Malik Jackson Comments on Broncos' Free Agency, Brock Osweiler and More

The Denver Broncos are fresh off their third Super Bowl victory in franchise history, but according to former defensive end Malik Jackson, their inaction during the early part of the offseason has cost them key players.

Jackson, who signed a six-year, $90 million deal to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars next season, talked with NFL Network's Jeff Darlington (h/t Hugh Johnson of the Denver Post) on Thursday and said Denver's slow response to trying to re-sign him, quarterback Brock Osweiler and linebacker Danny Trevathan backfired:

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I think the Broncos are kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. They could have gotten me done, they could have got Danny done, they could have got Brock done for less to nothing and now we’ve all branched out…I don’t know what they’re doing. I know they let go a lot of key players but I know that defense is still going to be stout and I can’t wait to see them in the season when they come here.

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Osweiler signed with the Houston Texans on Wednesday, and Trevathan moved on to the Chicago Bears, per ESPN.com. Coupled with Peyton Manning's retirement, the Broncos are now without a starting quarterback as well as key defensive players.

Jackson went as far as to say Osweiler left because he was unhappy after being benched in Week 17 when Manning came back from a foot injury, per Darlington.

“I think he was bummed out. I don’t know if he let it get to him like that because at the end of the day this is a business, and that is Peyton Manning,” he said. “What are you going to say? I think he might've been at the time, but I think he got over it.”

A tweet from Mike Klis of Denver's 9News added to the speculation:

It seems odd a team that just won the Super Bowl would be complacent about re-signing key players, but maybe winning has that effect.

Denver has five days to match an offer sheet running back C.J. Anderson signed with the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, and based on how Denver has acted so far in the offseason, that might not happen.

The AFC West won't be easy next year, as the Kansas City Chiefs look poised for another playoff run, and the Oakland Raiders have improved with key moves in the offseason, per The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre.

If Denver doesn't do well in the draft, the road to another Super Bowl won't be easy.