3 surprise cuts the Broncos could make this offseason

The Denver Broncos already have a nice amount of cap space, but they could part with these three guys to clear even more.

The Denver Broncos weren’t in any trouble as the NFL lowers the salary cap for 2021, but they gave themselves even more room by cutting cornerback A.J. Bouye earlier this month. As of right now, entering the final full week of February, they have the seventh-most cap space in the league ($31.137 million-according to Over The Cap; $180.5 million cap projection).

As the Broncos consider making a real pursuit of Deshaun Watson, or another veteran quarterback to supplant Drew Lock, every dollar may count. So more cuts are possible to get a quarterback and add other pieces, including at least one big (and I mean big) name.

As new Broncos general manager George Paton considers the balance sheet, these three players could be surprise cuts.

3. DT Jurrell Casey

The Broncos only gave up a seventh-round pick to get Casey from the Tennessee Titans last offseason. But then they also only got three games out of him, before a torn bicep ended his season. A Pro Bowler in each of the previous five seasons for Tennessee, a mulligan might be warranted in 2021.

Denver has decent defensive line depth with or without Casey, and re-signing Shelby Harris to a multi-year deal is sure to be a priority. Casey has a cap hit pushing toward $12 million (just under $11.9 million, to be more precise), and all of it can can be cleared with no dead money if he’s cut.

The finances say cutting Casey is easy, and almost a given. But the idea of given up on a notable acquisition one year (and three games) in, puts it in the surprise category.