Denver Broncos: 2017 offseason wish-list
DEFENSIVE LINE IMPROVEMENTS
The Broncos have Derek Wolfe locked up for the next few years, but they will have to go shopping on the defensive line this offseason to shore up a run defense that was depleted with the departure of Malik Jackson and the injury to Vance Walker.
Denver will return Jared Crick, Adam Gotsis, and Wolfe next season with Walker, Billy Winn, and former first round pick Sylvester Williams set to hit free agency.
Re-signing Walker should be an option for the Broncos as he’s coming off of an injury and was one of the team’s best run defenders prior to said injury. The Broncos also reportedly were looking into the trade value of New York Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson around the trade deadline. He would have been a significant difference maker for this team but the Broncos decided not to pull the trigger just yet.
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Richardson will be on a one-year deal, but the Broncos could pair him with Derek Wolfe at the DE positions and have something similar to what they had with Wolfe and Malik Jackson.
The real area of need here is going to be right up the middle, as Sylvester Williams will be likely departing and unless he is re-signed on the cheap, the Broncos will look for upgrades elsewhere and most likely at a discounted price.
It’s hard not to love the idea of a guy like Kawann Short, who is probably not leaving Carolina, or even a guy like Dontari Poe from Kansas City. Those names are on the ‘wishful thinking’ list but hey, this is a wish list after all. This is my dream…
If the Broncos don’t try to go for a big fish at nose tackle, and I can’t imagine they would, Chris Baker from Washington could be a really nice value. Baker was once a UDFA addition of the Broncos, which seems like a lifetime ago, but he’s still just 29 years old.
Alan Branch from New England is a reliable run defender, and Brandon Williams in Baltimore might be one of the best free agent pickups for any team this offseason.
The Broncos have to shore up their run defense this offseason and it starts with getting some upgrades on the defensive line.