Many Broncos were rumored cut or trade candidates due to the team’s potential pursuit of Kirk Cousins, but John Elway confirmed most of them will stay put.
However, he wasn’t as definitive regarding C.J. Anderson or Aqib Talib. While the Broncos recently agreed to trade Talib to the Rams, they are not ready to part ways with their starting running back just yet.
Denver is not expected to release Anderson, James Palmer of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). However, Palmer adds the team may listen to trade offers for the sixth-year running back. The Broncos aren’t exactly stacked in the backfield, but they do have third-year player Devontae Booker and intriguing second-year cog De’Angelo Henderson.
An Anderson release would save the Broncos $4MM, but he enjoyed his first 1,000-yard season in 2017 after tearing a meniscus in 2016. And the Broncos could possibly fetch a return for the 26-year-old back in a trade. Mike Klis of 9News reports (on Twitter) the Broncos will listen to offers for the running back.
The Broncos applied an original-round tender to Anderson in 2016 and saw the Dolphins sign him to a four-year, $18MM offer sheet. The Broncos matched it, and Anderson has become Denver’s longest-tenured starting running back since Terrell Davis.
But the Dolphins, led by former Broncos OC Adam Gase and having recently hired longtime Denver RBs coach Eric Studesville, would be interested in Anderson if available. So, the sides could potentially do business. Miami traded Jay Ajayi last season for a fourth-round pick. Two years remain on the contract the Dolphins originally designed.