does not renegotiate his contract.
Courtland Sutton might be cut in order to get Denver under the cap, but he would be a more desirable commodity in a trade. Since his 2019 Pro Bowl selection, Sutton’s season has been the greatest.
Despite Russell Wilson’s patchy effort, he managed to reach ten touchdowns, even if he failed to surpass 1,000 yards. A deal might net the Broncos a third- or fourth-round pick. If Denver can’t find a trade partner, they could save money by dumping him. Alternatively, they might restructure his contract to keep him around for the next quarterback to take over. Cutting him would save them $17.4 million.
For a player in a non-premium position, Justin Simmons’s 18.3 million-dollar cap hit is very significant. Additionally, safeties typically suffer a decline in production around the age of thirty. Particularly with the younger members of the group, Justin’s leadership in the secondary is invaluable. With thirty interceptions and five forced fumbles during his career, he has consistently performed at a high level, especially in the takeaway department.
Simmons might be dealt for a fourth- or fifth-round pick to a team that needs a veteran in its secondary and is in a win-now mentality. Eliminating him would save them eighteen million dollars, but it would also open up a lot of space in their safety net because only PJ Locke is a free agent and the other players are either unproven or prone to injuries.
The Broncos must devise strategies to maneuver around the salary cap in order to attempt to develop for the future. In 2024, roster turnover is unavoidable, whether they decide to trade, cut, reorganize, or keep the four players listed above.
