Broncos free agency: William Jackson should still be a target
The Denver Broncos signed free agent cornerback Ronald Darby on day one of the NFL’s negotiating period between teams and player agents. Even after signing Darby, however, the team is interested in bringing in more help at the cornerback position.
According to Mike Klis, the Broncos actually attempted to sign Los Angeles Chargers free agent cornerback Michael Davis before he re-signed with the Chargers.
Per multiple sources, Broncos tried to secure 2 CBs yesterday: Washington's Ronald Darby/Chargers' Michael Davis. Broncos and Chargers made similar offers but Davis decided to stay put at $8.4M per.
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) March 16, 2021
Washington also tried to retain Darby but Broncos got him at $10M per. #9sports
If the Broncos were willing to make a “similar” offer to what the Chargers offered at $8.4 million per season, how high might the Broncos be willing to go to get some more help at the cornerback position?
At this point in time, the market has been very team-friendly. Players who might have signed in the 2020 offseason for $14 million per season at corner have signed for $10-11 million per season in 2021.
The Broncos could take advantage of this and try to reel in one of the top free agents still available, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback William Jackson.
Considered arguably the best overall cornerback on the free agent market, the former first-round pick out of Houston is still available as cornerbacks have, in general, been slower to come off the board than other positions.
With Shaquill Griffin getting a three-year deal from the Jacksonville Jaguars worth $44.5 million in total money.
And the Jaguars are giving former Seahawks' CB Shaquill Griffin a three-year, $44.5 million deal that includes $29 million guaranteed, source confirmed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2021
Griffin signing for under $15 million per season with just two of those years guaranteed is by no means a market setter, and if the Broncos could get Jackson for even something similar to what they got Ronald Darby for (three years, $30 million), they should go for it.
If they were willing to go upwards of $8 million-plus for Michael Davis, why not try for $11-12 million or so for William Jackson?
With the Bengals signing both Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton (another guy I liked for the Broncos), it appears as though they are moving on from William Jackson. The Broncos, interested in signing a second cornerback, should be looking to pounce here for value.
Again, this has been a team-friendly free agent market. What Shaquill Griffin signed for in Jacksonville should be considered on the high end for the cornerback position, and even if Jackson is going for close to that, it’s still below the top-tier of players at that position.
The Broncos have a chance to double-dip at a solid group of free agent cornerbacks and possibly snag up Jackson to start opposite Ronald Darby.