5 Positions Denver Broncos Must Still Address Before 2015 Season
The Denver Broncos have done a good job of acquiring talent through both free agency and the draft. With the draft wrapped up, the team will begin rookie minicamp out at Dove Valley on Friday. After that, it will be more minicamps and OTAs for the entire squad as they move toward training camp.
In free agency this offseason, the Broncos did not have as much money to spend as they did last year. That didn’t stop them from filling multiple holes on the roster at positions of need. Denver just had to be more careful with the amount of money spent on free agents.
In the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos moved up in the first round to add Missouri pass-rusher Shane Ray. He should make an immediate impact for the Broncos as a part-time player as a rookie. Second-round pick Ty Sambrailo (Colorado State) could be a starter at right tackle when the team opens the season.
Through the rest of the draft, Denver was able to add players who can compete at their respective positions. However, through all these moves, free-agent additions, trades and transactions, there are still spots on the roster that could use additional help.
Here are five positions the Broncos must still address before the start of the 2015 regular season.
Center
1 of 5
The Broncos need to improve this position. To their credit, they’ve tried to upgrade the position through trading and the draft. However, these moves have not given them a clear-cut starter at the position. The Broncos could change that with one free-agent addition (more on that later).
Last year, the Broncos added center Matt Paradis in the sixth round out of Boise State. He didn’t make the final roster last year, but Denver did keep him around to develop on the practice squad.
Paradis was supposed to compete with Manny Ramirez for the starting job at the start of the offseason. Now, Ramirez has been traded to the Detroit Lions in the deal to move up in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft for Shane Ray. Paradis stuck around last year, but he’s clearly on the roster bubble this season.
Earlier this year, the Broncos traded the Baltimore Ravens a 2016 fourth-round pick for center Gino Gradkowski and a 2016 fifth-round pick. He started for the Ravens in 2013, but Gradkowski was replaced by Jeremy Zuttah in 2014 and barely saw the field. Gradkowski gets a fresh start with the Broncos, and his experience gives him a leg up in the competition for the starting job.
In the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos added Florida/Maryland center Max Garcia in the fourth round. He’s a powerful player, but that does make him a bit of an odd fit in the zone-blocking system. Garcia can control his man at the point of attack, but he lacks the athleticism to be a "sticky blocker" in space.
As you can see, the Broncos still have a question mark at center despite these multiple moves.
The answer? The Broncos should sign center Chris Myers as a free agent. The former Houston Texans center knows Gary Kubiak well, and he is a perfect fit for the zone-blocking system. Myers could likely be added for a decent price. The money saved on the salary cap when Ramirez was traded could be more than enough to sign Myers to a one-year deal.
Nose Tackle
2 of 5
The Broncos still have question marks in the middle of the defensive line. There are a few options on the roster already, but expect the Broncos to keep an eye on any defensive tackle available from now until the start of the regular season.
Sylvester Williams was a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, and he can be penciled in as the starter at the position right now. As a rookie, Williams played about half the season (nine games) and flashed some ability as a run-stuffer—and even as a player who can get middle pressure on the quarterback.
Last year, things didn’t go so well for Williams.
He started the entire year at defensive tackle next to Terrance Knighton, but Williams hardly made any plays. Williams rarely had to take on two blockers, but he struggled to win in one-on-one situations. After snaring two sacks as a rookie, Williams didn’t get to the quarterback once in almost twice as many games in 2014.
Marvin Austin was an under-the-radar free-agent signing last year. After getting picked in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the New York Giants, Austin bounced around to three other teams before landing in Denver in 2014.
He might be the team’s best fit at nose tackle in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense. Austin has a powerful base and can regularly take on two blockers. He gets off the snap quickly, and he does a good job of creating interior pressure on the quarterback.
Injuries and inconsistencies have held Austin back as a pro, but he proved he could stay healthy and motivated last year for the Broncos. Austin is certainly deserving of a larger role in 2015, and there’s an outside chance he begins the season as the starter at nose tackle.
In the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos added Maryland defensive tackle Darius Kilgo. He’s a mountain of a man, measuring in at 6’3” and 315 pounds. Kilgo can be a part-time player at the pro level as his skill set is that of a two-down run-stuffer. He’s not starter material but could be a good depth player for the Broncos to have on the team.
If Williams struggles and Austin fails to stay healthy or focused, the Broncos could have some trouble inside at nose tackle.
