Keep or Cut Decisions for Denver Broncos Free Agents
The Denver Broncos are going to have some tough decisions to make in free agency. They worked diligently to assemble a team in 2014 they believed could propel them to a championship. After a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round, the Broncos are back to the drawing board.
Just like last year, the Broncos have quite a few key players on the roster who are set to hit the open market. Unlike last year, the Broncos won’t have quite as much money to spend. This makes the decision of who to keep and who to cut even more difficult.
In this article, we will go through the undrafted free agents on the Broncos roster. We will determine whether or not the Broncos should keep them or cut them.
Let the tough decisions begin!
Wes Welker
1 of 13
Age: 33
2014 Salary: $7.6 million
Wes Welker isn’t the same player he used to be. He missed the first two games of the 2014 season due to a suspension, and when he returned, his role on offense was smaller than it was in 2013. Welker finished this season with 49 catches, 464 yards and only two touchdowns. Those 49 catches rank the second-lowest in his career and the lowest total Welker’s had since he was a rookie (29) for the Dolphins in 2005.
It looks like the Broncos are preparing to move in a different direction in 2015. They moved up in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft to select wide receiver Cody Latimer. The Broncos could move Emmanuel Sanders into Welker’s old slot role and start Latimer on the outside if he’s ready. Welker is likely a future Hall of Fame inductee, but his time in Denver might be done.
Final Verdict: Cut
Demaryius Thomas
2 of 13
Age: 27
2014 Salary: $4.7 million
Demaryius Thomas is arguably the most important free agent for the Broncos this year. With Peyton Manning tossing him passes, Thomas has emerged as one of the best receivers in the game today. In 2014, Thomas caught over 100 passes (111) for the first time in his career. His 1,619 yards represents a career-high number, and his 11 touchdowns mark the second-best total of his career.
The Broncos could choose to use the franchise tag on Thomas. This would give them until mid-July to work out a new long-term contract. The Broncos have to focus on the now if Peyton Manning returns for 2015, but they also have to consider what they’ll need to succeed after Manning’s playing days are done. Thomas can be a huge part of both.
Final Verdict: Keep
Julius Thomas
3 of 13
Age: 26
2014 Salary: $741,000
The Broncos found a star when they selected Julius Thomas in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft. After missing most of his first two pro seasons due to an ankle injury, Thomas broke out with a huge season in 2013 (65 catches, 788 yards, 12 touchdowns). In 2014, Thomas still scored 12 touchdowns but he also missed three games due to another ankle injury. He finished with only 43 catches for 489 yards.
Thomas is a dangerous weapon when healthy, but he’s never played a full season in his four-year career. His price tag in 2015 could be somewhere around $7 million annually and that might be out of the Broncos budget. I would love for the two sides to work something out, but Thomas’ potential might price him out of the Broncos reach.
Final Verdict: Cut
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Virgil Green
4 of 13
Age: 26
2014 Salary: $661,236
Known as a pass-catching move tight end in college at Nevada, Virgil Green has become a fantastic blocking tight end as a pro. In fact, Green only scored the first touchdown of his career this season. He’s such an asset as a blocker that Green is rarely used as a pass-catching tight end.
If the Broncos wanted to, Green could be used more as a receiver. While not the athlete that Julius Thomas is, Green knows how to get open and can take advantage of linebackers in space. Green is a team-first player who will do whatever is asked of him. That attitude, coupled with his natural skill set, could mean the Broncos ask Green to do even more in 2015.
Final Verdict: Keep
Jacob Tamme
5 of 13
Age: 29
2014 Salary: $2.2 million
Like Wes Welker, tight end Jacob Tamme isn’t quite what he used to be. After catching 52 passes in his first season with the Broncos (2012), Tamme’s catch total came down in 2013 (20) and 2014 (14). While Tamme’s receiving numbers have plummeted, his value as a special teams player has increased.
Tamme is a favorite target of Peyton Manning, but how much is that worth? That’s the question the Broncos will be facing this offseason. Yes, Tamme could sign for a very team-friendly deal this offseason, but it seems more likely the team will let him explore his options in free agency. This decision could go either way, but the Broncos may choose to go with more youth at the position.
Final Verdict: Cut
Terrance Knighton
6 of 13
Age: 28
2014 Salary: $2.75 million
The man in the middle known as “Pot Roast” has been an outstanding player for the Broncos over the last two seasons. Don’t look at the stat sheet when monitoring Knighton’s impact. He’s only compiled 18 tackles each of the last two years. Turning on the film shows a player who opponents must double-team in order to control. Knighton is a big body who can stuff the run, plus he can also get interior pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Knighton told Troy E. Renck, from the Denver Post, that he would take a home-town discount in order to stay with the Broncos. I’ve interviewed Knighton multiple times on the air, and he’s often commented on how winning is his motivation. Yes, he could follow former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to the Oakland Raiders, but it’s not likely he’d win more games there.
