Denver Broncos Fans: Meet Your New Secondary

With all of the Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall hoopla that is going on right now, I think Broncos fans really need a good reason to smile. 

One reason is that the Denver Broncos will boast an almost entirely new secondary for the 2009 season, one that includes three free agent acquisitions. Most notable of those signee's is none other than future Hall of Fame prospect, safety Brian Dawkins, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

"I'm just looking so much forward to the prospects ahead for this team. I was able to meet some of the young guys that I'm going to have the privilege of playing with, and we're all jacked," Dawkins said. "I'm kind of jumping around with my words because I'm so emotional and excited for this opportunity. It's a new thing for me, being a free agent and having the opportunity to go to a team that, like Josh (McDaniels) said, wanted me just as much as I wanted to be here."

And he truly does "want to be here". Why else would the 13-year veteran out of Clemson leave the team that he built his Hall of Fame career with? The Broncos rewarded Dawkins with a five-year deal reportedly worth over $17 million, and over $9 million in guarantees. 

Despite the huge contract, Dawkins is all business, and Denver fans are going to love that. 

"This is not going to just be a job for us," Dawkins said. "We're all going to be in this thing together, and not just be a pretty good defense, but be a dominant one."

In order for the Broncos to achieve the dominance on the defensive side of the ball, much more would be needed than a Hall of Fame safety, although it is a great start.  The team reacted to this by proceeding to sign a pair of Miami Dolphins.

First, the Broncos brought in free safety Renaldo Hill. Hill is 30 years of age, and brings great experience to the Denver defense. Last season with the Dolphins, he had 77 tackles and three interceptions. He is an instant upgrade over either Marlon McCree or Marquand Manuel, and provides another great veteran presence in the defensive backfield.

The other Dolphin was brought on board just last night. In the early goings of Sunday evening, it was reported by NFL Network's Adam Schefter that the Broncos had agreed to a five-year contract with Andre Goodman that could potentially reach up to $25 million.

Coming off of a career season, Goodman seems worth it. In 2009, the cornerback registered 39 tackles, one fumble forced, and a Dolphins team-high five interceptions.  Goodman will have every opportunity to set a new career high playing alongside former AFC rival and now teammate Champ Bailey.

The additions of Dawkins, Hill, and Goodman have been the headline acquisitions for the Broncos over the last three days.

Denver's defense needed a major facelift, and they started by significantly improving their secondary. What was once an area of extreme youth and inconsistency has now been given a violent shove into experienced, and the Broncos could have formed one of the more formidable quartets in the AFC.