Two former Green Bay Packers could be on the radar of the Denver Broncos.
Recently, the Packers parted ways with veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey as well as offensive tackle Rick Wagner. The Packers could be looking to create some cap space for a potential move to bring in J.J. Watt, and the Broncos are a team with money to spend.
Both Kirksey and Wagner could also help fill needs on the Broncos roster.
Selected in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Cleveland Browns, Kirksey has seven NFL seasons under his belt. He has registered 542 career tackles with 13.5 sacks and four interceptions.
The big knock on him has been his durability.
After playing in all 16 games for the first four seasons of his career, Kirksey has managed to suit up for just 20 games over the course of the last three seasons. If the organization believed that he could stay healthy, he could be a guy who could come in and push Josey Jewell for playing time.
Wagner could be a great option at right tackle if the Broncos are looking for an experienced option. Aside from Ju’Wuan James, the Broncos don’t have many options at right tackle as Elijah Wilkinson and Demar Dotson are both free agents. Dotson is not expected to be back and Wilkinson could have other suitors around the league.
It’s hard to say what the team is getting in James. He’s been a total bust since the team signed him as a free agent, having opted out of the 2020 season.
Wagner was a fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and has also played for the Detroit Lions and Packers. For his career, he has played in 118 games with 96 starts. For comparison, James, a first-round pick just one year after Wagner came into the league, has played in just 65 games.
Given the choice of the two, I’d prefer Wagner, but James’ hefty contract will be a factor. Even so, Wagner is a guy the team could bring in for depth and he could be a guy that the team had no hesitation turning to, something that is always a concern with Wilkinson.
Wagner’s potential interest in Denver would likely hinge on what the team thought of James’ situation. He likely feels he can still be a starter in the league, but it would be worth checking into.