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INDIANAPOLIS — Even though the NFL’s salary cap skyrocketed, the Broncos are not expecting to be big spenders this offseason.
Denver general manager George Paton reiterated that point Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine, saying the team won’t be as aggressive in free agency as it was last year.
“We’re going to be strategic,” Paton said. “… We have flexibility, but we are just going to be more measured.”
The league announced last week that the cap for the new league year will be $255.4 million — a $30.9 million increase from last year. According to Over the Cap, Denver is currently projected to be around $16.8 million over the cap. Earlier projections had Denver close to $24 million over.
Although Denver’s salary cap situation has improved, the possible release of quarterback Russell Wilson still puts the organization in a bind. The Broncos are expected to swallow $85 million in dead money, which could be split up over the next two seasons. If Wilson remains on the roster after March 17, his 2025 salary of $37 million is guaranteed.
Head coach Sean Payton said a decision on Wilson’s future in Denver should happen within the next two weeks.
In 2023, Denver wasn’t afraid to drop the bag. Denver signed left guard Ben Powers (four years, $52 million), right tackle Mike McGlinchey (five years, $87.5 million) and defensive end Zach Allen (three years, $45.75 million) to lucrative deals.
“We can’t do that every year,” Paton said.
Paton said the team will try to fill “specific needs” on the roster. Among those needs, Denver’s general manager thinks the team can improve in stopping the run and adding help in the secondary, whether through the draft or free agency.
Denver’s defense has a handful of players entering free agency, including safety P.J. Locke, cornerback Fabian Moreau, linebacker Josey Jewell and defensive linemen Mike Purcell and Jonathan Harris.
“We need to get better inside,” Paton said. “You can always use help in the secondary. I feel good about the young core on defense. (We) just want to continue to add depth.”
Offensively, Paton said the team values center Lloyd Cushenberry III, who is entering free agency after having one of his best seasons in Denver. Paton would “love” to have Cushenberry return, but he is fond of Alex Forsyth — a seventh-round pick in 2023 — and Luke Wattenberg.
“That doesn’t mean we are not going to sign Lloyd,” Paton said. “But that’s a position we have quality depth, and one of those guys can be a starter, eventually.”
When it comes to picking up two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain II’s fifth-year option of $19.802 million, Paton said “that’s one of the easier decisions we will make.”
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