The opening blitz of free agency is now past and the NFL Draft is just a month away.
Denver wasted no time in its player acquisition efforts earlier this month, landing six on the first day of free agency and adding 15 – 12 from outside the organization and three returning to the fold – over the first 10 days of action and shelling out more than $138 million in guaranteed money.
General manager George Paton, head coach Sean Payton and their staffs will continue mining the ranks for potential additions up to and through the draft, but now is a good time to revisit the roster after the latest rounds of infusion for an updated look on where the Broncos stand.
Quarterback
Returners: Russell Wilson, Jarrett Guarantano
Newcomer: Jarrett Stidham
Departures/free agents: Brett Rypien
Draft need: Potentially. The Broncos liked Guarantano enough to keep him around after signing him late in 2022, so the call may end up being either rolling with him as a development project or finding a quarterback late in the draft.
Next question: The juiciest question is how long Wilson’s leash will be with Payton and whether 2023 amounts to a try-out to determine whether this is a long-term partnership. Wilson can go a long way toward achieving that if he answers the more intermediate questions — Will he buy in to a run-heavy system? Does he truly want to be coached hard by Payton? — in the affirmative. Wilson’s averaged 30.6 total touchdowns per season over his career. Under Payton, Drew Brees averaged 31.6 from his age-35 season onward. If Wilson’s back in that range this fall after 19 in 2022, the conversation about the veteran quarterback will be quite a bit different this time next year. If not, it’s easy to imagine all options being on the table for Payton, general manager George Paton and the Broncos.
Running back
Returners: Javonte Williams, Tyler Badie, Damarea Crockett, Tyreik McAllister
Newcomers: Samaje Perine, Tony Jones Jr., FB Michael Burton
Departures/free agents: Mike Boone (Houston), Chase Edmonds (Tampa Bay), Latavius Murray, Marlon Mack
Draft need: Wouldn’t hurt. Despite the number of players on the roster and the natural sense a Murray return/reunion with Payton makes, it’s a deep draft class and the Broncos could use a young playmaker in the backfield.
Next question: The critical one is really going to unfold over the longer-term and it’s regarding Williams’ health. The powerful, dynamic young back is in the midst of a tough recovery from a major knee injury suffered in October. Perine’s presence can help cover Denver for a while if that’s what Williams requires, but will he get back to the tackle-breaking, pile-pushing, all-around threat he was before the injury? Only time will provide the answer in full, and there’s an element of limbo for the group until then.
Wide receiver
Returners: Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, KJ Hamler, Kendall Hinton, Montrell Washington, Brandon Johnson, Jalen Virgil
Newcomers: Marquez Callaway, Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Departures/free agents: Freddie Swain (Miami)
Draft need: Depends. If the top four are all going to be in Denver uniforms come September, then a Day 3 pick seems like an option. If not, then it becomes more of a need.
Next question: Just how seriously are the Broncos considering trading one or more of their receivers? Are they simply answering the phone when receiver-needy teams call about Jeudy or Sutton? Or is it more proactive than that? Did Hamler’s torn pectoral muscle, which could keep him out into July training camp, change that thinking? Perhaps the answer will arrive in the coming days or perhaps on draft weekend. Denver only has five picks in April and could replenish some by trading Jeudy or, to a lesser extent, Sutton. The Broncos don’t have to trade any of them, so if they do, it’s either because they got exactly the price they wanted or they decided it was best to do something.
Tight end
Returners: Greg Dulcich, Albert Okwuegbunam
Newcomer: Chris Manhertz
Departures/free agents: Eric Saubert (Miami), Andrew Beck (Houston), Eric Tomlinson
Draft need: Sneaky. With just three on the roster currently and a draft class that NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah called maybe the best in a decade, the Broncos could find a Day 2 tight end again this year after hitting on a good one in Dulcich last spring.
Next question: This does look like a small group on paper, but Payton likes to have specific roles for every player on the roster, so what does he make of this group? He may feel like he can cover ground with the trio plus Burton (fullback) and Humphrey, a versatile offensive player who can line up in the backfield, as an H-back or receiver. Manhertz is considered one of the more powerful run-blocking tight ends in the NFL and Dulcich has a chance to blossom into an all-around threat in his second pro season if he stays healthy. This is not to say Dulcich is going to be the next Jimmy Graham, but perhaps it’s worth pointing out that Graham had 31 catches for 356 yards as a rookie and then over his next four seasons in New Orleans averaged 137.5 targets, 88.8 catches, 1,099 yards and 11.5 touchdowns. Payton’s not afraid to feature a tight end if he can be a game-changer.
Offensive line
Returners: Garett Bolles, Lloyd Cushenberry, Quinn Meinerz, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Bailey, Will Sherman, Christian DiLauro, Parker Ferguson, Hunter Thedford
Newcomers: Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers, Kyle Fuller, Isaiah Prince
Departures/free agents: Graham Glasgow (Detroit), Calvin Anderson (New England), Dalton Risner, Cam Fleming, Billy Turner, Tom Compton
Draft need: Always. Payton’s always invested heavily on the offensive line and currently Denver’s options beyond the starting group are largely unknowns. Even with limited draft capital, it would be a surprise if the Broncos didn’t grab at least one in April.
Next question: Will Cushenberry start at center? On paper, the top five looks relatively settled, but with Payton, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive line coach Zach Strief looking at the roster with fresh eyes, the middle of the line looks like the biggest wild card. Maybe it’s as simple as rolling with Cushenberry in the final year of his rookie deal. The Broncos at this point aren’t likely to shell out big free agent dollars — they already went big on McGlinchey and Powers — but they also signed Fuller, could slide Meinerz over to the middle or they could draft a center. Paton liked Wattenberg as a fifth-rounder last year and he could get into the conversation, too, if he takes a big jump in Year 2.
