George Paton, Denver Broncos
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General Manager George Paton of the Denver Broncos walks on the sidelines prior to the game against the Houston Texans.
When it comes to the Denver Broncos this offseason, all might not be lost.
According to the NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, there might still be a path to the Broncos making a blockbuster trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and 3-time NFL All-Pro A.J Brown.
Appearing on the DNVR Broncos podcast on Wednesday, Baldinger said there was “at least some interest” remaining between the 2 sides over a possible trade.
The Broncos were one of the more underwhelming teams in NFL free agency this year, staying mostly away from any blockbuster deals. Denver didn’t appear to even be in the hunt for the best players at the positions they need help at the most, which means wide receiver and inside linebacker more than anything else.
For a team that’s already set up to be a Super Bowl contender again in 2026 — and came just 1 field goal (and 1 broken ankle) away from making it to the Super Bowl last season — a player like Brown could be the difference.
A.J. Brown Could ‘Legitimize’ Roster for Broncos
On February 7, the Locked on Broncos podcast said the Broncos need to “legitimize” their roster with an elite wide receiver after a 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
From Locked on Broncos: “The Broncos need an Alpha Dog at wide receiver … A.J. Brown will move the needle. I’m not against them trading that No. 30 overall pick and maybe even throwing in another pick to get (Brown). We’re going to get proven value, proven impact right away. They make a move like that it tells me they’re serious about winning the Super Bowl. That they’re serious about legitimizing the roster to become a contender. The Broncos throw the ball all the time. They’re going to get him touches. That won’t be a problem in Denver like it’s been in Philadelphia.”
Biggest Risk With Brown: Locker Room Drama
The scary thing about bringing Brown to the Broncos is what he might do to the chemistry in the locker room if things don’t go his way, which they inevitably won’t every now and then.
The problem with Brown in Philadelphia has been that when things don’t go his way, he complains about it publicly instead of voicing his opinion behind closed doors — or doing it both ways — which has led to problems.
Don’t forget that Brown is the same guy who complained about not getting the ball enough in the middle of a 10-game winning streak in a year in which the Eagles not only won the Super Bowl but he had over 1,000 receiving yards and was named NFL All-Pro. So, maybe he’s just a miserable person to be around and can never be happy.
The Broncos now have the money to pay a player like Brown, but whether he’s worth the headache that comes with that kind of talent is a question only head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton can answer.
There’s also the possibility the Broncos turn to the NFL draft and use their 1st round pick — No. 30 overall — on a wide receiver.