The Denver Broncos enter the 2024 NFL draft with just six total picks and are lacking a second-round pick, so the team may need to trade some veterans to acquire more capital.

Trading players would leave another hole to fill on the roster, but the Broncos could use acquired draft capital to find those players, at least. The Broncos might then be able to find replacements in 2024 rather than waiting another year.

I’m going to look at some of the prime candidates the Broncos could trade, based on their relative value as veterans, and what could be acquired in return. Keep in mind that this does not mean the Broncos will — or even should — trade these players. It’s simply giving fans an idea about what the Broncos might get in return.

The factors that will come into play are the player’s age, ability, years remaining on his contract and the amount of money he’s due. If a team that trades for a player is willing to pick up some of his salary, the Broncos might get better draft capital in return.

Let’s consider four players who might become the subject of trade talks.

Jerry Jeudy | WR
Jeudy was reportedly the subject of trade talks during the 2023 season, though the Broncos ultimately decided not to deal him away. He now enters the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.

Because Jeudy will be in the final year of his contract, his trade value will be lower than it was in 2023 unless the acquiring team wants to extend him. Adam Schefter, during a radio interview, reported that one offer involved a third- and fifth-round pick for Jeudy.

While Schefter didn’t elaborate further about other details, it’s hard to see the Broncos getting a third in 2024, given that Jeudy is in the final year of his deal. A 2024 fourth-rounder is more likely because Jeudy may get a deal that would net a fourth-round compensatory pick.

I have Jeudy pegged as a candidate for a tier-three receiver salary, which puts him around $12 to $13 million per year. The Broncos might be able to get a conditional pick in 2025 based on statistical marks that Jeudy reaches in the 2024 season.

Courtland Sutton | WR
Another wide receiver who has been reportedly the subject of trade talks, Sutton has two years left on his deal and has been better than Jeudy from a statistical standpoint.

The flipside is that Sutton is older, and an acquiring team probably wouldn’t extend him. But he does have a contract that puts him in tier two for receiver salaries.

I would imagine the draft pick compensation would be similar to Jeudy in that the Broncos could acquire a 2024 fourth-round pick for Sutton. Again, Denver might be able to get a 2025 pick — something I suspect would be easier to obtain, given that Sutton has two years left on his deal.

Justin Simmons | S
Simmons is entering the final year of his contract. He earned another trip to the Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro nod, but while he has been good, he will be 31 years old.

The question of when his Father Time decline will set in is becoming more pressing. And given that Simmons is due $14.5M in salary, teams might be hesitant to give up that much in return.

Despite his Pro Bowl bids, one shouldn’t expect multiple high picks for Simmons. The Broncos might be able to get a 2024 third-rounder if an acquiring team either wants to extend him or believes he could get a top-dollar contract in free agency.

More likely, though, the Broncos are looking at a 2024 fourth-round pick in return, with the possibility of a late-round pick in 2025. Would that be worth dealing away a team captain and perennial Pro Bowl-caliber player, albeit on the wrong side of 30?

Garett Bolles | LT
Bolles was reportedly the subject of trade talks during the 2023 offseason, though I suspect teams were hesitant because he was coming off a broken leg. But after he played well this season, there might be more teams interested now.

On the one hand, Bolles is entering the final year of his contract, will be 32 years old, and is considered a good but not elite offensive tackle. On the other, it’s not unusual for offensive tackles to deliver quality play into their mid-30s.

That might be enough for the Broncos to get a 2024 third-round pick in return for Bolles. If the acquiring team wants to extend him, the Broncos might get more in exchange.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Broncos trade at least one of these players this offseason to get more picks in the 2024 draft. Given the team’s cap situation, it needs to have more young talent on the less-expensive rookie contracts.

That doesn’t mean the Broncos will or should hold a fire sale. Of the four players I’ve mentioned, the Broncos may prefer to keep one or more and see how things play out.

Of course, there could always be a surprise, both in terms of the player in question and the picks the Broncos get in return. After all, it only takes one team to make that offer that’s too good to turn down.