The Denver Broncos have some decisions to make in terms of their own free agents, and new general manager George Paton said in a press conference on Thursday that their three biggest restricted free agents will be tendered.
Those restricted free agents are running back Phillip Lindsay, wide receiver Tim Patrick and inside linebacker Alexander Johnson.
All three are obviously key contributors for this team. At running back, there is uncertainty surrounding Melvin Gordon’s availability heading into the 2021 season, but it is fully expected that he will be suspended up to three games.
Patrick was a big piece to the Broncos offense in 2020 with Courtland Sutton down with a torn ACL. He became the team’s third-most-targeted player in the passing game and came in just behind rookie Jerry Jeudy for second on the team in total receptions.
Patrick was second on the team in receiving yards and scored six receiving touchdowns—three more than the next players (Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Fant).
I previously wrote that the Broncos need to keep Patrick around. He’s the veteran of the wide receiver group and it is imperative that he sticks around to help develop quarterback Drew Lock the best the team can.
On the defensive side of the ball, Alexander Johnson is the big restricted free agent the Broncos need to make a decision on.
Those three players will hopefully all be on the Broncos’ roster this season and for the foreseeable future.
The Broncos are trying to build a young, solid team. Their moves to release A.J. Bouye and Jurrell Casey make that point clear.
Denver Broncos: Tender costs for 2021
Per OverTheCap, the tender level costs are as follows:
First Round: $4,766,000
Second Round: $3,384,000
Original Round/Right of First Refusal: $2,133,000
None of the three players will warrant a first-round tender, so it would make complete sense if the team offered all three of them a second-round tender.
Sayre Bedinger previously predicted the outcomes of the team’s restricted free agents.
Broncos free agency: 5 safeties to target if Kareem Jackson is not back
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Welcome to the Denver Broncos, George Paton. Make the right calls.