The Denver Broncos have clawed their way to a surprising .500 record six weeks into the 2024 season, thanks largely to a strong defense that ranks among the best in the NFL so far.
However, that doesn’t mean changes on defense are out of the question.
CBS Sports NFL reporter Tyler Sullivan has identified Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones as a potential trade target for Super Bowl contenders before the November 5 trade deadline. Sullivan suggested the Broncos could send Jones back to the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent his first five NFL seasons.
“Jones was with the 49ers from 2017 to 2021 before signing with Denver as a free agent in 2022,” Sullivan noted. “While the Broncos have shown some fight this season, if they decide to part ways with Jones, who becomes a free agent after this year, a reunion with San Francisco makes sense to bolster their defensive line.”
The Broncos face three games before the November 5 deadline: at the New Orleans Saints (October 17), at home against the Carolina Panthers (October 27), and on the road against the AFC-favorite Baltimore Ravens (November 3). This stretch will likely determine whether Jones is made available for trade, potentially in exchange for draft picks, or stays in Denver.
Jones in the Final Year of a 3-Year, $30 Million Deal
Jones’ rise to becoming a highly-paid defensive tackle came from modest beginnings. Drafted in the sixth round (No. 198 overall) in 2017, he played at East Mississippi Community College before starting 15 games over two seasons at Ole Miss.
“Jones has an unusual blend of power and athleticism that’s rarely seen,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote of Jones. “Though he has flashes reminiscent of Grady Jarrett, he’s a bigger player. Despite his impressive skill set, Jones didn’t always produce to his potential. With more consistency, he could thrive as a one-gap nose tackle with three-down capability.”
In his first two years with the 49ers, Jones was a key rotational player on the defensive line before earning a starting role in 2019, the year the 49ers won the NFC Championship. He had his best season in 2021, recording 56 tackles, 2 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits while starting all 17 games.
That strong season led to a big payday, with the Broncos signing Jones to a three-year, $30 million contract in March 2022.
Broncos Rarely Draft Interior Defensive Linemen
For the Broncos, drafting interior defensive linemen has been uncommon. In the past decade, they’ve selected just three pure interior defensive linemen, the last being McTelvin Agim from Arkansas in the third round (No. 95 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Agim played 18 games before being released in 2022.
The Broncos also haven’t had a defensive tackle named to the NFL All-Pro First Team since Trevor Pryce in 1999.
