Broncos Urged To Sign $80 Million Former AFC West Foe After Offseason ‘Failure’

The Denver Broncos needed to make a list of priorities when it came to what needs to address in the offseason. Offense had to come first.

The Broncos needed a tight end and a running back, with those 2 positions in a tie for first place in terms of those priorities. They got 2 of each — one in the draft and one in free agency at both spots.

At wide receiver, the Broncos had needs that couldn’t be prioritized because it was the one position where they have a legitimate No. 1 option in Courtland Sutton.

While Sutton is probably going to have another great season, the work done to build around him never really happened. The Broncos drafted a wide receiver in the third round (No. 74 overall) with Pat Bryant, but counting on a rookie to add depth on a playoff team is foolish.

ESPN’s Seth Walder called the Broncos’ failure to add more wide receivers their biggest failure this offseason and suggested they sign a free agent to fill out those ranks — one of which was former AFC West foe and 6-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen.

Walder still gave the Broncos an overall “A-” grade for their offseason moves.

“I wanted to see the Broncos do more at receiver,” Walder wrote on July 10. “Besides counting on Courtland Sutton and (Evan) Engram, they are likely hoping for Marvin Mims Jr. or Troy Franklin to break out. Perhaps they’ll end up making a move for another veteran — maybe Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper?”

Allen Looking For Home After One Year in Chicago

Allen finds himself in need of a team after spending 2024 with the Chicago Bears after spending his first 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.

In his one season in Chicago, Allen had 70 receptions for 744 yards and 7 touchdowns.

While those numbers would have made him a star in Denver last season, it represented Allen’s worst statistical season since 2016.

At 33 years old, Allen has been one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers over the last decade. He had 6 seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards before he was traded to the Bears in March 2024 in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put Allen at No. 6 on his list of the Top 10 available free agents following the draft.

In 2024, Allen played out the final season of the 4-year, $80.1 million contract extension he signed with the Chargers in 2020. The Broncos could start with an offer in the vicinity of a 1-year, $6 million contract offer with the willingness to go up to $8 million if needed.

Broncos Chose Defense In First Round Of NFL Draft

In one of the bigger surprises in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Broncos added to their already elite defense by taking Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron at No. 20 overall.

It was a surprise because the Broncos needed offensive skill help so bad and seemed destined to draft an offensive player. Instead, they took Barron and added offense in the second round with UCF running back RJ Harvey and in the third round with Bryant.