Denver Post Broncos writer Parker Gabriel posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason. Submit questions to Parker here.

How does Broncos Country express to our starting QB the need for cap space to strengthen the needed positions on the team and that his cooperation in re-negotiating his contract is critical in freeing up the money to allow for the signing of free agents and draft choices that will give us the wiggle-room to accomplish that need?

That may be a run-on sentence but we have a run-on need for cooperation from our existing players to pull together and help the coaches acquire the missing talent by creating the cap space. Are you listening, Russ?

— A Referee, Greeley

Thanks for writing, Zebra. I’ve received some form of this question several times in recent weeks as free agency draws closer, so let’s give it a look.

Part of what seems to be a common misunderstanding currently is that, while Russell Wilson’s contract in totality looks like a bad deal for the Broncos, that is almost entirely because of the length and amount of total guaranteed money. It is not because of anything related to the 2023 salary cap. Wilson’s cap number for 2023 is quite reasonable, actually, at $22 million. There is a lot of quarterback movement still to happen this offseason, but that number is at the moment far less than not only DeShaun Watson ($55 million) but also 10 more quarterbacks including Dak Prescott, Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff, all of whom join some other heavy hitters between $31 million (Goff) and $49.3 million (Patrick Mahomes).

Put another way: If the Broncos are tight on cap space this spring, it’s not because of Wilson. Check back in future years when his number goes to $35.4 million in 2024 and $55.4 million in 2025. The NFL cap will rise quite a bit, so the Broncos won’t really be pinched by Wilson’s cap number until 2025 most likely. Of course, the combination of cap hit and production (or lack thereof) is what ultimately will determine how tenable Wilson’s situation feels.

The Broncos are currently in the middle of the NFL pack in terms of cap space for 2023 at around $9 million, per Over the Cap data. The biggest chunks of space they can open by cutting players without also incurring substantial dead cap hits includes offensive lineman Graham Glasgow ($11 million saved/$3 million dead), corner Ronald Darby ($9.4 million saved/$3 million dead) and running back Chase Edmonds ($5.9 million saved/no dead). To consider such moves, of course, also means considering what you’re losing in the player himself and what other options are out there to fill his spot.

The other key cap space-creating tool Denver may well use – and it will be interesting to track, given this is the new ownership group’s first time through an offseason – is the ability to convert salary into bonus money in order to spread the cap hits over more time. According to Over the Cap, the Broncos can create more cap space by restructuring the contracts of any of the following players than they could by restructuring Wilson’s contract: Justin Simmons, Randy Gregory, Garett Bolles or Courtland Sutton. That doesn’t mean they’ll do it just for the sake of doing it. That money’s getting charged to the cap at some point, so they won’t push off money they don’t have to. It does create options, however, for opening up cap space. That practice is likely how the Broncos will fit prospective free agents into the picture, too – signing bonus money that gets spread out over the duration of contracts.

When is the team getting a new logo/uniforms? I would think the new ownership would want a new one to begin the new era. Season tickets did a survey this year, so it has to be close.

— Jason, Atlanta

Hey Jason, no white smoke from the Broncos on new uniforms yet, but they do seem to be in the works in some capacity. Broncos president Damani Leech said back in October that the formal process takes a couple of years with the league to make substantial changes. So, perhaps sometime in 2023 but it could potentially be 2024 as well.

The draft is coming soon and among the priorities, aside from the OL, I often read about edge rusher. Last year general manager George Paton made several moves to bolster the unit (and prepare for the possible departure of Bradley Chubb, which happened) by signing Randy Gregory, moving Baron Browning to the outside and drafting Nik Bonitto with his first choice. It didn’t work quite as planned for several reasons, but Bonitto was always going to be a work in progress, and when healthy Browning showed promise in his new role as well as Gregory. Do you think the Broncos can be confident with this group going into “year two,” or do you feel it will indeed be a top priority?

— Yoann, Beine-Nauroy, France

Great question, Yoann. Paton ascribes to the belief that it’s almost impossible to have too many pass-rushers. Given the depletion due to injury and trade last year, I think it will be an area of focus this offseason. Paton dropped a rational yet interesting line at the NFL Combine when he talked of weighing where the strength is for each position between free agency and the draft. This year’s draft is considered to be deep at edge, tight end, running back and corner, in particular. At the same time, you’re far less likely to find real, instant impact at edge in the third round than in the first. There’s intrigue, then, on a day like Monday when reports suggest that Tennessee’s Bud Dupree, the Rams’ Leonard Floyd and Kansas City’s Frank Clark could all be joining the pass-rushing free agent pool.

If we want to play Nostradamus, it seems likely Denver will use both the draft and free agency to address its defensive front and also its offensive line.

Greetings, Parker, from Pat Bowlen’s birth town. This question may be answered before you publish your mailbag again, but what the heck.

Any chance the Broncos pick up Carson Wentz for their QB2 if he can be had at a reasonable salary? I’m not sure he’d be a clear upgrade from Brett Rypien, but at least he has more experience. Or is Wentz sure to be picked up by another team?

— Fred Waiss, Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Fred, thanks for writing from Pat Bowlen’s birth town and my home state.

What happens behind Wilson at quarterback is going to be interesting to follow. Rypien is a restricted free agent, so the Broncos will have to decide at what level to tender him in the coming days. It would not be surprising to see them pursue other options, though if coach Sean Payton likes what he sees in Rypien, then that’s probably a strong enough vote of confidence.

Another veteran name to keep an eye on could be Jameis Winston, who is likely to be released by the Saints now that they’ve signed Derek Carr to a four-year deal. There will be several options to work through as the quarterback carousel spins over the next few weeks.

Payton, of course, had Drew Brees for all but one of his seasons in New Orleans. As such, the Saints only drafted four quarterbacks since 2006, including two in Payton’s final two seasons as Brees neared the finish line. None of the four were drafted higher than the third round.

Could the Broncos go veteran backup and then draft a QB late in April? In terms of developmental projects, it’s worth remembering Denver also held on to Jarrett Guarantano into this offseason to give him a longer look after signing him late in the 2022 season.

Last season the Broncos signed Christopher Allen, a highly touted OLB from Alabama for $180,000. And, because of injury, placed him on IR, putting him out for the season. Just curious if you’ve heard anything regarding him, what his status is with the new administration, and if he’s still in their plans. Thanks.

— Christopher Evans, Berthoud

Hey Chris, good question. Chatted with Allen about his foot and his year on injured reserve on locker room cleanout day. He said he was feeling good and excited about trying to make a mark this offseason. He’s clearly talented, but he missed almost the entirety of the 2021 season due to the injury and then all of his rookie year in the NFL, too. They’ve brought Allen through rehab slowly, but he’ll be an off-the-radar guy to keep an eye on through the offseason program.

Any chance the Broncos add Daryl Johnston to the front office? Not necessarily because he would benefit the team, but more because we have two guys nicknamed Moose in the local pro scene in Mikko Rantanen and Mike Moustakas.

— Mark, Arvada

Glad we could get to the important stuff before wrapping this up, Mark. Just my opinion, but clearly the correct one: Every franchise should have a Moose, especially here. It only makes sense. The more Moose, the merrier.

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