Denver Broncos: Trade deadline strategy and bye week priorities
Head coach Sean Payton suggests the team may stand pat on trades while players prepare for the final stretch.
By Madison Darwish ·
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton indicated the team may refrain from major acquisitions before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. The Broncos enter their bye week with a 7-2 record after securing a 26-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Payton acknowledged that while the roster has room to improve, he is confident in the current group. He stated, “We’ll discuss what’s out there and we’ll see what happens, but I like this team.”
League sources indicate that while Denver has explored options, few expect a blockbuster move. The team possesses less than $5 million in cap space, according to OvertheCap, which limits financial flexibility. Payton and general manager George Paton have not historically been aggressive buyers at the deadline. The Broncos also hold their full set of 2027 draft picks, which they may want to preserve to address a roster that ranks among the five oldest in the league.
Defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian provided a standout performance in his second NFL homecoming against Carolina. The Winston-Salem native recorded six tackles, two for loss, and a sack of Bryce Young. McMillian noted that approximately 30 to 40 friends and family members attended the game. He described the victory as a plus-plus outcome, contrasting it with his first trip to the state in 2022 when he was an undrafted rookie watching from the sideline.
The Broncos will use the week off to evaluate the status of several key players. Wide receiver Pat Bryant returned from injured reserve and recorded four catches for 56 yards, including a touchdown. He has four games with at least 42 receiving yards this season. The team also aims to determine the role of running back Jonah Coleman, who has shown versatility in both inside and outside runs. Quarterback Bo Nix expressed appreciation for the break, noting it provides time to relax and review the team's progress.
Several starters missed Sunday's game due to injury. Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, cornerbacks Riley Moss and Kris Abrams-Draine, and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle were inactive. Waddle left the game with a concussion. Defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike, outside linebacker Jonah Elliss, and running backs RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie remain on injured reserve. Payton confirmed the team will have the entire week off, with players expected to return to full practice a week from Monday.
