5 Free Agents Who Should Be on Denver Broncos' Radar This Offseason
The Denver Broncos have free agency at the top of the “to do” list as the offseason moves toward the start of the new league year on March 9. There will be a time before the start of free agency where the Broncos can designate a franchise player (likely Von Miller). There’s also going to be a week before the start of the new league year when the Broncos will have a window to officially sign their own free agents.
The Broncos are waiting to see if quarterback Peyton Manning ends up retiring. If he does (as most expect him to do), then that would free up around $20 million in cap space for the Broncos to use in the construct of the 2016 roster.
Broncos general manager John Elway has absolutely crushed free agency in previous offseasons. Several key players from their championship team came through the free-agent market, not the draft.
Who are the free agents the Broncos should have on their radar? Let’s take a look.
RB Alfred Morris
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The Broncos may let Ronnie Hillman move on in free agency, so they may bring another back to the Mile High City in return. The Gary Kubiak system is known for making stars out of the players in the backfield, and next season, we could see C.J. Anderson break out.
Behind Anderson, the team might bring in a proven veteran like Alfred Morris.
A sixth-round pick by Washington in the 2012 NFL draft, Morris has rushed for over 1,000 yards in three of his four pro seasons. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2012 by rushing for over 1,600 yards in Washington’s zone-blocking system.
Morris is coming off a disappointing 2015 season where he only rushed for 751 yards and averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. His role shrunk in Washington, but Morris can still be a valuable asset in a reserve capacity.
Anderson should be a fine starter for the Broncos in 2016, but they need to have a solid backup in place—and that’s where Morris would fit.
FB John Kuhn
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The Kubiak system should include a fullback, but Denver went without one on the roster for most of the 2015 season. The Broncos tried to make tight ends like James Casey and Joe Don Duncan work at that position, but neither was able to stick on the roster.
The best fullback on the open market could be longtime Green Bay Packers back John Kuhn.
Picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers, not many knew about the Shippensburg product. Kuhn spent time on the Steelers' practice squad and won his first Super Bowl ring as a member of the Steelers. He’s been with the Packers since 2007 and has won another Super Bowl ring (ironically against the Steelers).
Kuhn doesn’t carry the ball that often, but he can plunge into the end zone when called upon. He’s not targeted much as a receiver, but he has reliable hands and can secure an incoming pass before he punishes any would-be tackler in the open field.
There’s not a lot of nuance to his game, but Kuhn’s skill set is exactly what the Broncos need. Having a blocking fullback like Kuhn would help blast open holes for Anderson. Kuhn would also take some of the punishment away from Anderson, perhaps keeping the young back healthier as the season wears on.
DE Mike DeVito
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There are going to be some changes to the defensive line this offseason. With opponents targeting players from the Super Bowl team of the Broncos, we could see a guy like defensive end Malik Jackson wind up elsewhere in 2016.
Simply put, there’s going to be some quality players on defense the Broncos can’t afford to keep around.
That’s why signing a guy like Mike DeVito makes a lot of sense. His price tag should be a lot lower than Jackson’s, and DeVito could play a similar rotational role.
Undrafted out of Maine in 2007, DeVito first caught on in the NFL with the New York Jets. He’s spent the last three seasons in the AFC West with the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs.
In 2015, DeVito had a career-high three sacks for the Chiefs. That’s just one of the many ways DeVito can contribute. He’s a hard-nosed player who loves to mix things up in the middle of the defensive line. The Broncos found a nice rotational player when they picked up Vance Walker—a former Chiefs player—last offseason. Perhaps following the same plan with DeVito could work out for the Broncos.
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DT B.J. Raji
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Some players need a fresh start with a new team, and this is where defensive tackle B.J. Raji comes in. A first-round pick by the Packers in 2009, Raji has failed to live up to his draft status. Injuries and inconsistencies have hurt his development, and he may not be returning to the Packers in 2016.
The Broncos have made good reclamation projects out of guys like Antonio Smith, and Raji could be the next player they get the best out of.
Raji is a mountain of a man (6'2", 337 lbs), and he plugs up the middle naturally. He’s capable of getting some interior push as a pass-rusher and has the quickness to get to the edge as a run defender at times.
The Broncos have nose tackle Sylvester Williams entrenched as their starter at nose tackle, but having a guy like Raji could give them a quality reserve player. With Raji’s history, the team might be able to sign him to a good (cheap) deal.
RT Chris Clark
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Late in August 2015, the Broncos shipped off right tackle Chris Clark to the Houston Texans. Now, there’s a chance he could be returning for another tour with the Broncos. Before you click off this slide thinking “no way!” just remember that Ryan Harris was brought back last season for his third stint with the team.
The Broncos offensive line is a work in progress.
We could see left tackle Ryan Clady return to the team, perhaps with a smaller salary if he’s asked to restructure. Second-year pro Ty Sambrailo is coming back from the shoulder injury that cut his rookie season of 2015 short. If healthy, he’ll likely start for the Broncos at right tackle.
The Broncos then would make Michael Schofield (last year’s right tackle for most of the season) a swing tackle or even a swing guard. Clark is more athletic than Schofield, and he’s proven as a nice backup left tackle. If Schofield is moved inside—perhaps his best spot in the pros—then bringing back Clark is almost a no-brainer decision.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.
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