The 2026 NFL trade deadline is fast approaching and is now less than two weeks away. November 10 will be the deadline for teams to make trades this season.
The Indianapolis Colts have already gotten a jump-start on the process, sending both Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner away for future draft picks this week.
The Denver Broncos should be looking for players who can come in and add to what many feel is a championship roster, but general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton need to also be considering their own roster and its future outlook in terms of potentially selling players as well.
Teams should always consider deals for players who are in the final year of their contract, and if the potential return outweighs losing them for nothing
in free agency or, at the very least, getting into a bidding war in the offseason, then it has to be considered.
That is the case with each of these players.
Broncos should consider trading these players ahead before deadline
1. Ben Powers, Guard
Ben Powers will be a free agent at season's end and considering his recent struggles, combined with the play of a player the Broncos really like, Alex Palczewski, there is a good possibility Powers won't be a part of the team's plans next season.
The Broncos also just used a fourth-round pick on Kage Casey, a player with a lot of upside who will likely be given a chance to be a starter in 2027.
Broncos fans wanted to see the team pursue Nelson as a replacement for Powers, but the combination of Kasey and Palczewski will most likely get that chance next season. If Powers were to be traded now, Palczewski would be a more than sufficient starter for the remainder of the year, and the Broncos could get some sort of compensation for a player who likely won't be on next year's roster.
2. Marvin Mims Jr., Wide receiver
Marvin Mims is probably the most obvious name on this list and though he still seems to be brimming with potential, the Broncos just don't work him in on offense enough. Before he was injured, Pat Bryant was clearly the team's No. 3 wide receiver and Troy Franklin has been given that spot while he's out.
That leaves Mims as the No. 4 wide receiver and all the way down to No. 5 when Bryant is healthy. He is a Pro-Bowl-level return specialist, but he's a free agent at season's end and will likely be pursued by a team in the offseason that promises him a bigger role on offense, something he'd likely leave the Broncos for, leaving the team with nothing in return.
The Broncos have gotten a good showing out of undrafted free agent Kolbe Katsis this season and he could replace Mims as the team's top return man.
3. Riley Moss, Cornerback
This is a tough one, because Riley Moss is a key piece of this defense and is a much better player than almost everyone gives him credit for.
But as discussed here, Moss and Ja'Quan McMillian will each be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and the Broncos may not bring them both back (or may not be capable of keeping them both). This puts the Broncos in the tough position of losing a player like Moss to free agency, but the idea of trading him now takes away a defensive starter.
Fortunately, Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine have each been terrific when pressed into action this season, which should encourage the Broncos to make a deal for Moss, but only if a great offer is on the table. The Broncos certainly should not feel obligated to deal Moss at this juncture, and should do it for the right price only.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 3 players Broncos should consider moving before NFL trade deadline
