Denver Broncos: Two players pack their bags for new beginnings
The Denver Broncos officially said goodbye to two players on Tuesday, both of whom will look to continue their playing careers elsewhere.
Neither move was a huge surprise, but both players were considered for ley roles with the team just one year ago.
At one time last offseason, there were rumblings that Elijah Wilkinson could potentially push Garett Bolles for the starting left tackle position. Bolles never gave him a shot to make that happen.
Of course, Wilkinson was pressed into a starting role when starting right tackle Ja’Wuan James decided to opt-out of the season. Wilkinson struggled as the starter, which he did during his tenure with Denver when asked to take on a starting role.
Wilkinson could be effective in spot starts or as a rotational lineman. That is likely what he will be asked to do in Chicago after the Bears signed him to a one-year deal.
Undrafted out of Massachusetts, Wilkinson spent four seasons with the Broncos, playing in 44 games and making 25 starts.
The Broncos release Nick Vannett
Tight end Nick Vannett was a player the Broncos signed in free agency last offseason. He was brought in to be a blocking tight end but he never really stood out in that role and was hardly used as a receiver.
He caught 14 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown during his one season in Denver, and likely wouldn’t have even had that much work if not for an early-season injury to rookie Albert Okwuegbunam.
The Broncos have Noah Fant and Okwuegbunam and will likely look for a new player to add as a blocking tight end after deciding to cut Vannett.
Vannett signed a two-year, $5.7 million contract last April and was released less than one year later.
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Of course, all of this came on a day in which the team decided to bring Kareem Jackson back into the fold.