Defensive line
Returners: D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell, Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen, Jonathan Harris, Elijah Garcia
Newcomers: Zach Allen, Jordan Jackson
Departures/free agents: Dre’Mont Jones (Seattle), DeShawn Williams (Carolina)
Draft need: Top of the list? There are a few other candidates — mostly on defense — but a strong case can be made that the Broncos’ top draft need is an interior defensive lineman, especially one that has some pass-rush juice.
Next question: Most will wonder whether Allen can replace — or even surpass — Dre’Mont Jones’ production, but the depth in this group will be just as important. Can Henningsen and Uwazurike, a pair of 2022 Day 3 picks, build on their steady rookie-year improvement? If they do, this group looks solid on paper. If they can get to the quarterback more — they combined for one sack and three quarterback hits in 394 combined defensive snaps — all the better. But if they’re just borderline roster players, the Broncos are going to have to find help for Allen, D.J. Jones and Purcell.
Outside linebacker
Returners: Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jacob Martin, Aaron Patrick, Chris Allen
Newcomers: None
Departures/free agents: Jonathan Kongbo, Wyatt Ray
Draft need: Never enough. Denver used its top pick on Bonitto last year and may well take another edge player — they could use a thumper in the run game — with its top pick in April.
Next question: Is Browning that guy or do the Broncos have too many role players? It is easy to forget that 2022 represented the first time Browning played on the edge in the NFL. His coaches and teammates raved about his natural ability and feel for rushing the passer. Now with a year under his belt and an offseason to grow, can he turn himself into a weekly difference-maker? If so, he’s a player to build around. If not, the Broncos still have some guys who can be solid contributors but will be putting a lot on Gregory’s shoulders. Gregory’s played more than 12 games once in his career, but at least entered the offseason healthy. This is a spot where Denver could keep looking in free agency, particularly with veterans like Leonard Floyd, Bud Dupree and Yannick Ngakoue still on the market.
Inside linebacker
Returners: Josey Jewell, Alex Singleton, Jonas Griffith, Justin Strnad, Ray Wilborn
Newcomers: None
Departures/free agents: Dakota Allen
Draft need: Opportunistic. It’s not an immediate need, but Jewell is entering the final year of his contract, so if the Broncos love a player’s potential, they could strike.
Next question: Can this group be the strength of Denver’s defense? A year ago, the Broncos cycled players like Joe Schobert through training camp and weren’t exactly sure what they had. Now, they’ve got Jewell and Singleton back as their top pairing and Griffith, who began 2022 as a starter, right in the mix, as well. There’s going to be yet another learning curve — a third defensive coordinator in as many years under Vic Fangio, Ejiro Evero and now Vance Joseph — but this trio enters 2023 with high expectations. If you’re getting greedy, you’re hoping for more than the 13 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks (seven quarterback hits) Jewell and Singleton combined for last season.
Cornerback
Returners: Pat Surtain II, Damarri Mathis, K’Waun Williams, Essang Bassey, Ja’Quan McMillian, Faion Hicks, Delonte Hood
Newcomer: Tremon Smith
Departures/free agents: Ronald Darby, Lamar Jackson, Darius Phillips,
Draft need: Trust Paton’s eye. Mathis looks like a fourth-round hit, Williams was a savvy free-agent pickup and Surtain’s a unanimous first-team All-Pro at 22 years old. If Paton finds a corner he loves in the draft, he should take him.
Next question: Can Mathis continue his second-half surge? The rookie cornerback drew four pass interference penalties in his first start after Darby was lost to a knee injury, but he came on strong in the second half of the season and looks like a potential long-term NFL starter. If he continues to improve, Denver’s got a dynamic young pair of corners. But life opposite Surtain isn’t going to be a walk in the park. Mathis will be challenged often and will need to display the kind of mental fortitude he put forth as a rookie to hold up over the entire season.
Safety
Current group: Justin Simmons, Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell, Devon Key
Newcomers: None
Departures/free agents: Kareem Jackson
Draft need: Probably. Bringing Locke back helps depth-wise, but Turner-Yell needs a big offseason and the Broncos will likely want to carry five safeties on an eventual 53-man roster anyways.
Next question: Is Sterns’ time finally here? So far, it looks that way. Denver could still bring back Jackson or find another veteran as free agency rolls on. That might be in play all the way up to and through training camp. But for now, the third-year man from Texas has a chance to lock down a full-time job next to Simmons. Sterns acquitted himself well when Simmons missed four games with a quad injury early in 2022, but he was battling a hip issue himself and went on season-ending injured reserve as soon as Simmons returned. If Sterns can stay healthy, he’s got a chance to prove himself this fall. But the Broncos are also going to be on the lookout for other options — or a backup plan at the very least — as well.
Specialists
Returners: PK Brandon McManus, LS Mitchell Fraboni
Newcomer: P Riley Dixon
Departures/Free agents: P Corliss Waitman (New England), LS Jacob Bobenmoyer (Las Vegas)
Draft need: Not really. Denver added to its return game via free agency in Tremon Smith and signed Dixon, a veteran free agent punter.
Next question: Can McManus consistently find the range? The veteran kicker is the lone Bronco left from the franchise’s Super Bowl 50 title team. He’s also coming off a 2022 that saw him tie a career high with eight field goal misses. He narrowly set a career high in attempts also (36), but his 77.8% conversion rate was his lowest since 2017. McManus missed three times from inside 40 yards and missed two extra points, including multiple blocked attempts. He’s under contract through 2024 and is approaching a decade with the franchise. Will Paton and Payton bring in competition for him this offseason? Next summer? McManus could have several good seasons left in him, but there are always interesting options available off the street, too, and McManus’ make rate in 2022 was 28th among kickers with at least 20 field goal attempts.
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