Menelik Watson signs three-year deal with Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have reportedly signed free agent offensive tackle Menelik Watson to a three-year contract after hosting him on a visit…
The Denver Broncos have signed their second offensive lineman this offseason, adding former Oakland Raiders backup tackle Menelik Watson on a three-year deal…
Former Raiders OT Menelik Watson reached agreement with the Denver Broncos, per sources. Staying in division, defecting to rival.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2017
Yesterday I heard Menelik Watson was going to be in the building today on a visit. Now I’m told they’ve reached a deal to keep him there.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 10, 2017
The #Broncos signed #Raiders OT Menelik Watson to a 3-year deal worth $18.3M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2017
I was hoping the deal Watson signed would be a lot cheaper than the one Donald Stephenson signed a year ago, thinking the Broncos had potentially learned from their ‘mistake’. That is apparently not the case.
In fact, the Broncos have paid Watson more money on average ($6.1 million) than Stephenson ($5 million). This is a curious move by the Broncos’ front office, especially considering the huge need they have at left tackle currently.
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Updating an earlier story, the Saturday visit with T.J. Lang was cancelled. The Broncos appear to be moving closer and closer to using one of their top picks on a left tackle, or swinging a trade for a veteran (those options are very few as well).
With Watson, the Broncos at least have someone with potential. Injuries have been a hinderance to Watson’s young career, and the Raiders were actually trying to bring him back. That’s a good indicator, at least. I don’t know that that was the case with Stephenson and the Chiefs, though obviously the cap situations are vastly different.
Watson was a very intriguing prospect coming out of Florida State. He has incredible athletic ability for his size (6-5, 310 pounds, 34-inch arms) and has, to his credit, never been demoted with the Raiders as far as we know.
The Broncos obviously like the upside in Watson, as he was one of the first names they were rumored to have interest in at the outset of free agency. John Elway loves a good bargain on the free agent market, and he’s banking the potential health of his quarterback on Watson’s ability to put everything together in Denver.