Denver Broncos: Who Stays and Who Goes in 2015 Free Agency?
When the free-agent market officially opens March 10, few teams will have as many tough decisions to make as the Denver Broncos.
John Elway has looked like a genius over the last two seasons when it comes to signing free agents, but this will definitely be his biggest challenge yet.
For Denver, the focus this offseason won't be on players who are available around the league, but rather on their own players. Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Brandon Marshall, Terrance Knighton and Wes Welker are all scheduled to be free agents, just to name a few.
According to OverTheCap.com, the Broncos currently have a little over $27.8 million in available cap space.
So how will the Broncos handle this? Which players will they choose to keep around and which ones will they allow to seek employment elsewhere?
WR Wes Welker: Goes
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Wes Welker caught a respectable 49 passes in 2014. But if you've followed his career, you'd know that is a very low number for him. In fact, the numbers Welker has put up in his two seasons with the Broncos pale in comparison to what he did during his time in New England.
Is that a result of the Broncos having several weapons on offense, or a sign that Welker's abilities are declining. Perhaps it's a combination of both.
Then you have all of the concussions that Welker has suffered over his career to take into consideration, and it just doesn't seem like there's any way the Broncos bring him back.
He was signed for two years to help the Broncos bring home a Super Bowl title. That didn't happen, so it's time to move on.
Cody Latimer was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft and could be a perfect replacement for the aging Welker, who will turn 34 years old in May.
DT Terrance Knighton: Stays
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By the end of his tenure in Jacksonville, Terrance Knighton had become a forgotten member of the defense. In fact, he was benched in favor of C.J. Mosley.
But the Broncos took a chance on him in free agency, based largely on the fact that Jack Del Rio was the team's defensive coordinator. Del Rio was the head coach when Jacksonville drafted Knighton.
In Denver, Knighton has completely resurrected his career, becoming one of the NFL's most effective defensive tackles. He's become a key member of the Broncos defense, helping them become one of the best teams in defending against the run.
The Broncos have several defensive players scheduled to become free agents, but Knighton is arguably the most important. The organization needs to find a way to keep him around.
The idea of Knighton following Del Rio to his new home in Oakland is something to look for, but Knighton seems to like it in Denver and would even take less money to stay with the team, at least according to a tweet from radio show host Brandon Spano following an interview he conducted with him:
"Terrance Knighton: "If a team offered me 30 Million/ 5 years and Broncos offered me 25 million/ 5 years, I'm going with the Broncos, man."
— Brandon Spano Show (@BrandonSpano) January 16, 2015"
Knighton had a guaranteed salary of $1.5 million last season and a cap number of $2.75 million.
Denver would obviously have to give him a fairly healthy pay increase, but the fact that Knighton would like to remain with the team will make negotiations a little smoother.
TE Julius Thomas: Goes
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It will be hard for Denver fans to watch Julius Thomas play for another team next season, but they need to prepare themselves for it.
The Broncos just won't be able to afford both Julius and Demaryius Thomas, and if they have to choose between them—which they pretty much do—it will be Julius who goes.
Walter Football's Charlie Campbell reported that sources at the Senior Bowl say Thomas is likely to move on from the Broncos.
He won't be easy to replace, as he has become one of the league's premier tight ends over the last two seasons. In that time, Thomas has caught 108 passes and 24 touchdowns.
However, he was clearly slowed by an ankle injury and was a nonfactor for the team during the last few games of the season. That could factor into their decision as well.
"REPORT: Denver Broncos touchdown machine, Julius Thomas, is likely moving on according to rumors. http://t.co/JHARJyykUX
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) January 24, 2015"
Though it will be tough to lose one of the top young tight ends in football, Thomas will almost certainly be wearing a different uniform next season.
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S Rahim Moore: Goes
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Rahim Moore has been one of the most up-and-down players in recent memory for the Broncos. He has shown the ability to make plays, but he'll also always be known as the guy that allowed Jacoby Jones to get behind him for that touchdown in the 2012 playoffs.
The Broncos will want to keep Moore, so that isn't the reason he'll be moving on. Instead, he'll be lured away by a team who will offer him more money.
The Philadelphia Eagles could be very interested in a young safety, and Moore would be very attractive to them.
Moore made around $1.4 million in 2014 and will be looking for the best deal he can come across. That offer most likely won't come from the Broncos, so unless he's willing to give the team a hometown discount, he may very well be gone.
LB Nate Irving: Goes
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It was a shame to see Nate Irving's 2014 season cut short due to injury, as he was putting together his finest year yet.
But the Broncos aren't going to wait any longer to see if Irving can come around as the team's middle linebacker, and they may not even make him an offer in the offseason.
The Broncos have Von Miller, Danny Trevathan and the surging Brandon Marshall to make up their starting linebacker trio, leaving Irving as the odd man out.
Either Trevathan or Marshall will have to be transitioned to Irving's middle linebacker spot, but that shouldn't be a problem, as both players would be good options at that spot.
