Broncos predicted to trade defensive veteran to new top rival

1 hour ago 2

The Denver Broncos are in the thick of the championship hunt in 2026 following a massive trade to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, but there are many things that can still happen between now and the start of the season.

Teams around the league will be jockeying for position before and after April's draft and we could see dozens of trades before the 2026 season kicks off. Would the Broncos consider trading one of their long-term defensive players?

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report feels it could be possible. Not only does he have the Broncos trading defensive lineman D.J. Jones, but he has them sending him to the Buffalo Bills. Here was his analysis on the subject:

"In 2025, the Buffalo Bills allowed the fifth-most rushing yards, third-most yards per carry and the second-most rushing touchdowns. They need to beef up their defensive front on early downs.

Thus far, the Bills have made few notable moves to bolster their interior defensive line, which could be a problem if they rely solely on inexperienced starters and rookies.

New Bills head coach Joe Brady hired defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who was the defensive pass game coordinator on the Denver Broncos' staff under Sean Payton over the last two years. He may be able to convince the Bills that D.J. Jones is worth acquiring to strengthen the run defense.

Although Jones only played 40 percent of the defensive snaps during the previous term, he logged 39 tackles (four for loss) and three sacks, missing just three tackles all year.

In Buffalo, Jones could play in an expanded role as the leader of a young interior group that shows a little more resistance against ground attacks".

Trading D.J. Jones doesn't make much sense for Broncos

That sounds good from Buffalo's perspective. Jones has spent the past four seasons with the Broncos, registering 161 total tackles and eight sacks, including three last season. He would beef up the run defense and the connection to Leonhard makes sense.

But the Broncos, who already lost John Franklin-Myers in free agency, are thin along the defensive line and need to keep the rest of the group together as much as possible. The Broncos have had one of the best defenses in the league over the last couple of seasons and the front office seems intent on keeping it together as best it can.

Furthermore, sending Jones to the Bills, a team the Broncos just had a fiery playoff battle with this past season and a team that will likely stand in its path again, seems counter-productive.

HOT READ: Where do Broncos rank in "wide open" AFC West following start of free agency

It's unlikely the Broncos will have much interest in moving Jones, given the way the defensive line is currently constructed, but if they do, the Bills would be one of the last places they should send him.