The Broncos may be tempted to swing big again, but their recent trade history should be ringing in their ears as Jonathan Taylor’s name starts to heat up ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline at 4 p.m. ET.
Denver is one of several teams reportedly monitoring the Indianapolis Colts star running back, and the buzz only grew after Indianapolis dropped to 2-6 with a 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. After the Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 at home, DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens said he believes, "The Broncos are going to do everything in their power to trade for Taylor."
On paper, Taylor makes sense. The three-time Pro Bowler sits eighth in the NFL in rushing yards with 610 on 148 carries as of Monday, and Denver could use another jolt on offense. The Broncos are 6-2, but they rank 22nd in scoring at 21.5 points per game.
Still, this is where caution has to enter the conversation. Denver has already lived through one of the NFL’s worst trades, and it has another recent deal that hasn’t exactly paid off.
When the Broncos sent five draft picks, including two first-rounders, plus three players to Seattle for Russell Wilson in 2022, the move became a cautionary tale. Wilson went 11-19 in the regular season in Denver before the team released him in 2024. The Seahawks, meanwhile, used those picks to fuel their Super Bowl run last season.
Since then, Bo Nix has taken over and given Denver much better play at quarterback. The third-year QB is 30-12 in his first 42 regular-season starts. But improved quarterback play hasn’t changed the front office’s track record when it comes to big swings.
This offseason brought another expensive gamble: three picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including a first-rounder, sent to Miami for Jaylen Waddle. So far, the wideout has not delivered much, averaging a career-low 39.4 receiving yards per game in eight contests with 29 catches for 315 yards.
Waddle hasn’t been the only issue. Nix has also been conservative, averaging a below-average six yards per attempt this season and often hesitating to attack downfield. Even so, the production hasn’t matched the price, and the deal has reopened the question of whether Denver should have held onto those picks.
The chain reaction from that trade makes the point even sharper. Miami sent the No. 30 pick from the Waddle deal to San Francisco, which then moved it to the Jets. New York used it on Omar Cooper Jr., who has averaged 62 receiving yards per game through four games with 12 receptions for 248 yards.
That’s why Taylor should come with a limit. Denver can absolutely stay in the mix, but giving up multiple first-round picks for a 27-year-old running back would be hard to justify. The position doesn’t age gracefully, and the Broncos can’t keep paying premium prices for uncertain returns.
They may not need to. Rookie Jonah Coleman has already given them a reason to pause. Against Kansas City, the fourth-round pick posted 104 total yards, with 41 rushing, 63 receiving, and a rushing touchdown.
If Denver still wants another back but doesn’t want to overpay, Tony Pollard could be a cheaper route. The Titans runner, a one-time Pro Bowler, is ninth in the league in rushing yards with 595 on 133 carries.
The Broncos’ Super Bowl window is open right now. But if they keep handing out draft picks for too little in return, it won’t stay that way for long. That’s the warning they need to keep in mind if the Taylor talks really do get serious.
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