NFL Free Agency 2011: Predicting 6 Signings for the Denver Broncos Post-Lockout

The Denver Broncos should be one of the most active teams in free agency when the NFL lockout comes to an end.

A team that still has strong needs in the way of running backs, interior defensive line and just quality depth on the roster as a whole will need a good mix of veteran and undrafted free agents in order to fit its budget.

That being said, here is a short list of players I believe are likely on the Broncos radar as undrafted free agents, and who might very well be in orange and blue once the dust settles on what promises to be me the most active free-agency period ever.

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia

According to Woody Paige of the The Denver Post, "running back is a priority in free agency" for Coach Fox, so I think the Broncos will make a solid run at DeAngelo Williams, reuniting the two in Denver. This further crowds the running back stable, but still leaves a void.

Noel Devine will fill an integral role on the practice squad initially, helping the team to game-plan for interdivisional foes like Darren Sproles and Dexter McCluster. He may also challenge Knowshon Moreno for the change-of-pace, third-down back that the Broncos need to find.

Ian Williams, DT, Notre Dame

It is a sure bet that, after being ignored in the draft, the defensive tackle position will be heavily focused on in free agency. Whether veteran or undrafted targets, the Broncos will be sure to help themselves to a few players at this position.

In the undrafted realm there is probably no other defensive tackle with as much risk/reward potential as Notre Dame’s Ian Williams. Injury concerns surely caused teams to shy away from him, but his ability was clearly visible prior to injury, and value like this may have caused the Broncos to pass on using draft picks for this position.

Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh

Paige noted yesterday that the Broncos need to find a second fullback for the depth chart, as Spencer Larsen is the only one on the roster right now. This would help implement the ground-and-pound philosophy of John Fox.

If the Broncos strike out on the likes of Mike Karney, they will be happy to fall back on the work ethic and potential of a player like Henry Hynoski out of Pittsburgh. I have written about him before, but I have strong belief in the credentials of others spelling good things for Hynoski. LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis were prolific runners in college and the link between the two was Henry Hynoski.

Taylor Potts, QB, Texas Tech

Via Woody Paige, John Fox has said that three quarterbacks is enough. If you assume that, after a deal is reached and league business resumes, the Broncos will be down to only two as the result of a trade, there is room for one more.

Taylor Potts will likely not make a lot of noise in any quarterback competition, but as a former Texas Tech Red Raider he knows how to throw, and throw often. That kind of skill will benefit the scout team as the Broncos prepare for pass-happy attacks like New England and Green Bay.

Justin Boren, OL, Ohio State

This is a player that showed up in quite a few mock drafts for teams, but due to needs and availability of other talent, fell off the board and remained undrafted.

His credentials and size are very solid for an interior offensive lineman, and he could be a nice depth addition to the Broncos roster. Broncos executives and coaching staff should be looking to add versatile talent like this to the roster, in an effort to keep the future looking bright.

Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, Ohio State

Sanzenbacher spent most of his career at Ohio State playing with an athletic quarterback in Terrelle Pryor, who was as likely to make a play with his legs as his arm.

Sounds a little like the quarterback of the future in Denver. Sanzenbacher has experience in seeing a play develop with an athletic quarterback and adjusting accordingly. Whether it’s breaking a route to get into a scrambling passer's line of sight, or squaring up to block when it’s clear the QB is taking off to run, Sanzenbacher is ready for anything.