Denver Broncos: Players the team could still sign or trade for

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 10: Darron Lee #58 of the New York Jets runs the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 10: Darron Lee #58 of the New York Jets runs the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Shane Ray
Shane Ray /

Bring back Shane Ray for one year

The Broncos’ current depth behind Von Miller and Bradley Chubb is Jeff Holland.

It’s safe to say the team is in the market for a backup edge player, but who?

They haven’t signed anybody. It’s not a position they can really ‘prioritize’ in the 2019 NFL Draft.

What should they do?

Thanks for asking, Mr. Elway. Here’s what I would do.

I would re-sign a former first-round pick in Shane Ray for one year and give him the chance to crack the rotation and make an impact in Fangio’s defense. Ray’s production dropped off when a combination of two things happened.

First and foremost, he suffered a devastating wrist injury when he was supposed to be the full-time starter opposite Von Miller. Second, Wade Phillips was not retained when Vance Joseph was hired.

With Wade at the helm of the defense, Ray was a key piece of the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl run and had eight sacks in his sophomore season as a part-time player with DeMarcus Ware on the other side of Von Miller.

If he can prove he’s fully healthy, I would bring him back for another year and give him a shot to win a top backup job.