Report: Broncos in 'Sell Mode' Ahead of Trade Deadline

This, despite what HC Sean Payton says publicly.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton asserted last week that he's "not looking to do business with any of our players" despite the team's one-win record and a probable rebuild on the horizon.

His recent moves — shipping outside linebacker Randy Gregory to the 49ers and releasing OLB Frank Clark, who's expected to resurface in Kansas City — have indicated otherwise.

As does a new report by The Athletic's Mike Jones, who claimed the Broncos are in "sell mode" ahead of the league's trade deadline. Consistent with that, Jones proposed a scenario where All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II is sent to the Detroit Lions for 2024 second- and 2025 third-round picks.

"The Lions are positioning themselves to win the NFC North, but Emmanuel Moseley’s torn right ACL suffered last week (in his first game back from a torn left ACL) is a big blow," Jones wrote Tuesday. "They’d love to have another difference-maker in their secondary as they try to gear up for a deep playoff run. People around the league say the Broncos are in sell mode (even if Sean Payton says they’re not). So, future picks to help improve a Broncos roster that’s not nearly as close to win-now mode as Denver’s brass believed may prove enticing."

If you think that's a low-ball offer for Surtain ... well, that's because it is. And even Jones' coworker, Jeff Howe, was quick to provide a common-sense rebuttal.

"I don’t even want to say it won’t happen. This would be an awesome trade for the Lions. But I don’t think it would happen under these parameters," Howe countered. "The Broncos feel Surtain is the best cornerback in the league, so they can’t let him go for less than a first-round pick and probably another mid-rounder. That should be fine with the Lions since they’ve had additional first-rounders the past two drafts from the Matthew Stafford trade."

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A more realistic trade asset is perpetually disgruntled wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, whom Denver has shopped for the better part of two years. In addition to the Indianapolis Colts, the Carolina Panthers reportedly expressed interest in Jeudy, and Howe believes the former first-rounder can be had for 2024 third- and sixth-round selections.

"The Panthers need to get Bryce Young more help, especially at receiver," he wrote. "While the Broncos have rebuffed trade offers short of first-round picks in the past for Jeudy, time isn’t exactly on their side here, and Jeudy doesn’t have the trade value they’ve been seeking. He’s on the books for about $13 million for his fifth-year option in 2024, and the Broncos need to recalibrate the books while determining their future at quarterback. It just hasn’t worked out for Jeudy in Denver, whether it’s due to injuries, QB play or coaching, so he’d probably welcome a fresh start. The Panthers would hope to reinvigorate a 24-year-old who was once billed as a no-doubt NFL star."

The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 31.

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