With the Broncos moving off from several key contributors this past week, such as Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy, Russell Wilson, and others, it has become clear that Sean Payton and Co., are planning a full rebuild in Denver — something that likely should have been done a long time ago.
With a rebuild comes determining which players to move on from and which to build the future of the team around. The team has several players who could be key pieces to retain and build with, while other players are likely to be moved on from sooner rather than later.
This is a process that Sean Payton, George Paton, and the front office will work through the next several months and even years — but it doesn’t hurt to start now.
So, who are those critical building blocks?
The Criteria
The criteria for players I would consider as potential building blocks is simple: Players on the roster who are projected starters and have played at least three seasons in the NFL.
The reasoning? Any player that is not projected to start is not likely to be a building block, and there’s no point in mentioning rookies or second-year players since they’re going to be around for a while anyways, as a result of their rookie deals.
Pat Surtain II (CB, 23 years old)
Remaining contract: 2 years, $26.5 million*
*assuming the 5th-year option is picked up
The first and most obvious of the Broncos’ building blocks is cornerback Pat Surtain II. Surtain has practically been Denver’s best player since entering the league, and has only improved each season.
In his short time in the league, Surtain has already collected numerous accolades, including being selected to the Pro Bowl in back-to-back years as well as being a first-team All-Pro selection in 2022.
The former top-10 pick is an easy decision on whether or not he is a building block for Denver. He’s young, doesn’t have injury issues, has displayed immense talent already, and plays a position where it is incredibly difficult to find high-end players.
Surtain will get paid likely either this off-season or next and it will be a hefty sum, but it will likely be worth it for an All-Pro in the prime of his career.
The only way Surtain isn’t a part of Denver’s long-term plans is if a contender comes calling and offers a package that is too strong to pass up.
Verdict: Surtain gets extended and is a franchise cornerstone, barring a Ramsey-type package.
Javonte Williams (RB, 23 years old)
Remaining contract: 1 year, $2.8 million
Javonte Williams is, in a lot of ways, a strong case study for the “anti-RB” wave hitting the NFL.
The second pick of George Paton’s tenure — and one he traded up for — Williams was a player that both the front office and fans alike were excited for, thanks to his tenacious style of play.
He had an extremely promising rookie season behind Melvin Gordon III, running for 903 yards and four touchdowns in a limited role. As a result, Williams’ second season came with lofty expectations but he suffered a torn ACL in week 4 that kept him out the rest of the season.
Flash forward to 2023 and Williams came back from the injury very quickly, but he did not look like the Javonte Williams we were used to — rushing for a mere 774 yards and 3.6 yards per carry.
This also speaks to the larger issue of investing heavily in running back, especially when you’re not in a contending window.
When Denver was in the “acquire young talent” phase, drafting Williams — while future stars at more valuable positions, like Jevon Holland and Christian Barmore, went in the same range — was incredibly frustrating and not a smart way to build a team.
Williams has had a marginal return on investment in the most valuable years of a rookie running back’s career and has seen multiple injuries already, as running backs do.
As frustrating as it is, it’s tough to expect much of anything from the Broncos’ former second-round pick.
He’ll likely retain the starting role this upcoming season and have a chance to make money in a contract year but, unfortunately, he cannot be leaned on as anything more than a one-year, wait-and-see project.
Verdict: See how his season goes but unlikely to be a significant future piece.
3. Quinn Meinerz (OG, 25 years old)
Remaining contract: 1 year, $3.6 million
Quinn Meinerz, similar to Pat Surtain II, is a relatively easy choice for whether or not he is a building block.
Drafted in 2021, Meinerz — known for his exotic workout videos leading up to the draft — has been as good of a pick as you could make.
After taking the starting RG job merely five games into his rookie year, Meinerz has continued his ascension to becoming one of the best guards in football.
The third-year guard was considered one of the best linemen in football by Pro Football Focus. He was the top-graded run-blocking guard in the NFL this season, to go along with being a top-10 highest-graded pass protector and the third-ranked guard overall.
Meinerz was arguably the best player for Denver last season and should be a star piece on the Broncos for years to come.
Verdict: Clear building block, likely to receive an extension as soon as this off-season.
4. Courtland Sutton (WR, 28 years old)
Remaining contract: 2 years, $35.2 million
Courtland Sutton — one of the longest-tenured players remaining on the team — has seen his name swirling in trade rumors for years now and that has been no different this off-season.
What makes it interesting is Sutton is coming off of arguably the best season of his career, posting nearly 800 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in Sean Payton’s offense. He also fits the mold of receiver that Payton has always pursued and is on a very reasonable contract.
Zack Rosenblatt of the Athletic reported that the Broncos are no longer shopping Courtland Sutton, and he has a roster bonus that guarantees on March 17.
