Broncos have a silver lining despite loss in AFC Championship Game

Broncos have a silver lining despite loss in AFC Championship Game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Broncos suffered a disappointing loss on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, coming up just a few points short of reaching the Super Bowl. As it does with any team that has been eliminated, the focus already shifts to next season.

The Broncos made it all the way to the doorstep of the Super Bowl despite having a major obstacle in their way. That obstacle came in the form of having to pay a player who is no longer on the team.

Russell Wilson counted $32 million against the salary cap this year. He was the highest-paid player on the Broncos' payroll this year and he wasn't even on the roster. That is the spot the team was put in when cutting Wilson, setting off an NFL record in dead cap space.

The good news? This was the last season for that money to hit the Broncos' books. When the new league year starts in March, they will be free of that and that is money the team can then allocate towards some of the big-name free agents on the open market.

The Broncos could use a true No. 1 wide receiver and a better answer as their go-to running back to pair with RJ Harvey next season. Not having enough offensive weapons held the Broncos back in Sunday's game against the Patriots and the Broncos need to look at adding some more firepower next year.

The fact that the Broncos earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC and won 14 games this season, despite that dead-money hit from Wilson's contract, is truly remarkable. That fact should also be highly encouraging to Broncos fans eager to see this team get back.

Here are some of the top available wide receivers and running backs who are set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason. The Broncos should have all of these names on their radar.

Wide receiver

Deebo SamuelAlec PierceWan'Dale Robinson

Running back

Breece HallTravis EtienneKenneth Walker III

Without having to pay Wilson, the Broncos could add a big name, perhaps even two. Realizing how close they got this season, the front office should look to be ultra-aggressive this offseason.

READ:Where should the blame go after Broncos drop AFC Championship Game to Patriots?

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