WHICH BRONCOS STARS COULD BE TRADE BAIT?
Addressing the trade rumors circling the Broncos in general and receiver Demaryius Thomas in particular, cornerback Chris Harris once again served as the locker room sage on Monday afternoon.
“Anybody can get traded; it’s the NFL,” Harris said. “It’s all business, and we’re not winning. When you don’t win, anything can happen.”
The Broncos aren’t winning — Sunday’s 3023 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was their fifth in six weeks and dropped their record to 35. Only the awful Oakland Raiders (16) are keeping the Broncos out of the AFC West basement. That means anything should be on the table.
General manager John Elway could make Harris and several other players available to trade before Tuesday’s 2 p.m. deadline if he chooses. But the chatter has mostly centered on Thomas.
To that end, coach Vance Joseph has talked “probably five times” with Thomas over the last week, he said Monday.
“He’s been a great pro, and he’s continued to work and be a good teammate, and he’s trying to help us win on Sundays,” Joseph said.
Trading Thomas would certainly send a shock wave through the locker room. His 9,055 receiving yards and 665 catches are second and third, respectively, in Broncos history.
The Broncos’ projected rationale if they trade Thomas: It would free up playing time for rookie Courtland Sutton, whose 19.1yard average per catch is third in the NFL; Thomas would probably net the Broncos a lateround draft pick to add to their 2019 satchel; and above all, it would represent an organizational pivot — a team accustomed to acquiring veteran players would now become a seller.
Joseph said he’s OK with Elway
trading one of his trusted veteran starters, though that player could help him win games and help him keep his job.
“Whatever we’re doing in the front office is to make us better,” Joseph said. “We want to win now and win in the future, obviously. Whatever John is going to do between now and (Tuesday) at 2 o’clock is to make us better. I’m on board.
“People want good players on their team, so everyone is going to call about four or five of our guys. I’m not surprised teams are calling, but it’s no guarantee (Thomas is) going to get moved.”
Joseph is right — it should not be surprising teams are calling Elway to ask about Harris or receiver Emmanuel Sanders. A substantial stripping down of the roster would be stunning. But what would those players command? A casebycase look:
Thomas:
His salary cap number in 2019 is $17.53 million, a hefty price for a player who will be 31 on Christmas Day. But if a team sees Thomas as being productive next year, they could trade for him and then ask him to rework his contract. A fair deal would be a team offering a sixthround pick that becomes a fifthrounder if his new team makes the playoffs.
Sanders:
The Broncos’ leading receiver with 50 catches for 660 yards, he would have value, possibly as high as rounds 3 or 4. He counts $12.9 million on the cap in 2019. But it would be a gamble to deal him, because it would make Sutton and fellow rookie DaeSean Hamilton (who’s injured) and firstyear player Tim Patrick the top three receivers.
Harris:
Don’t do it, Mr. General Manager. Harris is the Broncos’ secondbest defensive player behind linebacker Von Miller and is having a terrific season (31 tackles and seven pass breakups). Trading Harris would hurt the team in the immediate and long term more than dealing Thomas. But if a team offers a package that centers on a secondround pick, Elway would have to at least ponder it.
The freeagentstobe:
Cornerback Bradley Roby and linebackers Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett are in the final year of their contracts. Ray (ankle) has missed the last two games, and Roby has been up and mostly down this year. Barrett, if the Broncos decide they will not resign him, could fetch a Day 3 draft pick. A consideration for Elway must be 2020 compensatory picks if these three players sign elsewhere for moderate money.
The Broncos got themselves into this situation, a poor first half prompting teams to call about their veteran players. If they were 53 or even 44, it would be moot.
“I told our guys: ‘Yeah, we’re 35, but I can take 1520 plays in those five losses that are critical plays we didn’t make. That’s the reason we’re 35,’ ” Joseph said. “We’re not better than that right now. Now we’re hoping to be better in the second half of the season.”