The Denver Broncos will need to make a ton of decisions for next season, as they will face the task of re-signing their free agents.
When it comes to free agency in 2019, the Denver Broncos have quite a few players who will be free agents in some form. Here are those players. I will also provide what they need to do to return.
Teams around the NFL have plenty of time to make decisions on who will end up on their 53-man roster. At this moment, the team has 38 players set to hit free agency in 2019. By the time the final roster cuts are made, after week four of the preseason, that number will become significantly less.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Unrestricted free agents have the ability to negotiate and sign with any team they choose to. To become an unrestricted free agent, a player must play enough games over a three-year contract.
Jared Veldheer, RT – Veldheer was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason to be the Broncos’ starting right tackle. He is 30-years-old, so he should be able to contribute to the team going forward. With the poor offensive line performances in the last couple of years, I think he will be a great addition to the team, and will earn an extension.
Domata Peko, DT – Peko was a big star for the Broncos defense in 2017. He should be able to contribute tremendously for Denver in the upcoming season. The only way I see the Broncos not signing him for future years is if he has a major injury.
Tramaine Brock, CB – Denver signed Brock to a 1-year contract this offseason. He will work in training camp to climb up as far as he can on the team’s depth chart.
Shaquil Barrett, OLB – Shane Ray might not be back with the Broncos in 2019. That makes re-signing Barrett even more of a priority.
Matt Paradis, C – Paradis has become one of the best offensive linemen in the entire league, and definitely the Broncos’ best lineman. Denver needs to make re-signing him a priority. The re-signing of Paradis would be a big help to the returning linemen on the team, especially second-year player Garett Bolles.
Shane Ray, OLB – The Broncos already have said that they will not be picking up Ray’s fifth-year option. The move became apparent when they used their first-round draft pick on linebacker Bradley Chubb.
Billy Turner, G – Turner played in just one game in 2017. It seems likely that Denver will be looking for another player to fill his spot on the roster in 2019. He is currently behind 2018 draft pick Sam Jones on the depth chart.
Zach Kerr, DE – In 11 games during the 2017 season, Kerr had 19 tackles and half a sack. If he can get a lot of playing time in 2018, he better produce more than he did last season.
Cyrus Kouandjio, RT – Kouandjio is a backup, and losing him probably wouldn’t be a big loss. It depends what the team can get in free agency and the draft in 2019.
Shelby Harris, DE – Harris was solid for the team’s defensive line in 2017. Another productive year will earn him another contract with the Broncos. Plus, he is just 26 years old.
Jeff Heuerman, TE – This is an interesting one. Heuerman is expendable after the team’s additions this offseason at the tight end position. Seeing him return would not surprise me at all.
Deiontrez Mount, OLB – If the Broncos decide to bring Mount back, I think it would be on the practice squad.
Max Garcia, G – I see Garcia returning to the team in 2019. However, it would be as a backup.