John Elway has some tough decisions to make.
The executive vice president and general manager of the Denver Broncos took care of the first two by firing, er, mutually parting ways with John Fox, and hiring Gary Kubiak as the new head coach. Elway is now in prep for the draft and putting Denver’s board together. He’ll get a better idea of that at the combine in Indianapolis at the end of February.
What will have the biggest impact on this team is free agency. What Elway decides to do with the Broncos free agents and players under contract will determine what players he targets in March.
Elway more than likely knows the guys he wants back, wants to cut and try to sign, so these five players Denver should ditch now is a wish list. Hopefully some of the guys on this list will make the cut, so to speak.
The NFL salary cap is projected to be around $140 million for the 2015 season. As is it stands now, Elway and Denver have a little over $27 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. Some of these moves will create even more room, which is why they need to happen.
The players listed are free agents or under contract. Regardless, they should not be in a Broncos uniform next season (at least the four).
Sep 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos center Manny Ramirez (66) prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Ramirez is a terrible football player and the weak link on that line scrimmage. If he’s in a Broncos uniform, expect much of the same from the Denver offensive line next season. It doesn’t matter who is coaching him or what system he’s in, Ramirez needs to find his way out of Denver.
His current salary cap number is $3.166 million. If Elway and the Broncos were to cut Ramirez, the dead money is only $166,668 with a cap space of $3 million. It makes no sense to pay him that much when the savings is that great. That would put Denver at over $30 million in cap space.
He should have been out last year but somehow found a way to keep a roster spot. Heck, no one is perfect. If Elway and the Broncos could find a way to get Brian Bulaga, they would have the right tackle solidified and could move Louis Vasquez back to right guard, where he’s one of the best (if not the best) in the NFL.
Denver has Ben Garland, Paul Cornick (a restricted free agent it will sign) and Michael Schofield, and all are far superior talents and minds to Ramirez. There’s no point to keep Ramirez, and he should have been ditched yesterday.
After Denver “mutually parts way” with Ramirez, it will free up the cap space to re-sign Orlando Franklin.
Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) defends against Denver Broncos wide receiver Andre Caldwell (12) in the second quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
He’s not as much of an empty uniform as Ramirez, but he’s close. “Bubba” serves no point to this team, save for a few drops, mental mistakes and penalties every game.
Caldwell is another example of a small hit with a big reward. He has a cap number of $1.550 million, the hit would only be $200K and would save the Broncos $1.350 in cap space. Seems like a no-brainer.
Added with the cutting of Ramirez, that would give Elway over $31 million in cap space to target a guy like Bulaga.
As with Ramirez, since the dead money is so small, it makes no sense to keep players like Caldwell who don’t contribute or make your team better. In fact, one could make the argument these two guys make the Broncos worse.
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Welker was fun his first season after coming over from the New England Patriots, but he was a non-factor last season.
Regardless if that was his fault or not, he was a wasted uniform and took development away from rookie Cody Latimer. What makes more sense: Putting a veteran in the lineup who doesn’t contribute yet still takes a roster spot, or give that position to a younger rookie with more upside? Perhaps that’s another reason Elway “mutually parted ways” with Fox – he didn’t develop the younger talent (much like George Karl in that sense).
Latimer could have just as easily returned punts for the Broncos. He could block better in the run game. He’s bigger. He’s faster and quicker. That doesn’t mean anything now.
When you pair Latimer with Emmanuel Sanders, those two can take over the slot for the Broncos offense. And it frees up cap space in other areas Elway and the front office need it for.
Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos punter Britton Colquitt (4) and center Manny Ramirez (66) react to a play against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
With the salary cap hit he takes, and how bad he’s been the last few years, Elway needs to cut the chord with the punter.
Colquitt’s cap number for 2015 is $3.75 million. If he does get cut, the dead money is more than Ramirez and Caldwell’s at $1.5 million, but the savings is $2.25 million. That would put Elway and Denver at over $33 million in cap space. However, if he’s cut after June 1 the dead money is only $750K – so it may make sense to wait to cut him until the summer.
Over the last two seasons, Colquitt has not lived up to that contract number. He’s been ineffective at best. There was a time Colquitt was one of the best punters in the NFL. That time has passed.
Either through the draft or free agency, Elway and the Broncos could get a guy more effective. How can you not be effective as a punter for Denver when you play half of your games here?
Regardless, the cap space it would provide in ditching Colquitt is why this needs to happen.
Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos kicker Connor Barth (1) attempts a field goal with a hold by punter Britton Colquitt (4) against the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Whether it’s Connor Barth or Brandon McManus, the Broncos can’t take up two roster spots for kickers.
Make a decision and go with it. If you don’t trust Barth on kickoffs, perhaps you find another one in free agency or the draft. If you like Barth, have new Broncos special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis work with him. Or bring in a kicking coach to get more distance on his kickoffs. As with punters, how do you not kick a touchback every time you do a kickoff in Denver?
Barth was effective, very effective, as the field goal kicker in his time with Denver when he signed. I would have no problem with Elway and the Broncos giving him another chance to do that next season.
But whatever they do, they cannot have two kickers on the roster again.
Next: John Elway & the Broncos Should Target These 5 Free Agents