Denver Broncos: 10 Potential Free Agent Targets For Denver This Offseason

There are a lot of changes in store for the Denver Broncos in the coming year.  Things started with the firing of Josh McDaniels, and continued with the hiring of John Elway as the team VP of Football Operations.

The hiring of John Fox as head coach began a new era for a team that will, very likely, be seeing a decent amount of changes of the coming months.

The biggest changes can be expected on the defensive side of the football, which ranked dead last in the most NFL categories.  Still, a new coach can bring a lot of new faces, so that said, here are 10 possible targets for the Broncos, in no particular order.

Champ Bailey

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 05: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos breaks up a pass intended for Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game on December 5, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty

The most important thing for the Broncos to do this offseason is to re-sign Champ Bailey. 

Champ Bailey has been in the NFL for 12 years, and has made 10 Pro-Bowls.  That is a testament to his consistency and ability.  In his years with the Broncos, he has a grand total of 30 interceptions and 416 tackles. Tackling ability isn't really something that you talk about a lot when it comes to cornerbacks, but it cannot be overlooked with Champ.  He is such a sure tackler, just one of the things that m`akes him the most complete corners in the league.

In recent years, he has been held back by a couple of injuries, but showed this past season that he is still just as effective of a cornerback as he has always been. 

Why the Broncos didn't manage to work out a contract extension this year is beyond me.  Even with the uncertainty of a potential lockout next season, do you want to chance letting your best defensive player get away in free agency? 

Bailey likes it in Denver and wants to be there, so it seems that this is really a matter of just getting the deal done.

Nnamdi Asomugha

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 17: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders breaks up a pass intended for Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Asomugha has quietly become one of the top three corners in the NFL.  While everybody talks about Reevis and Bailey, Asomugha really made a name for himself by shutting down everybody he faces.

If the Broncos are crazy enough to let Champ Bailey go, then Asomugha is a great solution to filling that void.  In fact, he may be the only player on the market, including draft prospects, that can fully fill the shoes of a legend like Champ Bailey.

If you look at his numbers, you'll see that they are remarkably unspectacular.  Only one season of his career has he ever had more than one interception.  This, however, is a testament to exactly how intimidating he is.  Opposing quarterbacks don't even consider looking his direction, which is why he so  rarely gets the opportunity to make any type of interceptions.  That type of guy would be great to have, whether the Broncos re-sign Champ or not.

Seneca Wallace

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 26: Seneca Wallace #6 of the Cleveland Browns passes against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens lead the Browns at the half 14-10. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

There are a whole lot of questions about what is going to happen this year for the Broncos at quarterback.  Brady Quinn is a free agent and he, may or may not, be back.  Uncertainty about who will be the starting quarterback also leads to questions about the back up. 

If Orton comes back and earns the No. 1 spot, then Tebow obviously is the backup, no worries.  But there is a lot of talk about Orton potentially being traded and clearing the way for Tebow.  If this happens, the Broncos will need a reliable backup that can come in and be solid at a moment's notice. 

Seneca Wallace has shown that he is a capable back up that still manages to give his team a good chance to win.  He had a lot of time during Matt Hasselbeck's injury plagued seasons in Seattle, and never really managed to establish himself as a clear No. 1 in Cleveland. 

Wallace may never really impact a game, but it would be nice for the Broncos to know that they have a tested backup that has the ability to get it done.

DeAngelo Williams

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 03: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

This isn't a move that I think would be made in order to replace Knowshon Moreno.  I definitely think that Moreno has a great future with the Broncos, but he would greatly benefit from a second running back as Moreno has had some injury issues in his brief time in the NFL.

Williams is an attractive option for a few reasons.

1.  He a really solid running back.

2.  He's worked as part of a two back system before and had great success with it.

3.  He's familiar with John Fox, and Fox knows how to use him to the best of his ability.

Williams probably wouldn't be a very long term member of the Broncos, but could really help Moreno develop into the solid No. 1 running back that Moreno really wants to be.

Marcedes Lewis

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Marcedes Lewis #89 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on November 18, 2007 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty I

Something that was sorely lacking from the Bronco offense this year, other than any type of a run game, was a solid receiving threat at tight end.  Lewis had a great year with Jacksonville this year and earned Pro-Bowl honors as well. 

This guy is very well rounded.  He's 6'6", 275 lbs, and he can use that size while run blocking.  Then how do you cover him in the pass game?  Linebackers won't be able to keep up with him, and try having a safety or corner cover him, that's like them trying to cover a tackle. 

The area where Lewis could really help the Broncos the most is in the red zone.  That's really where he earned his stripes with the Jag's this year.

The Broncos may have plans to address their tight end needs in the draft, but if they choose to go at it through free agency, then Lewis would be a really good option.

Haloti Ngata

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: Haloti Ngata #92 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a play against the New York Jets during their Jets home opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 13, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by J

Ngata has been one of the unsung heroes of the Baltimore defense.  The Broncos have had issues with interior linemen, and Ngata's ability to take on double teams and still create solid pressure makes him very valuable.

The question that still goes unanswered regarding the Bronco defense, is whether or not we are going to see a change from the 3-4 alignment back to the 4-3.   Baltimore plays a 3-4 as well as any team in the league, so if the Broncos go with the 3-4, then Ngata would be a very smart idea.  If the Broncos go to a 4-3, then he's still probably a good idea.

Tamba Hali

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Linebacker Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansa

Hali had an amazing season this year with the Chiefs, recording 15 sacks.  If the Broncos do move back to a 4-3, then chances are we'll see Elvis Dumervil back at defensive end.  However, still, a pass rushing linebacker like him would greatly help the Bronco secondary, as well.

He isn't exactly a great run stopper, and didn't record 40 tackles this year.  This aspect of his game can be worked on, but is also forgiveable because of his great ability to get to the quarterback.

Mike Vrabel

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ATLANTA - AUGUST 13: Mike Vrabel #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on August 13, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

I wouldn't count on Vrabel being any type of long-term member of the Broncos, but having a guy like him as the Broncos get younger and attempt to rebuild is a great idea for the Broncos.  He is a veteran who has seen everything that the NFL has to offer.

Regardless of whether the Broncos draft any linebackers, younger players can all look to Vrabel as an example of how to be a true professional.  He's a great teammate, and he will do anything that he is asked.  Though I'm sure he doesn't mind it that much when coaches ask him to catch a short completion touchdown pass.

He definitely has the leadership capabilities that a rebuilding team needs.

Ike Taylor

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PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Ike Taylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up prior to the snap during the game against the Oakland Raiders on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Ike Taylor is another great option at corner back.  He would bring something that the Bronco defense has really been missing—toughness.  You don't play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and not come out of it a really tough player.

He'll be especially effective as a number two corner, assuming the Broncos do the smart thing and re-sign Champ Bailey.  This would also give two marvelous examples for Syd'Quan Thompson to learn from as he develops.  Thompson is a small guy, at 5'9", so a good lesson in toughness would be something that would greatly benefit him.

Ike Taylor will probably stay in yellow and black, but he should be a person that the Broncos should at least discuss pursuing.

Roman Harper

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Roman Harper #41 of the New Orleans Saints at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Roman Harper is another great defensive back that the Broncos might want to take a look at.  Harper played for one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL in the past two years, and has shown his ability in run support and in pass defense. 

He was close to 100 tackles again this year, and provides that type of solid tackling ability that has been sorely lacking from the Broncos' defense. 

Obviously, the Broncos won't be taking a crack at all of these guys, but these are some players that I think the Broncos would be smart to consider in their efforts to rebuild this team.