Denver Broncos Will Visit with Freeney and Abraham; Is Dumervil Moving On?

The possibility of Elvis Dumervil returning to Denver seems to be growing smaller every day.

After a fax machine blunder led to Dumervil's release last week, the Denver Broncos turned around and made him a new offer, which underwhelmed Dumervil, according to a Denver Post report. 

With Dumervil remaining undecided about returning to Denver, the Broncos are looking into other defensive end options.  On Thursday, veterans John Abraham and Dwight Freeney will visit the team's Dove Valley headquarters.

The upcoming visits were first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ed Werder (via PFT) and later confirmed by the Post's Mike Klis.  With Abraham and Freeney coming in for visits, it appears that Denver is not expecting Dumervil to return.

There is a possibility that either Abraham or Freeney will be signed by the team, which would leave the Broncos with little remaining cap room.  According to ESPN, Denver has $8.44 million in cap space, with $4 million of that expected to be used towards 2013 rookie salaries.

That leaves the team with approximately $4.44 million to use on a defensive end, which is well within Abraham's salary range.  Last season, the Atalanta Falcons paid Abraham $4.4 million, and his value has dropped since then (via ESPN).

Abraham will turn 35 next month, but he has recorded 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons, proving that he still has some gas left in the tank.  Across from Von Miller on passing downs, Abraham would provide Denver with a solid replacement for Dumervil, who has recorded just one more sack than Abraham since 2011.

Freeney has already been recruited by Broncos quarterback and former teammate Peyton Manning and is two years younger than Abraham, but has only recorded 13.5 sacks over the past two seasons.  But as a rotational rusher, Freeney still has something to offer.

Dumervil's ultimate destination remains unknown, but the Broncos actions suggest it will not be in Denver.  Elvis may have played his last down in orange and blue.