Broncos Predicted to Cut Expensive Veteran RB Chase Edmonds

The Denver Broncos are in a solid place regarding salary cap space entering the 2023 off-season. Entering with $11,950,090 in cap space, according to Spotrac, Denver can create a good amount of space thanks to the flexibility in the number of contracts on the team’s roster.

Pro Football Focus sees the Broncos as one of the teams in the best position when it comes to salary-cap space. While many assume that the Broncos will move on from offensive lineman Graham Glasgow and cornerback Ronald Darby as salary cap casualties, PFF believes another player is likely to be on the chopping block this offseason in Denver.

Listing the relatively recently-acquired running back Chase Edmonds, whom Denver acquired as part of the trade package for sending Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins, releasing Edmonds could save the Broncos $5.920M in salary cap space next season with zero dead cap. 

Edmonds was included in the blockbuster trade that sent edge defender Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins but was unable to bounce back in Denver after a rough stint in South Beach. Edmonds’ 2.2 yards after contact per attempt ranked 83rd out of 87 running backs with at least 25 carries on the season, his 0.1 missed tackles forced per attempt ranked 80th and he converted only 11.8% of rushing attempts into a first down or touchdown, which ranked 86th. 

Due to how most contracts are set up, the guaranteed money Edmonds received upon signing last offseason with Miami stays on the Dolphins’ salary cap as a 'dead cap' spread out evenly over the duration of his contract. When Denver acquired Edmonds, the base salary came with him, but the dead cap did not.

Edmonds’ time in Denver last season was rather unremarkable. After playing in two games post-trade and compiling just four carries for 15 yards and one reception for zero yards, Edmonds was injured in Week 10 and would miss the next four weeks.

Returning from injury, Edmonds provided an efficient output over a small sample size over the final three games. Rushing the football 22 times for 110 yards and catching five passes for 61 yards, he appeared he could be a helpful niche piece in a backfield, but perhaps not one at a nearly $6M cap hit in 2023.

While Edmonds has provided speed and receiving ability in his career to date, his ability to create after contact was horrific in 2022, as noted by PFF. The Broncos could use a weapon like him in their backfield in 2023, though. 

The Broncos have so much uncertainty at the position, with Javonte Williams coming off a significant knee injury in which he tore multiple ligaments, and last year’s primary running backs (Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack) hitting free agency (and getting exceedingly old for the position). Denver’s backfield is shrouded in unknowns this offseason.

If Edmonds would agree to a contract restructure that would significantly reduce his cap hit in 2023, there is a chance he could be back in Denver. However, given his current salary and zero in dead cap, it would be a complete shock if the Broncos kept Edmonds in 2023.