Denver Broncos: Grading every offseason acquisition so far

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 06: Jurrell Casey #99 of the Tennessee Titans against the Cincinnati Bengals at LP Field on November 6, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bengals won 24-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 06: Jurrell Casey #99 of the Tennessee Titans against the Cincinnati Bengals at LP Field on November 6, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bengals won 24-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Joe Jones Denver Broncos
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 17: Joe Jones #43 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

Joe Jones, linebacker/special teams

Contract details: 1 year, $825,000

The Broncos keep a core piece of their special teams unit by retaining Joe Jones, a former practice squad poach who has been a really nice addition in the game’s third phase.

Jones is also a tremendous part of the Denver community and there’s not an off-field event or good deed that Jones is not part of.

Despite his outstanding athletic ability, Jones has not yet made an impact for the Broncos defensively, but he does have 28 total tackles as a special teams player over three seasons.

Grade: B

Joel Heath, defensive line

Contract details: 1 year, $750,000

The Broncos made an interesting move to claim Heath off waivers during postseason play, and because the regular season was over, he was not added to the roster until after the Super Bowl.

At that point, it was just over a month before Heath became a restricted free agent. The Broncos chose to non-tender him but re-sign him to a cheaper one-year deal.

In Vic Fangio’s defense, Heath can provide valuable experience at multiple positions on the defensive line and has a chance to really contribute in 2020 as a base-down defensive end.

Grade: B