NFL Free Agency: 5 Realistic Targets for the Denver Broncos
With Demaryius and Julius Thomas, Orlando Franklin, Terrance Knighton, Rahim Moore and others headed for the open market, the Denver Broncos will have to allocate a good amount of money toward retaining their own free agents.
However, they need to look outside of Colorado to make the splash they need to compete for the Super Bowl.
Denver came up short in the divisional round of the playoffs with a 24-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and if it simply retains its own free agents, it could have trouble competing with the Colts and the New England Patriots.
The Broncos should pursue their own free agents, but they need to make an outside splash to really contend in 2015. Whom should they target?
Charles Clay, TE, Miami Dolphins
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Julius Thomas played well in 2013 and contributed to Denver's record-setting offensive season, but he's not worth re-signing.
He missed three games in 2014 and two in 2013, and his impact was marginal down the stretch in 2014. Injuries have limited him from reaching his potential, but it's likely that a team will take a chance on the athletic tight end and pony up large amount of cash.
If the Broncos want to sign Demaryius Thomas, bolster their offensive line and sign a talented free safety, they can't afford to sign Julius Thomas.
They can, however, look for a cheaper replacement.
They should sign blocking extraordinaire Virgil Green, who finished 11th among all tight ends in this respect, for a cheap price. However, to replace Thomas' production in the passing game, the Broncos could target Charles Clay.
Clay ranked ninth among tight ends in the passing game, finishing ahead of Thomas.
However, because of Thomas' raw potential and nine touchdown catches in his first five games—when he was healthy—Thomas will make much more than Clay.
Still, it cannot be ignored that Clay had 15 more receptions and 116 more receiving yards in just one more game. He might not be as much of a red-zone threat, as he scored just three times, but with Demaryius Thomas (assuming he returns), Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer in the fold, that might not be a problem.
Clay might not be worth it if the Broncos are looking to make a splash elsewhere.
However, if they are intent on replacing Julius Thomas' production in the receiving game, Clay is a cheaper but potentially more productive target.
Doug Free, T, Dallas Cowboys
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The offensive line was the Broncos' biggest weakness in 2014, and it's possible that they will only have one returning starter on the line.
Louis Vasquez is penciled in at right guard, and that's about all we know about the team's 2015 starters. Ryan Clady, the team's left tackle, could be released to save money, while the other three spots are up in the air.
For one thing, the team doesn't have a qualified right tackle. Doug Free can solve that problem.
Free played in only 11 games, but he made his presence felt. He finished with a plus-8.5 grade on the season and stabilized a tremendous Dallas offensive line. He could make a similar impact in Denver.
The Broncos could turn to the draft to obtain their tackle and sign a center. However, the market for free-agent tackles is tremendous this season.
Free, Derek Newton, Bryan Bulaga and Michael Roos are among the numerous available tackles. All would cost a good amount of money, but signing one would be worth it.
The highest annual salary doled out to a tackle in last season's free-agency period was Branden Albert's $9.4 million. Free shouldn't fetch quite that much, but he could be in the vicinity of $7 million.
Denver could sign any of those tackles, three of whom played right tackle last season. Free, however, did well in a limited amount of time and finished the season strong. If Denver signs him, he could stabilize a shaky offensive line.
Brandon Tate, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
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Assuming the Broncos re-sign Demaryius Thomas, they're set on the outside.
However, they could still benefit from a slot receiver to replace the likely departed Wes Welker.
Thomas, Sanders and Latimer—if the Broncos give him a chance—could form the league's most dangerous trio of wide receivers. However, out of the three, only Sanders is a capable slot receiver, and the Broncos might be hesitant to play Sanders in the slot after how well he did as an outside receiver in 2014.
What the Broncos can do, however, is sign a cheap slot receiver and hope for a great turnout. One option is Cincinnati Bengals receiver Brandon Tate.
Tate has done little in his career, but he has done well in his limited opportunities as a slot receiver. In 2013, he earned a plus-0.5 grade in four snaps as a slot receiver, and he earned a plus-1.0 grade in one snap in the slot in 2012.
If the Broncos give him a chance and release Andre Caldwell, who dropped three passes and caught just five in all of 2014, they could play their three best receivers at times but also give Tate a chance in the slot.
Additionally, Tate could return punts. Welker did well in this department at the end of the season, but he will most likely not be back. Tate earned a plus-6.1 grade returning punts in 2013 and a plus-1.4 grade in 2014.
He could make a substantial impact for the Broncos returning punts and playing well as a slot receiver at a cheap rate, which would be much more than Caldwell or most other available fourth receivers could say.
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Rodney Hudson, C, Kansas City Chiefs
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I mentioned the possibility of the Broncos drafting a center and signing a tackle, but there's also the possibility of them signing a center and drafting a tackle.
2014 center Will Montgomery did an admirable job this season, but he's turning 32 soon and is a free agent. The Broncos are unlikely to bring him back, so they'll be in the market for a center.
Unfortunately for them, not many of this year's free-agent centers earned a positive PFF grade. One was Rodney Hudson of the Kansas City Chiefs. He put together another fine year and should cash in nicely.
Last year, Browns center Alex Mack signed a five-year, $42 million deal. Hudson isn't at Mack's level, but he could still command around $7 million annually. Since he's so talented, that would be a worthwhile move for the Broncos.
There are numerous tackles the Broncos could draft. CBSSports.com has six tackles ranked in its top 26 players overall.
However, the same can't be said about centers. So, it might be wise for the Broncos to find a veteran center.
Hudson ranked third among all centers last season, stabilizing an otherwise horrid Chiefs offensive line. He helped spring running back Jamaal Charles to another solid season and helped quarterback Alex Smith lead the Chiefs to a respectable nine-win season.
In Denver, he could do wonders for Peyton Manning (if Manning returns). He could also pay dividends for C.J. Anderson in head coach Gary Kubiak's zone-blocking scheme.
Hudson is athletic and would be a nice fit as a run-blocker.
Denver needs to find multiple offensive linemen, and it starts with the center position. Hudson is clearly the best available option and signing him would be great for the Broncos.
Devin McCourty, FS, New England Patriots
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Both the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have something that the Broncos didn't have last season: a quality free safety.
Devin McCourty and Earl Thomas graded out as two of the top safeties in the NFL in 2014. Thomas is under contract, but McCourty is a free agent.
The Broncos have previously poached Wes Welker and Aqib Talib from the Patriots, and it's not out of the question to think that they could do the same with McCourty. They could re-sign Rahim Moore, but that seems unlikely at this point.
BSNDenver.com's Brandon Spano believes Moore would only return to Denver at a shockingly low price. Spano goes on to suggest the Broncos are keen on the idea of corner Kayvon Webster competing for the free safety role, but he's nothing like McCourty.
He finished with 68 tackles in 2014 and intercepted two passes. Those numbers don’t sound great, but the impact he makes is reflected in his positive coverage, run defense and penalty grades.
McCourty is a complete player who could transform the defense. Since the Broncos could trust McCourty to hold up on the back end, strong safety T.J. Ward could move into the box as a linebacker—what he does best.
Bringing in McCourty would also allow the Broncos to be more creative with their blitzes, which was a major issue in 2014.
He would likely cost about $10 million per year. Thomas signed a four-year, $40 million deal last year. However, for McCourty's production, it would be worth it.
Advanced statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
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