Cap Expert Forecasts Broncos to Have a 'Clean Slate' in 2025

When it comes to the Denver Broncos rebuild, it's likely to get worse for about a year before it gets better.

For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Denver Broncos are stoically moving forward with a rebuild. Before it gets better, there will be short-term pain for the long-suffering ranks of Broncos Country, but under Sean Payton, a more cohesive plan is finally emerging.

Opting to absorb $53 million of Russell Wilson's salary in 2024 makes sense for a team that's looking to exorcise this demon sooner rather than later. It provides one of the key pillars on which the Broncos' plan will rest moving forward.

Reorganizing the Broncos' upside-down finances has led to a further culling of the roster, with established veterans like Justin Simmons being shown the door. And that stings. 

However, if this rebuild is meant to turn things around for good as soon as possible, the Broncos will need to create as much breathing room as possible on the salary cap for the 2025 campaign.

Over The Cap's Jason Fitzgerald has crunched the numbers, and he believes the Broncos are in good financial shape for 2025.

"They're looking at having some of the fewest amount of players under contract for next year," Fitzgerald said of the Broncos on-going situation. "It's kind of a clean slate."

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For the 2025 season, the Broncos will have only 27 players under contract, which means they will have fewer financial liabilities. Fitzgerald is basing his projections on the NFL salary cap reaching upwards of $275 to $280 million for the 2025 season, which is entirely feasible after it was raised to $255.4 million this year from $224.8 million in 2023.

As things currently stand, OTC has the Broncos sitting at a projected $103.7 million in available salary cap space in 2025. However, the Broncos are staring down the barrel of a new Patrick Surtain II contract, plus the team still has to sign the forthcoming 2024 draft class, which will take a chunk out of that figure in 2025.

The key to the Broncos delivering on this fresh fiscal plan will be sticking to their more threadbare budget. Future spending on free agents will need to be kept to a disciplined bare minimum. Adding a veteran quarterback to the mix, if it's done, will likely be done on a low-cost, one-year basis.

The Broncos' emerging plan still requires a new quarterback to take command through the draft while operating on a low-cost rookie contract. These factors only increase the pressure on Payton to unearth the long-term solution under center in the draft come April 25.

Landing a future franchise quarterback, and making the right decision there, should make the rest of the Broncos' plan fall into place — in theory — providing the key to organizational recovery. Getting the right young QB into the fold is that important.

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