Broncos 2023 Player Grades Illuminate Big Defensive Roster Holes

It's time to learn how the Denver Broncos defensive players graded out and which positions need upgrades.

Erick Trickel | Jan 12, 2024

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Denver Broncos

While there were high expectations for the Denver Broncos defense, the unit started the 2023 season historically bad. The Broncos then flipped and had a historical run when it came to takeaways, leading to a five-game win streak and putting the team in the thick of the playoff hunt.

The Broncos defense would go on to falter over the final seven games, and the offense couldn't do enough to overcome it. While the defense wasn't back to being historically bad, it wasn't getting takeaways and would break in critical moments.

When evaluating the Broncos' defense for the season, one position was clearly weak all year. On an individual level, it's easy to identify which players the Broncos should look at upgrading this offseason.

Earlier this week, I revealed the individual player grades for the Broncos' offense. Today, it's the defense.

On top of the grades for the season, I'll also look at how the Broncos should approach each player on defense this offseason.

Interior Defensive Line

Zach Allen | Grade: 64.1 | Verdict: Keep

The Broncos have to get additional help on the defensive line for Allen. It was a one-person show from him this year, and there was only so much he could do.

If you take away Allen, the Broncos had the worst defensive line in the NFL. Even though it took a few weeks, he took off for the Broncos and ended up in the top 10 for multiple statistical categories for defensive linemen.

D.J. Jones | Grade: 47.2 | Verdict: Cut or Trade

After a good 2022 season, Jones did not play up to par this year. His future with the team is in jeopardy, as his performance didn't match his cost. The Broncos need to upgrade the D-line, and Jones could be traded or let go.

Jonathan Harris | Grade: 46.7 | Verdict: Keep but Upgrade

One thing was clear when watching this defense: Harris should not be a starter. Denver needs to find someone who can be an upgrade. If the Broncos hold onto Harris, it should only be as a rotational depth piece.

Mike Purcell | Grade: 45.3 | Verdict: Let Him Walk

Purcell has had some good years in Denver, but the 2023 season was not one of them. There might be some football left in him, but the Broncos should move on to someone younger and cheaper.

Matt Henningsen | Grade: 32.7 | Verdict: Keep, Develop but Upgrade

Henningsen will only enter Year 3 and is still on his rookie deal. While he didn't have a good season, he provides cheap depth competition worth keeping and seeing if he can grow as a player.

Elijah Garcia | Grade: 33.4 | Verdict: Keep, Develop but Upgrade

It's much of the same with Garcia, as he is a young player that isn't expensive. He had flashes during the preseason, and you keep him to be competitive and see if he can grow more.

Tyler Lancaster | Grade: 23.6 | Verdict: Let Him Walk

This signing had some hope, but it never materialized on the field. When Lancaster did hit the field, it was a terrible showing. Denver should look elsewhere.

Haggai Ndubuisi | Grade: NA | Verdict: It depends

This all depends on what the Broncos saw from Ndubuisi during the season and working with him on the practice squad. If he showed growth and development as a player, then keep him. If not, then move on.

Jordan Jackson | Grade: NA | Verdict: Keep & Develop but Upgrade.

Jackson had some flashes in the preseason. He provides cheap depth and can compete and see if he grows as a player.

Eyioma Uwazurike | Grade: Suspended | Verdict: It's Complicated

It's easy to say move on from Uwazurike after his gambling suspension. However, with how much work the defensive line needs, it's worth seeing what he can offer on a cheap deal.

But it isn't that simple. There are legal issues that Uwazurike is still dealing with, and there is no guarantee his indefinite suspension for at least one year will end.

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Edge Rushers

Jonathon Cooper | Grade: 58.2 | Verdict: Keep but Upgrade

There is a common theme with the Broncos edge rushers. They're all solid players who can grow to be more but lack a top option.

Cooper is one of those players who is probably best as the second or third option. His efficiency isn't good enough to be more than that. So keep him, but keep trying to find the top guy.

Baron Browning | Grade: 60.5 | Verdict: Keep but Upgrade

Browning has some outstanding moments but lacks the consistency to be a top guy. On top of that, he has had issues staying on the field. He can be an excellent second option, but the top guy is still needed.

Nik Bonitto | Grade: 47.3 | Verdict: Keep but Upgrade

If Bonitto was better against the run, he might be an option for a more prominent role. The problem is that he is a problematic run defender for the defense. That means he is a pass-rush specialist limited to being a third or fourth option. That's fine, but Denver needs that top option that it lacks.

Ronnie Perkins | Grade: 35.4 | Verdict: Keep, Develop but Upgrade

Perkins was rough when watching him, but he's still young and cheap. You keep him as extra competition on the depth chart and see what he can grow into. Of course, the Broncos can need that top guy and can work on upgrading their depth for the fifth option.

Thomas Incoom | Grade: 27.5 | Verdict: Keep, Develop but Upgrade

Incoom hardly saw the field; when it did, it went poorly. He was only a rookie and on a cheap deal, so you can keep him around and see if he can grow while being competitive with other defenders.

Darrell Nchami | Grade: NA | Verdict: Keep, Develop but Upgrade

Nchami was a late addition due to medical reasons. He's cheap, young, and worth considering to see what he can become.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Josey Jewell | Grade: 58.1 | Verdict: Attempt to Re-Sign on the Cheap

If the Broncos can keep Jewell on a cheaper deal, great. While he and the next guy we'll discuss weren't as good of a duo in 2023 as they were 2022, they still did well. A second year under Vance Joseph could help them become even more. Jewell is a smart and instinctive player who helps keep communication clean on defense.

