Trading current Broncos

The following four players are all players I've heard buzz that Denver has explored moving on from. That doesn’t mean the Broncos will move them, as there are so many variables in play. However for this offseason mock, I have Denver trading them.

Emmanuel Sanders

Yes, the Broncos decided to pick up his option but that does not mean Sanders is guaranteed to stick on the roster. He has been mentioned numerous times in trade talks over the last calendar year. By picking up his option, the Broncos will guarantee $1.5M of his salary, which would make his dead money roughly $4.2M instead of just under $2.7M and only ends up saving $8.75M in cap space.

The San Francisco 49ers are one team that has been consistently mentioned when it comes to Emmanuel Sanders, with a strong desire to add a veteran play-maker at wide receiver. Due to his age and injury status, the value is low but with some added money being taken by Denver and being on the last year of the deal, there is still some value.

The Niners end up sending a 2019 fourth-round pick (104 overall), and a 2020 conditional fifth-rounder to Denver, while the Broncos also send a 2020 conditional sixth-round pick to San Fran along with Sanders. The conditions are all based on games played. If Sanders plays a certain amount, the Broncos don’t send the sixth and Niners send the fifth, but if he doesn’t play a certain number of games then Denver sends the sixth and doesn’t get the fifth.

This adds protections for the Niners in case the receiver gets hurt and misses a lot of time for the third year in a row. 10 or 12 games would probably be where the condition would be placed.

Demarcus Walker

Walker doesn’t fit the Broncos' defensive scheme. He is a pure 3-tech interior rusher and has struggled when playing in other roles. While he is a fan favorite, he has never come into his own. With Vic Fangio bringing his defense in, Walker is an even worse fit. There are a few teams who can use potential depth on their defensive line and one team that could is the Colts. Denver deals Walker in exchange for a 2019 sixth round pick (199 overall) in a low-risk, potential high-reward move.

Su'a Cravens

Denver took a shot on Cravens a year ago and with health and attitude issues during the season it didn’t pan out. They are looking at moving on, but at this point things don’t look so good. Also factored in is the return Jamal Carter and there not being a place for Cravens in Denver. The New York Giants could use some help at safety and for a seventh=rounder (245 overall), the investment is low in case it doesn’t work out.

Will Parks

I was a little surprised when Will Parks name was mentioned, but it does make some sense. He is viewed as a limited player and won’t be a starter by people in Denver. They are set to go get a strong safety, which would only keep Parks as the No. 3 safety at best. Also adding Jamal Carter back, and Dymonte Thomas playing so well last year, Parks is movable. Parks' value is at a good spot and Denver might be able to land a solid return for him from a team that may see more of a fit for him and more upside in him than in Denver does.

The L.A. Rams have Wade Phillips, who was the Broncos' defensive coordinator when they drafted Will Parks. Word is, Parks was a favorite of Phillips and a player he really wanted. While the Rams do have a good starting strong safety and losing their free safety, they need that No. 3 safety that Phillips likes to have, so for a fifth-round pick (169 overall) and a conditional 2020 fifth, the player is reunited with the coach who wanted him.