Denver Broncos: 3 High-Profile Free Agents They Must Avoid

Certain players could make a huge impact in a Denver Broncos uniform but would make a bigger impact financially.

This year's free-agent market is bound to make a handful of less-than-qualified players rich. There are a plethora of top prizes, such as Ndamukong Suh, Jeremy Maclin and Rodney Hudson.

But not all of these top players can end up in Denver, and a lot of those top players would be bad fits in a blue and orange uniform anyway. Which top prizes should Denver stay away from? 

Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

There are several capable tight ends on the free-agent market. Contrary to popular belief, Jordan Cameron isn’t one of them.

He was injured for most of the 2014 season, and when healthy, he was an awful run-blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted a minus-10.2 grade in 2014. In Denver's blocking-heavy scheme under new coach Gary Kubiak, he's not much of a fit.

In 2013, he was better, catching 80 passes for 917 yards. However, he was still mediocre overall, earning a minus-4.1 grade. As a pass-catcher, he was better but still nothing special.

With Owen Daniels, who has played under Kubiak for his entire career, available, the Broncos would be best suited to stay away from Cameron. Maxx Williams could also be a much better option in the draft, and if the Broncos want depth, they can sign someone like James Casey.

Because of Cameron's impressive 2013, he will get paid handsomely. Using Fanspeak's Manage the Cap simulator, I had to fork over $26 million over four years to sign Cameron, which is a hefty price for an oft-injured tight end who can't block.

Cameron might end up catching a lot of passes, but he would cost too much and wouldn't block well enough to justify the acquisition, especially when there are plenty of cheaper, more productive alternatives available.

Rodney Hudson, C, Kansas City Chiefs

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Unlike Cameron, Rodney Hudson is a productive player. As a result, he will cash in in free agency. According to Fanspeak, Hudson will cost $33.2 million over four years. He's far and away the best center in free agency, and he's going to get paid like one.

But the Broncos have an in-house option in Will Montgomery who will be much cheaper and has experience in Denver's scheme. If the team re-signs Montgomery for, say, $2 million on a one-year deal, it can stabilize the position for a much cheaper price and then turn to a long-term option next year.

Chris Myers, who has played for Kubiak for much of his career, could also be a cheaper alternative and a good scheme fit.

The Broncos also have a long-term option who is thought highly of by the organization in Matt Paradis, and they don't want to block Paradis by going all in for Hudson. According to Over the Cap, Denver has $19.5 million to spend.

With plenty of depth on the center market, in contrast to the top-heavy guard market, the Broncos would be better off filling one of their three needs on the offensive line with a cheaper option.

Hudson is a top-notch player who might benefit from being the best center in this year's market and be paid more than he's actually worth.

Mike Iupati, G, San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

The Broncos must sign a top-notch free-agent guard. 

However, Mike Iupati is not the right fit in the Broncos offense. He is a physical mauler who thrives as a run-blocker, although he's not particularly adept in pass protection. 

Because he's so strong, he's a much better fit in a power-blocking scheme. In a zone-blocking scheme like the one Denver employs, the soon-to-be rich Iupati isn't the right fit.

Either way, he's not an elite guard. He's an above-average guard, in the same category as soon-to-be former Broncos guard Orlando Franklin, but he's not elite.

Iupati ranked 14th out of 76 guards on PFF, but he ranked 55th out of 76 guards as a pass-blocker. He is a very good player, but paying $26 million over four years for a bad scheme fit who will benefit from the top-heavy market would not be the best course of action for the Broncos.

Cincinnati's Clint Boling, on the other hand, is almost as productive as Iupati and built for Denver's scheme. He would probably be an outright better player in blue and orange, let alone a better value, than Iupati.

Iupati will have success if he signs with the right team, which Denver is not.