Free Safety
3 of 5
The Broncos will be looking for help at the free safety position. Earlier this year, the Broncos had to let some of their own free agents move on. Free safety Rahim Moore was one of those players, and he ended up signing a three-year, $12 million contract with the Houston Texans.
To counter that move, Denver added former Baltimore Ravens safety Darian Stewart with a two-year, $4.25 million contract.
Stewart came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams in 2010. The former South Carolina standout struggled to stay healthy and impress with the Rams, so he ended up signing a one-year deal with the Ravens in 2014. In 14 games, Stewart did enough to impress Gary Kubiak (then Ravens offensive coordinator), and he can be considered an emerging player.
Stewart cannot be considered a quality starter at this time. He’s got potential, but the Broncos could do better.
Other options at free safety include cornerbacks already on the Broncos roster.
There have been discussions internally about moving last year’s first-round pick, Bradley Roby, from cornerback to free safety. Roby was a standout nickel corner as a rookie, and he has the upside to eventually be one of the best corners in the game.
Their 2013 third-round pick, Kayvon Webster, might have a good shot at playing safety. The addition of Roby moved Webster down the depth chart last year. He’s a physical player who does not shy away from contact, and he’s got the athleticism to roam the field as a free safety.
Stewart, Roby or Webster could get the job done at free safety in 2015—but Denver could be looking for more help at the position.
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Inside Linebacker
4 of 5
The new 3-4 defense will feature the inside linebackers as the primary take-on tacklers. The Broncos have two quality starters inside with Danny Trevathan (Bow) and Brandon Marshall (Sam).
Trevathan is a fantastic athlete, and he can play from sideline to sideline. He can bait quarterbacks into bad throws, and he has the ability to pick off passes and do something with it after the interception. Two knee injuries cut Trevathan's 2014 season short, and he only appeared in three games. He’s working his way back from injury currently, but the Broncos need better depth behind him in case Trevathan gets hurt again.
Marshall is an intimidating player who is an enforcer for the Broncos defense. He arrives at the ball-carrier with natural violence, and Marshall has no fear taking on running backs in between the tackles.
Like Trevathan, Marshall is recovering from an injury right now. Earlier this year, Marshall had surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury to his foot. He’s expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, but Denver needs to find good reserve players behind him.
The Broncos re-signed Steven Johnson earlier this year to a one-year, $785,000 contract. Johnson is a two-down thumper who could be the best option behind Marshall.
They added former San Diego Chargers linebacker Reggie Walker in free agency. He’s mainly a special teams standout, and Walker may not see many snaps defensively if he makes the team.
Denver didn’t draft any inside linebackers this year, but it did select two linebackers last year in the draft. Lamin Barrow has the athleticism to cover, and he could win the primary backup job behind Trevathan. Corey Nelson will push him for the pecking order on the depth chart.
If they have any doubts about their starters’ health or their reserves’ talent, the Broncos will be on the lookout for linebacker help.
Pass-Rusher
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Even with the addition of outside linebacker Shane Ray in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos can never have too many pass-rushers.
Ray plays with the fire of Terrell Suggs, even though he’s about 15 pounds lighter. The Broncos could choose to bulk up Ray as a rookie in order for him to stand up to the punishment he’s going to take (and deal out) at the pro level.
Explosion is the name of the game with Ray. He gets off the line of scrimmage quickly, and he has the power to push blockers out of his way. Ray has good closing burst to the quarterback and is known as a devastating tackler.
We should see Ray as a part-time pass-rusher who helps keep DeMarcus Ware fresh.
Ware is likely to be a future Hall of Fame inductee, and he racked up 10.5 sacks for the Broncos last year. He started the season out with 8.5 sacks in the first eight games of the season. However, over the last eight games of the season, Ware only had two sacks.
Ray is the key to keeping Ware fresh over the course of the season—but he can also keep Ware fresh each week in games. The rookie might also give Von Miller a breather from time to time.
Outside of Miller, Ware and Ray, the Broncos could use more pass-rushers.
Lerentee McCray could help as a reserve outside linebacker. He’s a forceful player with good athleticism, but injuries have hampered his pro career.
Shaq Barrett was a player who played on the other side of the line of scrimmage quite a bit as a collegian at Colorado State. He’s a natural pass-rusher with the knack to force fumbles and disrupt plays.
The Broncos will be keeping their eyes open for any pass-rushers available on the open market. They’ll also monitor the trade block to see if any pass-rushing talent becomes available.
The Denver defense is going to look much different—much better this season. The aggressive nature of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will shine through the pass-rushers. Denver would be wise to monitor any players who could help at the position.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.
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