Denver Broncos free agent fits: DL Marcell Dareus
The Denver Broncos should be active in free agency pursuing defensive linemen. Is Jacksonville Jaguars DL Marcell Dareus a good option?
The Denver Broncos have no shortage of options to fill their needs for potentially two starters along the defensive line in free agency.
As a matter of fact, last week, I took a look at 20 of the many names already available, and even more will become available as teams begin making roster moves to get salary cap flexibility. One player who was widely expected to become available that now seemingly will become available is Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.
The Jaguars reportedly will not be picking up Dareus’ contract option for the 2020 season.
The #Jaguars are not expected to pick up the contract option for DT Marcell Dareus, sources say. The option would have guaranteed Dareus nearly $20M, and now frees up cap space and cash for Jacksonville. The deadline to pick it up is tomorrow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2020
Dareus would have carried the largest cap hit of any Jaguars player in 2020 at over $22 million, and his production simply hasn’t been worth that price tag since he was traded to the Jaguars from the Bills.
Early on in Dareus’ career, he was looking like one of the premiere interior players in the entire league, reaching All-Pro status in 2014 with 10 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 14 QB hits.
Since then, his production has substantially diminished.
Although Dareus would seemingly be best fit as an attacking DL in a four-man front, the Broncos’ defense is very multiple with Vic Fangio and Fangio’s defense really highlights the 3T defensive tackle position and really is predicated on the interior linemen being able to create one-on-one opportunities for the edge rushers.
The Broncos want to get to the point where every one of their four or five rushers on any given play is a threat to win a one-on-one matchup with an offensive lineman, and Dareus is that type of player.
At least, he has been.
Given the fact that his production has been quiet and he’s struggled with some injuries, Dareus would be an intriguing player to take a one-year flyer on. The Broncos don’t necessarily need to just be handing out big four-year contracts to every free agent this offseason.
Dareus is one type of player who could really make an impact in Vic Fangio’s defense, as could a number of players, but he’s the type of guy whose ceiling is maybe a bit higher in a defense like Fangio’s with a position coach like Bill Kollar, one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL today.
Because of the over-saturated defensive line market this offseason, a player like Dareus — who will just have turned 30 at the time free agency opens — could be a nice buy-low option for the Broncos to add depth and playmaking ability to the defensive line.
Back in 2011 when Dareus was drafted, he was a legitimate contender to be the first player picked by John Elway. The Broncos took Von Miller instead, and that decision has gone quite well.
Next. Broncos FA moves to take down the Chiefs in 2020. dark
Adding Dareus now, nearly a decade later, would be fun to see with what he and Miller could do on a defense together.