Broncos mailbag: Could Tee Higgins be worth an aggressive free-agency approach?

The offseason for the Broncos is here. Coach Sean Payton is working to fill at least four vacancies on his coaching staff. General manager George Paton is looking for a new No. 2 after assistant GM Darren Mougey was hired to run the New York Jets’ football operation. Free agency meetings will follow and the NFL Scouting Combine is less than a month away.

It’s a great time to dig into your questions about what comes next for the Broncos this offseason. Let’s get to it:

(Editor’s note: Some questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.)

Any sense of the team’s direction this offseason? Not that anyone is going to tip a hand, but I’m curious how you think they’re thinking about free agency versus the draft, especially for wide receiver, where it looks like there should be top-end talent. — Jesse M.

Great question. The one thing I feel most confident predicting is that Denver will add a Joker-type playmaker to significantly impact the offense next season. Payton has gradually improved the Broncos’ attack since taking the job in 2023 despite not having a true difference-maker at tight end or running back who can create ample mismatches in the passing game. It’s key to taking the next step as an offense and helping Bo Nix take a Year 2 leap. Armed with first- and second-round picks for the first time since 2021, it’s a need the Broncos could fill in the draft, but they’ll search in free agency as well.

The wide receiver component is interesting because there is a clear top player likely available in Tee Higgins. The Broncos saw his impact up close in a Week 17 loss to the Bengals in overtime, where Higgins’ game-winning touchdown pass was his third of the game — and the last of his 11 catches for 131 yards. There is no guaranteed money left on Courtland Sutton’s deal, and if the sides ultimately can’t agree on a reworked contract, the future at the top of Denver’s receivers room would be in flux. Payton has typically not spent top dollar for free-agent wide receivers, but Higgins’ immense talent — and Denver’s need for another weapon at that spot — dictates a close look at the opportunity.

Owner Greg Penner left open the possibility that Denver could make a play for a premier talent in the coming months, even if it’s more likely that the team takes the same methodical, targeted approach to free agency it did a year ago.

“We haven’t set yet what our approach to free agency will be,” Penner said earlier this month. “If it is appropriate, we will be aggressive, but I’m not sure we’ll need to do that.”

You’ve written and quoted players speaking about the benefits of continuity from year to year, working together and with their coaches. I am curious how affected they will be with the several coaches that have been poached as well as Mougey leaving his role as assistant GM. This question will obviously become more relevant if defensive coordinator Vance Joseph takes a head coach position elsewhere. What are your thoughts? — Mark J.

Creating continuity is an aim for the Broncos that begins at the ownership level with Penner. When he hired Payton in 2023, he envisioned the coach putting the same systems in place that helped him build consistent success in New Orleans. The culture and schemes are the tentpoles of that continuity. That doesn’t mean the Broncos won’t tweak their offensive or defensive philosophies year after year, but the expectations about how they operate at both a granular and macro level are in place. Staff changes are common. When teams win, their assistants are targeted for promotion, and that’s why three of Payton’s assistants from last season — pass-game coordinator John Morton (Lions), tight ends coach Declan Doyle (Bears) and special teams assistant Chris Banjo (Jets) — will be coordinators elsewhere next season.

You got a good one, @nyjets.

Congrats, Moug! pic.twitter.com/iZKTD37FsD

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 26, 2025

But those changes shouldn’t have a seismic impact on how the Broncos operate — or how their young players develop. And new voices with new ideas can be a positive, even if they replace respected coaches.

Last season, the Broncos lost two such assistants in secondary coach Christian Parker and defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, who left for opportunities with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, respectively. Jim Leonhard replaced Parker and helped develop Riley Dixon into a productive first-year starter at cornerback. He also helped Defensive Player of the Year finalist Pat Surtain II turn in the best season of an already stellar career. Jamar Cain replaced Dixon and helped Denver’s defensive front contribute to a franchise-record 63-sack performance this season.

Joseph is expected to return for his third season as defensive coordinator. Schemes on both sides of the ball are familiar and the culture created by Payton and the organization — one based on an uncompromising attention to detail — has been firmly established. That doesn’t mean the next steps from here will be easy, but it’s a much sturdier foundation than the Broncos had as recently as a year ago.

With Bo Nix on his way as a passer, the running back position will restrict this overall offense until it is solved. Would they draft Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, even moving up in the draft to do so? Is there a legit option in free agency? — Shane K.

It’s a safe bet that the Broncos will add to their running back room this offseason. Javonte Williams is a free agent and, though he could still find his way back to Denver’s roster, the offense needs a more dynamic, three-down presence in the backfield. Jeanty has been a popular pick for the Broncos in mock drafts that have already started circulating, including the latest version from our draft guru at The Athletic, Dane Brugler. The Broncos had trouble getting to the second level of the defense running the ball last season, so Jeanty’s tackle-breaking ability is intriguing, as is his potential as a receiving threat out of the backfield.

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But the Broncos will evaluate more options than just Jeanty, including possible first-round prospect Kaleb Johnson of Iowa. Or how about former Arizona State do-it-all weapon Cameron Skattebo as a Day 2 selection? First, of course, is free agency. Aaron Jones, who set a career-high mark with 1,138 rushing yards last season and added 408 receiving yards (second-best in his eight seasons) for the Vikings, could be a solid fit in Payton’s offense. Nick Chubb, JK Dobbins and Najee Harris are among the other free agents in the class with productive resumés.

What I don’t see as likely is a significant trade up in the draft to select a running back. We simply don’t see it often and it would run counter to how Payton and Paton have typically operated in the draft’s first round.

