Denver Broncos: Predictions for exclusive rights free agents

The Denver Broncos have a few easy decisions to make with their crop of exclusive rights free agents heading into the 2020 offseason.

The Denver Broncos have some difficult decisions to make with their own players in free agency in the 2020 offseason, but their restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent groups are a little easier to predict.

We took an in-depth look at the Broncos’ restricted free agent group and predicted which tenders each player would receive. You can check out that list of players and our predictions for each of them here.

The Broncos don’t have many exclusive rights free agents in 2020, but they do have some solid players to consider bringing back.

What is an exclusive rights free agent? An exclusive rights free agent is a player with two seasons or fewer accrued (6 games or more) whose contract has expired. If the player’s team chooses to tender them an offer (league minimum one-year contract) then they are not eligible to negotiate contracts with any other team.

Essentially, these are players the Broncos can very easily choose to bring back on one-year deals, and if they are signed as exclusive rights free agents, they will be restricted free agents next offseason.

Here are the Broncos’ 2020 exclusive rights free agents and our predictions as to whether or not they will be coming back.

Diontae Spencer, WR/return specialist

The Broncos claimed Spencer off of waivers last offseason from the Pittsburgh Steelers just before the start of the 2019 regular season, and what a move that turned out to be.

Spencer had 208 punt return yards (8.0 average) in his first NFL season and also provided the Broncos with some big play ability in the kick return department, a rarity in today’s NFL. He averaged 29.1 yards per kickoff return and should be back in 2020 as the team’s primary return specialist, hopefully with an expanded role in the offense.

Prediction: Re-signed to ERFA tender

Davontae Harris, CB

The Broncos added the former FCS All-American and fifth-round pick of the Bengals after he passed through waivers unclaimed at the time of final cuts.

Although Harris has some developing to do, he has the aggressiveness and ball skills to excel at the NFL level along with the athleticism.

He became a starter for a brief bit in 2019 and while he didn’t etch his name in stone for that spot, he will be back in 2020 to compete for a role in the defense and on special teams.

Prediction: Re-signed to ERFA tender

Trey Marshall, S

The Broncos found Marshall as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and he’s developed into a very interesting rotational player.

With the top two safety positions locked in, Marshall could be the team’s in-house answer in case Will Parks leaves via free agency.

Prediction: Re-signed to ERFA tender

Jake Rodgers, OL

Rodgers was brought in as a player Mike Munchak had some familiarity with when he was in Pittsburgh, and he actually got a shot to play some regular season action after a very poor showing in preseason play.

The Broncos need to find upgrades in the depth department this offseason, but Rodgers could be brought back as inexpensive competition.

Prediction: Re-signed to ERFA tender