Denver Broncos: Grading Their Free-Agent Deals to Date

"Did you hear about that big-name free agent the Denver Broncos just signed?"

The above phrase has not been uttered this offseason, as the Broncos have taken a more cost-effective approach to free agency. They have signed a small handful of players but no one extremely newsworthy.

However, the more devout Broncos fans likely understand general manager John Elway's plans to go bargain hunting this offseason. He set out with the goal of finding underrated players who fit in the team's scheme.

Has he fulfilled his goal? 

Shelley Smith, G

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Broncos have made some nice value signings, but the Shelley Smith signing is the most likely to backfire.

If it does, it will only cost the Broncos $5.65 million over two years, which isn't a huge price for a player who seems to be penciled in as the starter at left guard. However, Smith struggled in 2014 and has a lot to prove.

He was drafted by Gary Kubiak in Houston, which shows that he's a good fit for the zone-blocking scheme. In 2013 with the Rams, he earned a plus-7.2 grade on Pro Football Focus, but his injured knee affected him in 2014. His grade was minus-10.1, and he missed seven games and played sparingly in others.

However, in Denver's scheme, Smith could be a decent starter. He is an ideal fit for the zone-blocking scheme, and he could end up being a solid starter for less than $3 million per year.

Still, if the Broncos draft a guard (which is possible), Smith could end up costing $3 million to not play.

He has a lot to prove, since he never actually played when he was in Houston. The Broncos might have been better off signing a center like Chris Myers or Will Montgomery (which is still possible) and drafting an experienced zone-blocking guard like A.J. Cann of South Carolina, since there are more NFL-ready guards than centers in the draft class.

However, guard was Denver’s weakest position entering free agency, and Smith could stabilize it. He is a low-upside player, but he could offer the Broncos a cheap starter for two years.

Grade: C

Darian Stewart, S

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Broncos could have brought Rahim Moore back instead of signing Darian Stewart. However, even though he doesn't have the name recognition, Stewart is actually a solid safety.

Stewart thrived in 2014, and he intercepted two passes in his last four games. Including the postseason, he finished 19th out of 88 safeties on PFF. He was primarily listed as a strong safety, but he played both positions frequently in Baltimore and will play free safety in Denver.

With Stewart and T.J. Ward complementing Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby, the Broncos arguably have the best secondary in football. The Broncos also have Kayvon Webster converting to safety, so if Ward gets hurt, Webster and Stewart would make a nice duo because of Stewart's versatility.

The terms of his contract are unknown, but since Stewart didn't receive much interest, it was likely a cheap deal. It was a two-year deal, so Denver will likely have a value starter under its belt for at least two years.

Stewart might not intercept too many passes, but he is a good tackler and a well-rounded player. The Broncos made a great move to bring Stewart in town, and it will pay off greatly.

Grade: A-

Virgil Green, TE

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

With Julius Thomas now the face of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Broncos had no tight ends on the morning of free agency's commencement.

But right before the free-agent signing period began, the Broncos wisely decided to retain one of their own guys. They brought back Virgil Green, their blocking extraordinaire, for three years and $8.4 million.

Green has only caught 23 passes for 206 yards in his four-year career, so by looking at his basic statistics, this might seem like an ill-advised move. But he never received the chance he deserved behind Thomas, and even when Thomas was hurt, former coach John Fox opted to favor Jacob Tamme in the passing game.

But Green still managed to finish 11th among 67 qualified tight ends on Pro Football Focus because of his blocking ability. He did struggle in the passing game, though. Green is athletic, but in his 403 snaps last season, he only caught six passes.

Luckily, Green's blocking prowess makes him a great fit in coach Kubiak's two-tight end system. Retaining him for about 30 percent of Thomas' price was a good move, but for it to end up as a great move, Green will have to emerge as a receiving target.

Grade: B+

Owen Daniels, TE

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Virgil Green will help fill in for Julius Thomas, but if he doesn't emerge as a pass-catching target, the Broncos will have Owen Daniels to throw to.

Daniels, who played with Kubiak for eight years in Houston and one year in Baltimore, followed Kubiak once again. Daniels thrived in Houston and Baltimore and will make $12 million over the next three years.

Paying a 32-year-old tight end $12 million might not seem too intelligent, but according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post, only $3 million is guaranteed.

It's possible that Denver releases Daniels before he plays out the third year of his contract, but it's also possible that he plays well in his first two years and plays out his contract. 

Either way, he will be a valuable target for Peyton Manning in 2015. He caught 48 passes for 527 yards and four touchdowns in 2013, and he has 433 career catches. Daniels is also a willing and capable blocker who fits in Kubiak's two-tight end scheme.

I'm not a fan of the three-year contract, but the Broncos have given themselves flexibility in case Daniels ages considerably over the next two years. Expect him to be a safety valve for Manning in 2015 and a reliable target for whoever replaces Manning during the rest of his time in Denver.

Grade: B

Vance Walker, DL

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

Vance Walker played well in 2014, but for whatever reason, he didn't play much.

He only played 238 snaps in 2014, but on PFF, he earned a plus-6.8 grade. He proved to be a good fit in the same 3-4 scheme the Broncos will run in 2015, but because he played scarcely, the Chiefs terminated his contract.

So Denver picked him up for two years and just $4 million. Walker might not start, but he will be a critical rotational player. On the defensive line, the starters don't play every down, so Walker will have a role.

Right now, Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson are penciled in as the starters, but Wolfe has struggled as a pass-rusher. Also, if neither Sylvester Williams nor Marvin Austin can step up as a nose tackle, Jackson could slide over as a nose tackle, which would allow Walker to start at end.

Paying $2 million per year for a rotational player might seem like a hefty price, but the draft class isn't full of 3-4 defensive ends. Walker is going to play in Denver, and he will make a positive impact as a capable, experienced scheme fit.

Grade: B+