Broncos HC Sean Payton Draws Attention Before NFL Trade Deadline

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton look on before facing the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Denver Broncos are keeping their options open as the 2025 NFL trade deadline approaches, according to attention-grabbing comments from head coach Sean Payton.

Sitting at 4-2 and in second place in the AFC West despite not playing their best ball, the Broncos could have the luxury of standing pat, knowing their young roster should peak closer toward the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs.

Instead, it sounds as though the Broncos could be slightly more active before the deadline.

Broncos HC Sean Payton Leaves Door Open for Trade Before Deadline

The Broncos are coming off their third straight victory on the season, defeating the New York Jets in London in Week 6. Payton and the Broncos will take on the New York Giants in Week 7, with the trade deadline on November 4.

That is heading into Week 10, when the Broncos will host the Las Vegas Raiders on “Thursday Night Football.”

Still, while Payton is not there yet, the Broncos will assess their desire to make a trade.

“Yeah, at some point,” Payton told reporters on October 12. “We would always pay attention to what we might be looking for, and I think we have time to do that. But I’m not thinking about that right now.”

The Broncos have some young prospects they could use as part of a trade. However, the Broncos have $5.8 million in cap space, per Over The Cap. Their finances open up in 2026, with a projected $49.5 million in room.

The Broncos also have seven selections in the 2026 draft and future capital to utilize.

Still, there are several other factors the Broncos must consider before the 2025 NFL trade deadline passes.

Broncos’ ‘Biggest Need’ Lies on Defense

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra listed every team’s biggest need heading into the 2025 trade deadline, and for the Broncos, he chose linebacker. It is both a review of their season to this point and the offseason that preceded it.

“Big-ticket free-agent addition Dre Greenlaw hasn’t been able to play this season. Coming off an ACL injury, Alex Singleton has been on a roller-coaster season, particularly in coverage — he gave up a whopping seven catches for 90 yards and two TDs against Philly,” Patra wrote in an article published on October 7. “Some insurance wouldn’t be bad.”

The Broncos signed Greenlaw to a three-year, $31.5 million contract in free agency.

Singleton is in the final year of a three-year, $18 million pact, while the Broncos have turned to long-time special teamer Justin Strnad in Greenlaw’s absence.

They have veteran Garret Wallow and undrafted rookie free agent Karene Reid on the active roster, and fellow UDFAs Jordan Turner and second-year man Levelle Bailey on the practice squad. The Broncos boast depth, but they lack experience beyond their current starters.

Patra also correctly identified guard as “another situation to monitor” amid Ben Powers’ injury.

“If the replacements — Matt Peart or Alex Palczewski — struggle, it could be a concern moving forward,” Patra wrote.

Peart indeed struggled filling in for Powers, who is out until December. Payton spread the blame around, but the Broncos could try Palczewski before making a decision. They have three more games before the deadline.

Broncos Have Trade Deadline Pattern

The Broncos also have a noteworthy pattern at the trade deadline, more so under general manager George Paton than Payton. Paton has made five deals at the trade deadline in his four previous seasons as Broncos GM.

Each time, an edge rusher was involved.

Moreover, only one of those deals – acquiring Jake Martin from the Jets in 2022 – was to acquire a player.

The Broncos traded two former first-round draft picks in Bradley Chubb (Miami Dolphins, 2022) and Von Miller (Los Angeles Rams, 2021), an ex-second-round selection in Randy Gregory (San Francisco 49ers, 2023), and a third-rounder in Baron Browning (Arizona Cardinals, 2024).

Those teams were not looking to compete at the trade deadline like the 2025 Broncos, though.

Candidates like veteran UDFA Dondrea Tillman and 2024 third-round pick Jonah Elliss are part of the rotation behind Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto.

Rookie fourth-round pick Quandarrius Robinson has been active for one game, underscoring how comfortable the Broncos have been with their current crop of edge rushers. So, perhaps Patra’s call for linebacker or even offensive line help will be heeded at the deadline.

Key takeaways from Chicago Bears' breakthrough win over Commanders in Week 6

The Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Commanders, 25-24, on Monday Night Football, thanks to a last-second field goal by Jake Moody that sent Jayden Daniels packing.

It's a very different feeling than what this team experienced in 2024, when Daniels connected with Noah Brown on the final play of the game -- the infamous Fail Mary -- to send the Bears' season into a tailspin.

One of the biggest reasons why this year's outcome was different was the performance of D'Andre Swift and the running game.

Swift ended Week 6 with 108 rushing yards, 67 receiving yards, and a touchdown

, and was a critical factor on the game-winning drive. He had several chunk gains that positioned Moody for what was essentially a layup 38-yarder.

 

Swift ran with power and explosion. He deserves all his flowers. But he also -- finally -- had the benefit of some wide running lanes thanks to what was clearly the best run-blocking performance of the year by Chicago's offensive line.

Perhaps new left tackle Theo Benedet was the missing piece to unlock Ben Johnson's ground game.

Johnson met with reporters after the game and summarized the team's stunning victory. He noted that Swift and Moody received game balls for their effort, and was especially proud of how the running game took control when it mattered most.

Check out all of his post-game comments:

 

The Chicago Bears have now won three games in a row, and have another winnable contest up next week at home against the New Orleans Saints.

There's a good chance the Bears could be riding a four-game winning streak when they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in Week 8, who are expected to have Lamar Jackson back in the fold.

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