Marcus Thomas before the start of the 2011 AFC Wildcard Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE)

Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas has shown improvement in his game over the last couple of seasons. It’s not enough improvement, however, for the Broncos to jump into re-signing the 5-year veteran out of Florida for a large sum of money.

The team offered Thomas a one-year deal, but he refused to sign. Thomas was taken in the 4th round (22nd pick) in 2007. Last season he had 43 tackles in 12 games.

The Broncos have Ty Warren and Kevin Vickerson returning from injury, and they signed Justin Bannan last week. Ryan McBean will not be back with the team.

That pretty much writes the Broncos draft plan in stone at least in the first round. This draft is deep as far as defensive tackles are concerned and the Broncos could walk away with a great prize in the first round of the draft.

As Thomas searches for a bigger contract, the Broncos will be searching for an impact tackle on defense through the draft.

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Brodrick Bunkley comes out to the field before the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE)

The Denver Broncos defensive line was an ailing bunch last season. Ty Warren was placed on injured reserve before week 1, Marcus Thomas missed four games, and Elvis Dumervil missed two games. It became clear that the line needs depth.

Many think that the Broncos should select a defensive lineman with one of their first few selections in the draft. I personally believe that they will, but we can still take a look at the defensive linemen that are out there in free agency.

Defensive Ends:

John Abraham – He had 9.5 sacks in 2011, but he’s 34 years old and no one will want to give him a long term deal. The Falcons had to turn him into a part-time player just to save him for the playoffs.

Cliff Avril – He had 36 tackles and 6 forced fumbles for the Lion in 2011. He’s a guy that knows how to jar a ball loose. The past two seasons, Avril has 19.5 sacks. He has said that he doesn’t want the franchise tag. He wants a long-term deal or he wants to test free agency.
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Brian Dawkins is one of seventeen unrestriced free agents on the Denver Broncos' roster. (Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE)

In the wake of Sunday’s Grammy Awards and just prior to NFL free agency, let’s divide the Denver Broncos’ seventeen unrestricted free agents into Grammy-themed teams to better understand their individual value to Broncos.

Team Whitney Houston: If you wrote a song and traveled back in time to any year between 1985 and 1995 with the sole mission of ensuring it turned into a platinum hit, who is the first person you call?  Easy.  Whitney Houston.  Who turned “The Star Spangled Banner” into a stirring sensation?  Who could take a Dolly Parton song of any magnitude and do what she did on “I Will Always Love You”?

Fast forward to the present.  If your sole mission is to build a championship team, who are the first people you call?  Your own unrestricted free agents that are going to be a lockdown, sure thing mega hit.  Call them!  Get them in the studio Dove Valley now!
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