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Denver Broncos: Best Offensive Weapons For Kirk Cousins

By Cameron Parker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins and wide receiver Bennie Fowler #16 of the Denver Broncos shake hands after the Redskins defeated the Broncos 27-11 at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins and wide receiver Bennie Fowler #16 of the Denver Broncos shake hands after the Redskins defeated the Broncos 27-11 at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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The best cologne the Denver Broncos can muster to attract Kirk Cousins is by keeping and adding play making weapons to be successful in 2018.

Early on, I wrote an article on the Denver Broncos still having pieces to attract Kirk Cousins to Denver. After numerous amounts of flip flopping, there is one constant that keeps coming my way. It is this idea of holding onto both Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas to play with Cousins.

For the Broncos to push toward the playoffs, ending the small two year drought, the team must keep the key contributors on offense. Both Sanders and Thomas were 1,000 yard receivers with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning under center and a playoff team. The Broncos, in some way, owe to Sanders and Thomas to have a quality quarterback they can play with again.

Players like Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer cannot go unnoticed either. The Broncos would like to keep Latimer, but it seems Broncos will let him test free agent waters. Fowler is an interesting candidate because of his rise of play under Manning. It was with Manning that Fowler re-surged as the third wide out on the team. But due to inconsistencies, it is best suited to potentially look elsewhere for another key wide receiver.

Paul Richardson, Sammy Watkins (only a year deal if Cousins signs), Taylor Gabriel, and Terrell Pryor are the top names I would like to see the Broncos gear toward in free agency.

The only causality to be released on offense is CJ Anderson. While losing Anderson is a tough pill to swallow, the best decision is to get younger at running back. Devontae Booker is the in-house heir to the rock, but he is a different back then he was in college.

If the Broncos do sign Cousins, one player that might see a “Chris Thompson” role on the team is DeAngelo Henderson. Keep that in mind. The Broncos can not keep all the pieces to playoff puzzle, but they can upgrade that position in free agency or in the draft. There are players to target if that is the route Broncos steer toward. But to get the best running back keys it could involve Saquon Barkley in the NFL Draft. Denver must keep all running back options for Cousins.

Tight End

Tight end is another key component to being a successful offense in 2018. If there is one positive to gain from Cousins (the player), then it is the use of tight ends. He loves to involve them in the passing game. The Broncos will get a good dose of Jake Butt who will be fully healthy entering training camp.

Jeff Heuerman is the wild card and forgotten man to be a stretch tight end for the Broncos. However, due to inconsistencies, it is best to sign a free agent and draft one. Again, look for the tight end position to be another key cog with a new quarterback. Players like Trey Burton, Tyler Eifert, Benjamin Watson, and Niles Paul are my candidates in free agency.

Offensive Line

However, the biggest additions to a possible Kirk Cousins-led offense is re-tooling offensive line. There are a couple of in-house players that adds intrigue such as: Connor McGovern at right or left guard and Cyrus Kouandjio. Kouandjio played well considering where Broncos were at right tackle to begin the season.

The Broncos are best served looking at players via trade or free agency. Josh Sitton, Justin Pugh and Cordy Glenn are options that come to mind. Both Sitton and Pugh are guards and Glenn is a trade candidate with Buffalo.

Next: Is Jeff Heuerman the new receiving tight end for the Denver Broncos?

Pugh is slightly better overall option, while Pugh is cheaper. If traded, Glenn would need to do a restructure of his deal. But he would be their starting right tackle in 2018. Fast forward to the draft, Broncos could look to pick Quenton Nelson at five or Will Hernandez in first round. Yet, do not count out others as well.

Under those circumstances, it still starts and ends with retaining Sanders and Thomas. The Denver Broncos must be the more attractive team on the market for Cousins. Also, they must put the winning above all else to be a playoff team again in 2018. Sanders and Thomas right now are likely to be back in 2018. It is now up to Elway to make sure it stays that way for Cousins.

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