Denver Broncos Still Have Pieces to Attract Kirk Cousins
Denver Broncos find themselves in a familiar situation of searching for a high priced starting quarterback in NFL Free Agency…
“Reflection can transform something familiar…”
The Denver Broncos swooped in and landed the greatest free agent in NFL history just six years ago: Peyton Manning.
Manning led the Broncos to consistent playoff opportunities, divisional titles, and a couple of Super Bowl appearances. With Manning, the Broncos were seen as a dream destination for free agents to visit and consider.
Fast forward to 2018, the Broncos enter familiar territory yet again in search for a new starting quarterback.
Due to a trade sending Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, last year’s starter Kirk Cousins finds himself as a free agent and searching for a new home. Cousins is the biggest fish in the crop of quarterbacks to be signed in 2018.
Despite the 5-11 season, the Broncos are still an attractive situation for Cousins. For starters, offensive players can rejuvenate their career with him.
Those players are Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Manning masked a lot of weaknesses for a team just by his ability to think one play ahead and get the ball out quickly. Conversely, Cousins is a decisive quarterback, but does not exactly parallel Manning (let’s make that clear).
Yet, Cousins makes smart reads, finding the wide receivers in favorable situations. This bodes well for players like Thomas and Sanders. Both of them are searching for their 1,000-plus yard receiving totals again. Thomas and Sanders provide an duo to attract Cousins.
The strongest team attraction Kirk Cousins will have in the Denver Broncos is a blast from the past. Cousins attended Michigan State University from 2008 to 2011. In that time, the Spartans were a heralded top-five defense in the nation. Sound familiar?
The Broncos are still statistically and performance qualified to be a top-five defense in the NFL. Aqib Talib is still on the roster currently. If the Broncos want to pitch Cousins, then hold onto Talib before the move has a light at the end of the tunnel.
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Furthermore, John Elway and the rest of front office are still attractive even after the Manning years. Cousins will see Elway. Elway snagged one of the best quarterbacks in Manning. After the signing, Manning won a Super Bowl. Elway can use this as a pitch no one else can make. Another front office twist is Gary Kubiak. Kubiak and Elway worked under Mike Shanahan. Shanahan drafted Cousins in 2012.
There are still very strong pieces to attract Cousins that are still in tact from Manning. Cousins will exhaust every option and do his due diligence, but it seems logical for the Denver Broncos to be his top choice.
It is a situation that Peyton Manning went through and eventually signed with Denver. The Broncos find themselves still as the leader in the sweepstakes for the best quarterback in 2018.
“Reflection can transform something familiar.”
As a result, this scenario was only part of the story for Peyton Manning. Manning led to a built defense. Kirk Cousins has the opportunity to resurrect a team Elway created under Manning. That sounds enticing.