With the NFL trade deadline exhausted, teams around the league are more limited with their options if they want to add a new player to the roster.
The regular season is only halfway over and plenty of things can still happen. Teams could need to fill a hole on the roster due to an injury, while contending teams could take a look at adding a veteran to bolster their playoff chances.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report took a look at the players sitting on the free-agent market and came up with a list of 10 bargain moves teams should consider. Three former Denver Broncos players made the list.
The first name up is that of Shaquil Barrett, a strong contributor for the Broncos as a reserve during his time with the team, but a player who exploded once he left Denver. Looking for a starting role, Barrett signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had 19.5 sacks in his first season there.
Barrett spent five seasons in Tampa before signing with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent ahead of the 2024 season, but he never played a down for the team, announcing his retirement just three months later. But Barrett came out of retirement to rejoin the Buccaneers last December.
He played in two games for the Buccaneers and has not played this season, seemingly retired again. Knox lists the Colts and 49ers as the best fits for him, but Barrett only wanted to play for Tampa Bay if he were to come out of retirement so unless they add him to the roster again this season, his career is likely over.
Next, Josey Jewell is mentioned as an option for a team looking for linebacker help. That could be the Broncos, but the Panthers and Bengals are listed as the best fits for Jewell's services.
Jewell stepped away from the Panthers this offseason as symptoms of concussions left his playing career in doubt. Though the Panthers left the door open for a return, there is nothing to indicate that Jewell is ready to return to the field now, or ever.
Finally, the top player on Knox's list is former safety Justin Simmons. It's hard to imagine why Simmons is not currently on a roster, but the likely answer is that he just doesn't want to be.
Simmons had a strong eight-year career in Denver and after being released by the team in a cost-cutting move, he took his time in signing with a new team, settling on the Atlanta Falcons.
It's unclear if Simmons even wants to continue his playing career, but if he does, it seems like it would have to be a team in contention for a Super Bowl. Simmons has never played in a playoff game in his career. The Bills and Eagles are listed as the best fits and if those teams were interested in bringing Simmons in for their playoff push, he'd likely listen.
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