Denver Broncos: What would the perfect 2021 offseason look like?
By Noah Smith
Re-sign either Phillip Lindsay or Tim Patrick
While Alexander Johnson is certainly a player the Broncos want to bring back, the team’s biggest Restricted Free Agents are Phillip Lindsay and Tim Patrick. After re-signing Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, the Broncos will likely have to make a hard decision between Lindsay and Patrick.
Phillip Lindsay signed with the Denver Broncos as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2018 and has been the spark plug for a mostly dormant offense since. Lindsay holds a special place in many fans’ hearts, and is a vital part of the Broncos’ offense moving forward.
The Broncos signed Melvin Gordon to a two-year contract before the 2020 season, leaving Lindsay in a tough spot. After a down year where he dealt with injuries and questionable usage, Lindsay has every right to look for a way out of Denver.
However, the Broncos have a chance to mend the damaged relationship with Lindsay by re-signing him to a long-term contract, something that should hold value to Lindsay as an Undrafted Free Agent. However, teams may ask more for Lindsay than the Broncos are willing to match.
On the other side, Tim Patrick proved to be a key piece for the Broncos this year after Courtland Sutton was ruled out for the season. Patrick proved to be as reliable as they come without a dropped pass, and made huge plays down the stretch for Lock and the offense.
Patrick proved this past year that he can handle the offense running through him, and will likely ask for a bigger role in Denver or elsewhere. The Broncos would like to retain Patrick, but with Sutton returning and their two young receivers ready for more snaps, is there room in the receiving corps for Patrick’s talent?
Both players have proven their worth, and should be expecting to cash in this offseason. The Denver Broncos will likely have to make a hard decision between the two players, but retaining at least one will be a significant win for the front office.