Denver Post Broncos writer Parker Gabriel posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason. Click here to submit a question.

Parker, you wrote recently that the Broncos could have afforded to keep Dre’Mont Jones because the money they gave Zach Allen was similar. We know what Dre’Mont brought and his star was on the rise. We only know what we think we got in Zach Allen. As a Buckeye, I was saddened to see Dre’Mont go. Realizing the jury is out on Allen, I wonder what you think of this “trade-off”? Did we win, lose or draw?

— Dan Rish, Albuquerque, N.M.

Dan, thanks for kicking this thing off with a good question. Indeed, at the end of the day Jones and Allen ended up getting similar — although not identical — contracts.

Allen did end up checking in at a slightly lower average annual value of $15.25 million compared to $17.18 million for Jones, but Allen got more guaranteed money at $32.5 million than Jones’ $30 million. Either way, they both got paid handsomely.

The Broncos think Allen is going to be a superior player against the run and — this part is necessary for comparison to Jones — we kept hearing him referred to as an ascending player. He’s steadily got better and better over his first four years and really broke out in 2022. Denver’s betting there’s more growth to be had and that Allen turns himself into one of the best.

Then there’s also the familiarity with new Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who has seen Allen up close and personal every day for the last four seasons. That gives the Broncos confidence that they have a good read on who he is as a player. They know Jones that way, too, obviously, but part of the equation here is that they’re not just getting to know Allen. Joseph already has a plan on how to use him because he’s been doing it for years in Arizona.

After seven years of ignoring the glaring issues on the offensive line, kudos to the Broncos for addressing it with proven players. My question though is draft capital or lack thereof and with no teams biting on a first or second-round pick for Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton, do you anticipate Sean Payton will try another tactic to acquire a high draft pick or stick to free agency as the offseason progresses?

— Curt Hanlen, Bosque Farms, N.M.

Hey Curt, great question and thanks for writing in. Back-to-back questions from New Mexico. Nice!

There aren’t many ways to drum up that kind of premium draft pick without parting with major assets. Based on the Jimmy Johnson draft pick trade value chart, Denver’s consecutive picks at No. 67 and No. 68 are worth roughly the No. 40 pick. So, do you want to give up two picks to move up 27 spots and then only have four selections?

The only other way to do it is to trade future picks (which, typically you don’t get great value there, especially if you’re trying to move up to the first round) or to trade players. And what player on the roster is more valuable at this point than Jeudy? Cornerback Pat Surtain II? He’d get you a haul from any number of teams, but he’s also a 22-year-old All-Pro and quickly turning himself into a franchise cornerstone. Ideally, you’d much prefer to give him a mega contract extension next year or the year after than trade him. Or, at least, that’s what this reporter would think.

I see the Seahawks released Shelby Harris. Any chance of the Broncos bringing him back?

— Drew Haugen, Fort Collins

Hey Drew, thanks for writing in. Harris is indeed a free agent and the Broncos front office — though not Payton himself — is familiar with his game. It’ll be interesting to see if Harris gets a solid contract offer or if he ends up somewhere lower in contract value on a one-year deal. Those are the types of contracts Denver will be in the market for in its efforts to fill out its roster. Defensive line certainly does still seem like an area the Broncos could stand to address, though they may end up doing so in the draft, as well. Players will continue to come off the board over the next month, but teams more and more will be interested in seeing what they add in the draft before further loading up on the free-agent market.

I’m sure this question has been asked and answered before, but either I missed it or I just forgot. What’s the difference between a player being released and a player being waived?

— Fred Waiss, Prairie du Chien, Wis.

A good nuts and bolts question, Fred, especially this time of year. Both are standard methods for terminating a player’s contract in the NFL. A player with fewer than four accrued seasons in the league is waived, or placed on waivers when his contract is terminated. That gives any team the ability to put a claim in for the player and his contract before he becomes a free agent. A vested veteran (four accrued seasons or more) is released. That makes a player a free agent as soon as he’s terminated, rather than having to go through the waiver wire process.

Hey Parker, I’m just wondering about guard Dalton Risner. I thought he would have been snatched up in free agency by now. What gives? Why isn’t he on a roster with a $27 million contract? Could it be the Broncos might give him a contract given he is still without a team right now?

— Bill C., Casper, Wyo.

Hey Bill, thanks for writing in. I was interested to see what Risner’s market would look like when he hit free agency earlier this month. I wasn’t convinced that he’d get a big, multi-year deal right away on the first day, but I have to say I’m mildly surprised he’s still available. Maybe they reached the point where he and his agent think it’s best to wait until team needs are clearer after the draft or even toward camp. But most players want the certainty of a contract.  We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks. Not a certainty, but at this point it’s quite possible Risner will have to take a one-year, “prove-it” deal somewhere.

Hi Parker, it seems like the Broncos have already made their biggest splashes of the offseason already, but do you see any other positions they could still improve upon through free agency? I think we can still stand to improve our defensive line and guys like Jadeveon Clowney, Calais Campbell and Poona Ford are still out there. Any chance any of them will be wearing orange and blue come Week 1?

— Mark, Arvada

Hey Mark, generally speaking I think you’re on the right track in terms of players that could help on the defensive front seven. I’ve also previously brought up the available group of veteran edge players that includes Leonard Floyd, Yannick Ngakoue and Bud Dupree. At this point, as the salary cap gets tight, Denver is not just going to sign any veteran free agent, however. Thought this from Payton on Monday in Phoenix was interesting insight into how he views free agency:

“In free agency, you’re signing maybe two or three priority positions that are younger and on their first or second contract, but occasionally you’ll bring in a more veteran player when you’ve got a pretty clean vision for what you’re wanting in the player.”

In other words, if Denver pursues one of the players mentioned above, or really anybody for that matter at this stage of free agency, it’s because they have a specific role in mind for him.

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