Are the Broncos considering trading away a key member of the No Fly Zone?
On Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Broncos have had trade conversations involving veteran safety T.J. Ward.
Ward, 30, is entering the final year of his contract in Denver. He's set to make $4.5 million this season. The Broncos have depth behind him with Justin Simmons, a third-round pick in the 2016 draft, waiting in the wings.
Even so, Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said he'd be "surprised" to see Ward get moved.
"He's one of our better players, so I'd be surprised if he was," Joseph said Tuesday when told about the trade rumor.
Ward became a Bronco in 2014. Since then, he's helped Denver win a Super Bowl and twice earned Pro Bowl honors. Ward started 14 games last year on a Broncos defense that allowed 185.5 passing yards per contest, the fewest in the NFL by a significant margin.
There were conflicting reports after Rapoport's dropped about how serious the Broncos are looking into moving Ward.
Pro Football Talk said Denver was "actually making — not receiving" calls about Ward. Mile High Sports' Benjamin Allbright, on the other hand, reported that the Broncos received calls about Ward but had "no immediate plans" to move him.
We'll keep you posted.
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