Do you think tight end Kyle Pitts would be a good fit with the Broncos? He is a great talent but hasn’t played up to the expectations in Atlanta. A change of scenery might help. — Dan H.

Pitts could be an intriguing option for a Broncos team that has a glaring need for a more productive pass-catching tight end. The path to acquiring him, though, could be challenging. The Falcons last April picked up the fifth-year option on Pitts’ rookie contract, meaning he’s under contract for 2025 at a guaranteed salary of $10.78 million. The Broncos would have to acquire him by trade. While Pitts’ numbers are somewhat underwhelming when you consider he was the No. 4 pick in 2021, his 17-game averages — 55 catches, 739 yards, three touchdowns — still put him among the league’s more productive tight ends. The Falcons aren’t giving him up for nothing, especially as they try to set up quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for success in his first full season as a starter in 2025.

I think a more likely option is Denver targeting a veteran in free agency. Juwan Johnson, a former Payton draft pick who had 50 receptions for 548 yards and three touchdowns with the Saints last season, comes to mind as one potential target. The draft, of course, is another path, with Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland among the first-round possibilities. Mason Taylor of LSU, the son of Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor, could be among the Day 2 options.

I think we know the major needs (linebacker, offensive playmakers), but is there a stealth need you see the Broncos targeting? — Isaac R.

More depth along the defensive front. D.J. Jones is a free agent. Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach are all entering the final years of their respective deals in 2025. The Broncos need to add more young players on the defensive line to create roster flexibility.

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Safety is another position that comes to mind. P.J. Locke, who has started for Denver the past 1 1/2 seasons, is entering the final season of the two-year contract he signed last offseason. His 2025 salary has no guarantees and the Broncos could save $4.19 million in cap space if they were to move on from him. The Broncos have signaled they won’t be doing much business at the top of the free agency board, but they could pair a safety in the second wave of the player-acquisition period with a prospect they draft.

I also think offensive tackle is an important spot. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey has no guaranteed money left on his deal after 2025. Denver hasn’t drafted an offensive tackle in any round since Garett Bolles in 2017. Acquiring another player to put in the pipeline at that position under respected offensive line coach Zach Strief could be a smart move for Denver to make this spring.

What are your thoughts on the Broncos acquiring Taysom Hill and/or Alvin Kamara from the Saints? Both players are familiar with Payton’s offense and the Saints need salary cap relief. — Rob P. 

The Saints would incur a dead-money hit of at least $8 million by trading or releasing Hill. It would be more than double that amount if the move came before June 1, as his contract is structured. Hill is also 34 years old and missed nine games last season due to injury. He’s still a productive player (465 yards and six TDs in his eight games in 2024), but probably not a fit, in my estimation, for what the Broncos are doing at this stage in his career.

Kamara, meanwhile, signed a two-year extension with the Saints last fall that runs through the 2026 season. He has no guaranteed money left on the deal after next season, so perhaps he will become a trade or cut candidate a year from now. But the financials wouldn’t make sense for the Saints to move on from him ahead of the 2025 season. He is quietly coming off a great season, producing 1,493 yards of offense and eight touchdowns in 13 games. A new coaching staff in New Orleans will want that weapon at its disposal.

When trying to figure out our linebacker situation, Drew Sanders is a big-time mystery to me. During his rookie preseason, he was making athletic plays all over the place and I thought we had a new star on our hands. During his first season, though, he seemed to be lost. Then, of course, he suffered the Achilles injury in the offseason. This year when he played, he seemed lost as well. What are your thoughts on him and our linebacker corps in general? — Don H.

It’s been an interesting journey for Sanders during his two seasons in Denver. That’s partly because of the Achilles injury that limited him to only four games in 2024. He’s also shuffled positions a couple of times since being selected in the third round out of Arkansas in 2023. He started his first offseason program at inside linebacker and eventually shuffled to the edge. He was back to the inside this season after rehabbing from the offseason injury, but the Broncos still appear to be searching for the exact right way to use the 23-year-old.

“He’s not an inside linebacker. He’s a linebacker for us,” Vance Joseph said late in the season. “He’s progressing. He’s a good, young player. I wish we had him earlier (in the 2024 season), but he’s progressing and helping us win.”

Drew Sanders played in four 2024 regular-season games and the wild-card game against the Bills after an injury in the offseason caused him to miss time. (Mark Konezny / Imagn Images)

The Broncos have seen flashes of top-end talent from Sanders. His athletic traits have helped him become a contributor on special teams. But it would probably help him to have a permanent positional home. My guess is that will be inside linebacker this offseason. Sanders can still have the “pressure player” tag applied, which would feature him in plans to rush the quarterback, but his sideline-to-sideline ability could make him an upgrade at inside linebacker for the Broncos if he can fully grasp the position.

Overall, the offensive line played pretty well this season, especially in the pass game. One player rarely mentioned throughout the season was Luke Wattenberg. How would you rate his first season as the starter at center? — William H.

Wattenberg was solid, if not spectacular. He was charged with two sacks and eight pressures allowed across 488 pass-block snaps, according to TruMedia. That’s not a far cry from the one sack and 14 pressures allowed by previous starter Lloyd Cushenberry across 605 pass-block snaps in 2023. The Broncos could ultimately create competition for Wattenberg this offseason — not unlike what they did for Cushenberry during his first three NFL offseasons — but they liked the progress they saw from the young center in 2024. The Broncos will relish the opportunity to have the same starting five of the offensive line open a second straight season together.

(Top photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)