5 Broncos That Need To Shape Up or Get Shipped Out in 2024
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was brought to the Mile High City to evaluate Russell Wilson and the entire team. Payton has decided that Wilson is not worth keeping around and is willing to take on his unprecedented cap hit just to reset the quarterback room. If Sean is willing to boot a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback from his roster, everyone else should be looking over their shoulder.
There are plenty of fingers to point after an 8-9 season from Denver. The struggles on offense and defense were due to the severe lack of talent, and Sean will not be afraid to cut bait with some of the holdovers from last year. Five Broncos, in particular, need to show up and show out in 2024 if they want to avoid the chopping block.
Let’s look at who has the hottest seats in the orange and blue.
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Greg Dulcich
When Greg Dulcich was on the field, he was a reliable security blanket and seam stretcher for Russell Wilson. Greg’s first touchdown was a 39-yard bomb against the Los Angeles Chargers, flashing his potential as the star tight end that Denver has longed for. Unfortunately, back-to-back hamstring injuries in his first two years have severely stalled his development.
Denver hasn’t had a legitimate tight-end threat since Owen Daniels in 2015. The Broncos will likely bring another man into the tight end room regardless of if Adam Trautman is retained. If Dulcich can’t stay healthy and perform, he’ll be buried on the depth chart. Beautiful hair won’t be enough to keep a roster spot.
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Javonte Williams
The running back room for the Broncos left much to be desired in 2023. Javonte Williams was coming off a torn ACL and LCL, and it was impossible to predict if he would even take a snap last year. Williams miraculously started Week 1, but as the season went on, it was clear that his injury sapped a good deal of his explosiveness. Javonte averaged a mere 3.6 yards per carry with 217 carries.
We’ve seen a significant injury similar to Javonte’s, with JK Dobbins tearing his ACL and LCL, and he has struggled to be even eighty percent of the player he was before. If Williams has a similar path, the Broncos could move on, as the running back position already has an early expiration date.
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Damarri Mathis
After stepping in for an injured Ronald Darby in 2022, it seemed that Mathis was a shoo-in to secure the second cornerback spot in Denver. However, the dreaded sophomore slump claimed its next victim. Mathis struggled mightily no matter how he lined up across from and was benched after starting only six games, losing his job to street-free agent Fabian Moreau. Mathis will have to prove he can seize a starting role in the secondary, and with the emergence of Ja’Quan McMillian and competition with Riley Moss, paired with whoever they bring in from free agency or the draft.
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Caden Sterns
The injury bug has stifled another promising young player. Sterns's rookie campaign was solid, playing at the third safety spot. He tallied two interceptions, five passes defended, and twenty-eight tackles. With Kareem Jackson’s age and declining play, it seemed Caden was being groomed to succeed him.
Like Greg Dulcich, however, injuries have halted any thoughts of Sterns being more than a backup. The Broncos' safety room lacks depth, and with PJ Locke being a free agent and speculation of a Justin Simmons trade, Sterns could have the golden opportunity to prove himself. If his injuries persist, however, he won't be long for this roster.
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Vance Joseph
The Broncos' roster was depleted of top-end talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball, in 2023. The defense under Vance Joseph gave up the ninth most passing yards and third most rushing yards to opposing offenses. They did have an impressive streak of sixteen takeaways in a five-game span, but when they weren’t forcing turnovers, they couldn’t get their opponents off the field. Even though the defensive talent was not up to par, it’s ultimately Joseph’s job to elevate the players he has.
There’s also a trend of Vance taking hybrid players and stunting their growth. DeMarcus Walker, Isaiah Simmons, and Zaven Collins were all hybrid players whom Vance misused, and Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is next in line. Sanders played edge and inside backer in college but was drafted to play on the inside. Now, GM George Paton says Drew will end up at the edge, which means he’ll be asked to switch up his position in year two. Vance’s tendency to not play his rookies is also head-scratching.
2024 will be make or break for Vance Joseph if he can’t get the defense to at least the top fifteen level; if not, the Broncos will fire him for the second time.
Bottom Line
With the Broncos looking down the barrel of a rebuild, the handful of Broncos listed above will be put under a microscope. If any of these men underperform in 2024, they’ll be swiftly booted from the team for younger, healthy talent.
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