Alex Singleton | Grade: 55.2 | Verdict: Keep

Singleton is a tackling machine who struggles when he has to think and can't just react to the play. He's also a concern in coverage, but there is a way you can see him be successful on defense. With his extension last year, the Broncos are forced to keep him.

Drew Sanders | Grade: 46.6 | Verdict: Keep & Develop

It was his rookie season, and Sanders was still new to being an inside linebacker. It would be best to keep working with him to see what he can develop into.

Justin Strnad | Grade: NA | Verdict: Attempt to Re-Sign (Special Teams)

Strnad never developed on the defense, but he has become a solid special teams player. He's set to be a free agent, but if the Broncos can bring him back cheaply, his special teams ability is worth doing that.

Ben Niemann | Grade: NA | Verdict: Allow to Sign Elsewhere

Niemann was brought in for veteran depth when injuries were a concern. There isn't enough to keep him around, and they can let him go elsewhere.

Jonas Griffith | Grade: Injured Reserve | Verdict: Re-Sign on the Cheap

Griffith is a good athlete, still growing as a linebacker, but his year was cut short with an injury. He's set to be a free agent but can likely be brought back on a cheap deal to see how he grows and has recovered from his injury.

Cornerbacks

Patrick Surtain II | Grade: 51.4 | Verdict: Keep & Extend

While it wasn't as good of a season from Surtain, he's still one of the best corners in the NFL and should rebound with a second year under Joseph. He's eligible for an extension, and if the Broncos don't trade him, they need to get that extension done before he gets even more expensive.

Damarri Mathis | Grade: 35.3 | Verdict: Keep for Depth & Develop but Upgrade

After a turbulent rookie season, Mathis was handed the starting job and eventually got benched. When he was on the field, he was one of the worst corners in the NFL.

Mathi is still young and cheap, so you can see if he can develop as a corner, but he also can consider a position switch to safety and see if he can grow as a player there.

Fabian Moreau | Grade: 41.5 | Verdict: Re-Sign for Cheap Depth but Upgrade

Moreau was okay as a starter, but it shouldn't be a long-term option. If you can re-sign him for cheap, do it. He can provide good depth and extra competition for the backup jobs.

Ja'Quan McMillian | Grade: 65.8 | Verdict: Keep & Develop

It took a few weeks, but McMillian got onto the field and made it clear he belonged there. While his season wasn't perfect, and he fell off near the end, he showed legit ability to be a starting nickel corner. Denver must try to get him to be more consistent with his play.

Tremon Smith | Grade: DNQ | Verdict: Keep (Special Teams)

Smith doesn't offer much on defense, but he was a good gunner for the Broncos. His contract is still relatively cheap and worth keeping around as a gunner.

Riley Moss | Grade: 59.2 | Verdict: Keep & Develop but Upgrade

Moss hardly saw the field, but the Broncos had high expectations after trading up to get him. Hopefully, he will show growth and development in Year 2 and compete for a starting job opposite Surtain with someone else brought in.

Art Green | Grade: NA | Verdict: Keep & Develop

Green had some moments in the preseason but he was a rookie. He's still young and is a great athlete who needs to develop his technique. Those qualities mean you keep him around to see if that technique develops.

Reese Taylor | Grade: NA | Verdict: Keep & Develop

Taylor is young and cheap, so seeing if he can develop into something more is worth seeing.

Keidron Smith | Grade: NA | Verdict: Keep & Develop

Like the previous two, Smith is young and worth keeping around as a cheap piece to see if he can develop.

K'Waun Williams | Grade: IR | Verdict: Re-Sign on the Cheap

Williams was sidelined with an injury, but he was a great piece in 2022 for the defense. If Denver can keep him for cheap to compete for the slot or be the backup, do it.

Safeties

Justin Simmons | Grade: 65.3 | Verdict: Trade or Extend to Lower Cap Hit

Simmons is a fan favorite, but the Broncos need to do something about his cap hit. The Broncos have two options: trade Simmons or extend him and lower the cap hit.

Ideally, the Broncos get an extension done and lower the salary cap hit, as losing Simmons would be a significant blow to the defense, and they don't have someone waiting in the wings to replace him.

Delarrin Turner-Yell | Grade: 25.7 | Verdict: Keep, Develop but Upgrade

It was a brutal second year for Turner-Yell. However, he's cheap and young. Maybe you can get him to develop, but if not, he's easy to move on from.

P.J. Locke | Grade: 62.4 | Verdict: Re-Sign to Start

Locke was an excellent surprise when he got thrust into a starting job. He's a free agent, and if Denver can re-sign him, it should. No matter what happens with Simmons, Locke should be a favorite to be a starter at one of the safety positions.

J.L. Skinner | Grade: DNQ | Verdict: Keep & Develop

Skinner played one snap on defense all season long, and it came in the season finale. As a rookie, it isn't surprising he didn't play, but hopefully, he showed development as the season went on. He is young and cheap, so see what he has to offer and if you can get more growth out of him.

Caden Sterns | Grade: DNQ Injury | Verdict: Keep, Develop & Hope for Health

Sterns got hurt after two snaps and missed the rest of the season. He's in a position to be a starter but should not be handed the job. After two season-ending injuries, Denver can't bet on him staying healthy and must have a competition for the starting job.

It will be challenging for the Broncos to upgrade all the areas of need, especially with the salary cap situation the team is in. The offseason will be interesting, even if the Broncos are quiet in free agency.