It looks like it is unlikely we see a move before then, meaning Sutton will return for at least one more year.
At 28 years old, Sutton is unlikely to be around for 3+ years, but it makes sense for both sides for him to be back with the Broncos for next season. The team can then re-assess the situation a year from now.
Verdict: Fringe building block that should be back this year. Then, wait and see how the
season goes.
5. Garett Bolles (OT, 31 years old)
Remaining contract: 1 year, $20 million
While Sutton is one of the longest-tenured Broncos on the team, the title of longest-tenured goes to Garett Bolles (along with Tim Patrick). Bolles has been with the team since the 2017 draft, seven years ago.
Bolles has been through his fair share of ups and downs throughout his Denver tenure, including shaky play early on, having his fifth-year option declined, injuries, and producing an All-Pro season in 2020.
After suffering a season-ending injury in 2022, Bolles had a great year under Sean Payton and Zach Strief in 2023, grading out as a top-20 tackle by PFF and their eighth-highest-graded pass protector. However, now entering a contract year, questions have emerged about his future with the team.
While there is an argument to be made that Bolles does not fit the Broncos’ timeline and they should move on, it’s an argument that ultimately doesn’t make sense. He has shown no signs of slowing down and tackle is a position that typically ages well.
Players such as Andrew Whitworth, Tyron Smith, and Terron Armstead playing into their late 30s. There is no reason to expect a decline from Bolles, and while you can potentially do better, you can also do a lot worse.
Plus, the Broncos have a lack of building blocks as it is, so why strip the roster of one?
The smart move, as opposed to a trade, would be to extend Bolles. That would secure the Broncos their left tackle for another two-to-three seasons and allow for extra cap flexibility, if necessary. Also, paying Bolles the contract he would expect to receive is a better use of that cap than whoever they could sign with it in free agency, considering the crop of talent that is able to make it market generally.
Verdict: Should be a building block of the franchise going forward who the Broncos look to extend.
6. Mike McGlinchey (OT, 29 years old)
Remaining contract: 4 years, $78.7 million
The biggest and most expensive move of Sean Payton’s first off-season with the team, McGlinchey, was signed to fill the right tackle position that had plagued the Broncos for years prior.
McGlinchey received a massive five-year, $87.5 million contract that included $52.5 million guaranteed to come to Denver, and recently restructured his contract this offseason to add a void year and clear $11 million in cap space.
The high-priced addition did not play at a very high-level last year for Denver, but his life was not made any easier by his quarterback. Russell Wilson’s improvisational style of play led to McGlinchey giving up several sacks that were not his fault. Despite this though, he improved as a pass protector as the year went on and was a plus as a run blocker the entire season.
The moment the contract was signed, McGlinchey became locked in as the Broncos’ RT for at least two seasons, if not three, and the restructure this off-season likely means we see McGlinchey in orange and blue for two more seasons, if not more.
Verdict: Not a long-term building block, but around until they’re able to get out of the deal, at least.
7. Zach Allen (IDL, 26 years old)
Remaining contract: 2 years, $27.5 million
Zach Allen is another member of the Broncos 2023 free agency splurge — signed to a 3-year, $45 million contract.
Allen came with Denver’s defensive coordinator Vance Joseph from Arizona and was the replacement for Dre’Mont Jones, who left for similar money to Seattle that offseason.
At the time, fans and media alike were upset that the team brought in Allen as opposed to re-signing Jones, as Jones had been the superior player to that point. In his first year, however, Allen took another step in his development and became the best pass rusher on the team, while Jones was labeled one of the worst free agent signings of 2023.
Still only 26, Allen’s contract just a year later looks like a steal in a free agency market where so often players are overpaid and underperform relative to their salary. If Allen can take another step forward, as he has every year of his career so far, this contract will only look even better with time.
You don’t often see teams add true building blocks in free agency, but Allen seems to be that and is young enough that you shouldn’t expect a decline anytime soon.
Verdict: Future building block.
8. Ben Powers (OG, 27 years old)
Remaining contract: 3 years, $41.9 million
The final of the Broncos’ big contracts in free agency last year, the Broncos inked Powers to a four-year deal to complete the rebuild of the offensive line.
Powers was coming from a gap-heavy running scheme in Baltimore that featured him often as a puller, which looked like his best fit.
His first year in Denver was slightly disappointing, but also not the best fit. The Broncos ran zone, especially inside zone, at a much higher rate than we typically see from a Sean Payton offense, and this didn’t necessarily highlight Powers’ strengths.
The hope is, with a new quarterback and Payton being able to implement more of his natural scheme, which can put Powers in more favorable circumstances, that we can see improvement in year two. For now, though, he looks more like a future cap casualty than a building block.
Verdict: Around for another season if not two, but not a building block.
