Denver Broncos Offseason: Is It Time For Champ Bailey To Move To Safety?

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) dives to tackle a sprinting Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos went through their year-end physicals and packed up their lockers on Tuesday. One thing is certain about the future: This team will never be the same.

While that thought may sound negative, it could actually be positive if the right off season moves are made.

Clearly the Broncos have some work to do in reloading the secondary.

One of the first orders of business is to renegotiate Champ Bailey’s $10 million salary so that the Broncos can be big hitters in off season.

Bailey only played in five regular season games in 2013 due to a chronic foot injury. He had 14 tackles and three passes defensed in those games.

It became clear on Sunday that Bailey isn’t the shutdown corner that he used to be. Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin torched Bailey early for a 37-yard reception and then made a key third down conversion late in the game.

At the end of the season, Bailey did okay in the slot, but it’s clear that he can’t cover the outside as effectively as he used to.

That’s why the Broncos will likely take a look at moving Bailey to safety for the 2014 season.

Bailey said that he felt good during the last couple of weeks of the regular season and throughout the playoffs. However, Tuesday when he was vaguely asked about decisions about next year, Bailey said,

“Those decisions are not made by me. I’ll deal with that when it comes. There’s nothing I can do about that right now.”

During the week before the Super Bowl, Bailey said he wouldn’t give in to a position change. After the loss, Bailey said,

“If it makes sense, it’s something I’d definitely look into.”

Imagine Bailey and Rahim Moore as the Broncos starting safeties in 2014. Doesn’t sound so bad does it? Bailey has always been one of the best tackling corners in the game. Imagine him with a full view of the field, and acting as a general of sorts. Sounds like the perfect fit to me.

Make sure to follow Predominantly Orange on Facebook and on Twitter.