Final Verdict: Keep
Orlando Franklin
7 of 13
Age: 27
2014 Salary: $1.3 million
After starting at right tackle since 2011, Orlando Franklin was moved inside to left guard in 2014. He’s a mountain of a man who can be a bulldozer as a run-blocker. However, even as an interior player, Franklin still struggled against athletic defenders who can get after the passer.
Franklin is not a natural fit at guard, and he may want to move on to a different team where he’ll get to compete outside at tackle again. The Broncos need to find upgrades on the offensive line. The writing on the wall shows Franklin playing elsewhere in 2015.
Final Verdict: Cut
Will Montgomery
8 of 13
Age: 31
2014 Salary: $1.9 million
A free-agent addition last offseason, Will Montgomery started about half the season at center for the Broncos. An athletic center, Montgomery did a good job of handling the multiple play changes and audibles that Peyton Manning does on most snaps.
The Broncos are set at left tackle with Ryan Clady. They also have a quality player at right guard in Louis Vasquez—provided he’s moved back inside in 2015. The Broncos need strong play from their center, and that’s what Montgomery provided in 2014. If the Broncos add Gary Kubiak as their new head coach, Montgomery is a perfect fit for the zone-blocking system that he employs.
Final Verdict: Keep
Nate Irving
9 of 13
Age: 26
2014 Salary: $818,750
The Broncos had the idea that Irving could be a standout middle linebacker for them when they selected him out of North Carolina State in 2010. It took until this year for Irving to finally earn that spot. Irving worked well as a reserve strong-side linebacker, but as a starting middle linebacker, there were some struggles. Irving also failed to get through the 2014 season as a knee injury knocked him out of eight games.
Expect the Broncos to look for a fresh start in the middle of the defense. Perhaps Irving could come back for a good price, but middle linebacker is a part-time position in today’s NFL. There’s no need to spend a ton of money on a player who could play about 30 percent of the snaps if he’s the starter.
Final Verdict: Cut
Mitch Unrein
10 of 13
Age: 27
2014 Salary: $1.4 million
A local product (Eaton, Colorado), Mitch Unrein has worked hard to earn a roster spot with the Broncos. Originally added as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans in 2010, Unrein moved on to Denver and has stuck over five seasons.
He missed out on multiple games this year as the Broncos decided to activate Marvin Austin instead. His numbers were down compared to a year ago as a part-time player. Unrein is a long shot to make the final roster, but he’s been that since day one—and he’s earned the spot. Now that he’s a free agent, the Broncos could bring back this hard worker for a good price.
Final Verdict: Keep
Quinton Carter
11 of 13
Age: 26
2014 Salary: $758,750
As a rookie in 2011, Quinton Carter was a standout player for the Denver Broncos. His position versatility immediately made him a valuable asset for the Broncos defense, and Carter started at free safety opposite former Broncos strong safety Brian Dawkins. His future was bright, then a knee injury in 2012 knocked him out for most of the following two seasons.
Carter was able to come back this year for the Broncos. He looked good in limited duty, but Carter was not as explosive as before. His season was cut short by yet another knee injury. The Broncos may decide to move on from the talented but oft-injured safety.
Final Verdict: Cut
Rahim Moore
12 of 13
Age: 25
2014 Salary: $1.4 million
Moore came back from a serious leg injury he suffered in 2013. In 2014, Moore had a career-high four interceptions and did a good job of containing or breaking up any deep passes that came his way. He played with swagger in the Broncos defensive backfield, and Moore was around the ball constantly.
Any safety that can fly around the field with a nose for the ball is an asset worth keeping around. The Broncos have seen Moore work back from confidence-shaking mistakes and incredibly severe injuries. During this time, his game has improved and Moore is known as a leader on the defense. That’s worth keeping around if the price is right.
Final Verdict: Keep
Ben Garland
13 of 13
Age: 26
2014 Salary: $420,000
Ben Garland is another local product (Air Force Academy) who has worked diligently to make the final roster. Originally a defensive tackle, Garland was moved to the offensive side of the ball in 2013. His functional strength was on display as a part-time player for the Broncos this year as they looked for interior help on the offensive line.
The Broncos offensive line should undergo a serious overhaul this offseason. Garland won’t sign for a ton of money, but the team may have decided to see what other/younger options can do as a reserve offensive lineman.
Final Verdict: Cut
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via NFL.com or ESPN.com unless otherwise noted. Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.com. Transaction history provided by ProSportsTransactions.com.
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