LB Brandon Marshall: Stays
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After the year that Brandon Marshall just had, there's no doubt that he'll be back in 2015. Marshall played so well that a case could be made that he was the team's defensive MVP in 2014.
Marshall had 113 tackles, two sacks and an interception on the season. He also proved that he could drop back into coverage.
When Danny Trevathan went down in training camp with an injury, the Broncos turned to Marshall, a fifth-round draft choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012.
It seemed as though Trevathan's loss would be a big blow, but Marshall played as well as anyone could have expected. For that, he'll be rewarded.
He's also a restricted free agent, which gives the team much more flexibility in retaining him as opposed to a player like Nate Irving, who is an unrestricted free agent.
G Orlando Franklin: Stays
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The Broncos had their fair share of struggles along the offensive line in 2014, but don't blame Orlando Franklin for that.
He was arguably Denver's best offensive lineman this past season, and that came after being moved from tackle to guard, a move he wasn't initially fond of.
Pro Football Focus ranked 78 guards across the NFL this past season. Franklin came in at No. 13 on that list, and he was rated as the eighth-best in pass protection.
Continuity along the offensive line will be extremely important going forward, particularly if Peyton Manning returns.
""I don't know anything else. I'm a Bronco," he said. "I'd love to be a Bronco for the rest of my life" Orlando Franklin c/o @NickiJhabvala .
— Troy Miller (@TheTroyMiller) January 13, 2015"
Franklin made a shade under $1.4 million in 2014. Signing him to a new contract should be one of the top priorities for the team.
TE Virgil Green: Stays
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Many fans may not realize just how important Virgil Green is to the Broncos. If you look at his stats, he doesn't put up big numbers.
But if you had to rank the Broncos free agents this offseason, he's right up near the top.
Green is an outstanding blocker. In fact, he has become one of the best blocking tight ends in all of football and deserves as much credit as anyone for the Broncos developing such a strong rushing attack in 2014.
But if Julius Thomas moves on, Green may get to show what he can do in the passing game as well.
"reportedly Julius Thomas is thinking of moving on? Vaya con Dios softy, Virgil Green can do everything you can do anyway
— Brad James (@BroncosItaly) January 23, 2015"
He made just $661,000 in 2014, and unless some team swoops in with some kind of massive offer, the Broncos need to go out of their way to bring him back.
WR Demaryius Thomas: Stays
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Demaryius Thomas is going to be Denver's most attractive free agent to other teams, but he isn't going anywhere.
The Broncos will ensure that by placing their franchise tag on him.
The Broncos know that Thomas, one of the NFL's best wide receivers, will get several offers from other teams, so they'll want to prevent that any way they can. The franchise tag allows them to do that.
Thomas had an exceptional season in 2014, playing as well as any receiver in the league. He caught 111 passes for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He had some costly drops in Denver's playoff loss to Indianapolis, but he's still one of the most important members of the team and the Broncos can't even think about letting him get away.
Other Players Who Will Be Gone
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DT Mitch Unrein: Unrein was inactive for just about every game in 2014 and only had one tackle on the season. He likely won't be back unless the Broncos don't have big plans for Sylvester Williams, who is looking more like a first-round bust with each passing game.
C Will Montgomery: Montgomery filled in for much of the season at the center position, but he didn't do anything special. The Broncos can find a replacement player like Kansas State's B.J. Finney in the draft. If not, they can always slide Manny Ramirez back over to center.
S Quinton Carter: It will be tough to give up on Quinton Carter, particularly if the Broncos lose Rahim Moore. But Carter just isn't the player he was before he suffered multiple injuries. The team could keep him around for depth to see if he'll make the team next year, but there's a good chance he wouldn't.
CB Tony Carter: Tony Carter has spent the past three seasons in Denver, but he was infrequently used in 2014. The Broncos have a wealth of good defensive backs, and Carter just doesn't fit anymore. Even as a restricted free agent, Carter probably won't be part of next year's squad.
G Ben Garland: Garland saw the most extensive action of his career in 2014, but he'll have to prove he can make the team again next year. He'll likely have his work cut out for him to do that.
Other Players Who Will Stay
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TE Jacob Tamme: If the Broncos lose Julius Thomas, they'll want to keep as many tight ends that Peyton Manning feels comfortable with as they can. Tamme may not be a huge threat in the passing game anymore, but he is a solid member of the special teams.
LB Steven Johnson: Much like Tamme, Steven Johnson can help out in a big way on special teams. He is also a good reserve linebacker should one of the starters go down, and as a restricted free agent, the Broncos will keep him around.
LS Aaron Brewer: Aaron Brewer has been the team's long snapper for the past three seasons and he does a very good job in that role. He's an easily overlooked member of the roster, but one that the Broncos will keep around.
OT Paul Cornick: Paul Cornick struggled when he was inserted into the lineup this past season, but he could still be developed into an effective reserve offensive lineman.
All contract info provided courtesy of Spotrac.com unless otherwise stated.
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