Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Charles Woodson has come and gone. We know the Broncos made him an offer but seeings how he is not on the roster, we can assume the offer was too low for Woodson’s tastes. The Raiders now appear more and more likely to sign Woodson but the Giants, Panthers and even the Lions have recently emerged as interested suitors. I doubt there isn’t a team that would benefit from his experience and skills but so far no organization seems interested in offering a substantial down payment for them. Woodson has gone from demanding a top salary to demanding he play for a contender to confessing that he is just a ball player looking to play ball. Where ever he ends up it is hard to see him as a Bronco at this point.
John Elway and company aren’t afraid to spend money, of course. Reference Peyton Manning’s contract as evidence of that or just look at the sizable compromise they were reportedly ready to offer Elvis Dumervil. Sure, it was a pay cut, but it was still a sizable offer. The Broncos were one of the most aggressive teams in free agency this year as well. The minute the free agency clock started ticking this off season, the Broncos went on a shopping spree that only Kim Kardashian could top! Still, that doesn’t mean the Broncos have to have the best free agent safety on their team in order to remain an elite squad.
Woodson would be a nice addition and the Broncos have $7 million in cap room remaining. However, the Broncos don’t need him. For all the talk of Rahim Moore’s postseason blunder, the Bronco secondary was terrific last season. As many have said over and over again, Moore has to learn from that and move on. The consensus from the coaching staff is that he can and will.
Furthermore, it’s not as if the Broncos haven’t already made moves to sure up their defensive back field. They added Shaun Phillips to replace Dumervil’s production. While Phillips is not a defensive back necessarily, pressure is a defensive backs best friend. Adding Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will allow Chris Harris to either line up as a corner or line up as one of the best cover safeties in the AFC. As good as Harris was at corner last year it is easy to forget his natural position is actually safety.
Additionally, the Broncos added Kayvon Webster in the third round of this year’s draft. The knock on Webster isn’t his skill set or his potential. It was that many felt the Broncos’ reached too far to acquire him. Still, Webster is a versatile play maker who can line up in coverage and also tackles with authority. Just watch the film on this guy. I’m not going to go crazy and say Steve Atwater but then again, I just did.
Sure, picking up Woodson would be a statement. It would be an upgrade as well, no one is denying that. Who knows, he may end up a Bronco. Stranger things than that have happened. The one thing we’ve seen from this organization during the off season, however, is that they move decisively. Only Dumervil slipped away and that wasn’t because the Broncos didn’t make their offer and intentions clear right away. When they have wanted a player, they have been able to obtain him quickly and without unnecessary negotiations.
Like previous visitors Dwight Freeney and John Abraham, Woodson left without a contract. It speaks volumes to the confidence the Broncos have in the pieces they already have in place. This team can win a championship without Woodson. Of course, he claims he’d like to play for a contender. Well, Charles, there is one in Denver.
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