Predominantly Orange
FanSided

Denver Broncos free agents who signed elsewhere in 2021

By Sayre Bedinger

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 13: Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 13: Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Denver Broncos, Jake Butt
Sep 9, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Jake Butt (80) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bears continue to use the Denver Broncos as a pipeline

6. Jake Butt, TE – Chicago Bears

The Denver Broncos took a shot on Jake Butt in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and no one blamed them at the time. In hindsight, George Kittle might have been a better pick.

Butt looked like he was on his way to TE1 duties in 2018 after getting healthy in 2017, but he suffered too many setbacks with his health to play consistently. The Chicago Bears are giving Butt another shot and it would be fantastic to see him make it and stay on the field.

7. Elijah Wilkinson, OL – Chicago Bears

Wilkinson has been a starter for the Denver Broncos for most of the last three years because other players couldn’t stay healthy.

With his experience at both guard and tackle, Wilkinson provides some really nice backup value to the Chicago Bears at just over $1 million this season.

I thought Wilkinson was a better guard than tackle for the Denver Broncos, but time will tell what the Bears envision for him.

8. Jeremiah Attaochu, EDGE – Chicago Bears

Jeremiah Attaochu signed one of the bigger deals for a departing Denver Broncos free agent in 2021, turning his two years of injury relief play in Denver into a two-year, $5.55 million deal in Chicago.

Not bad for a guy the Denver Broncos signed as a street free agent after Bradley Chubb’s knee injury a quarter of the way into the 2019 season.

Attaochu racked up 8.5 sacks and 29 pressures in under two seasons with the Denver Broncos (25 games) and will give the Bears some nice depth and value off the edge.

9. Austin Calitro, LB – Chicago Bears

Calitro is the fourth former Denver Broncos player in 2021 exchanging the Denver orange and blue for the Chicago version of it.

Calitro was a player the Denver Broncos’ pro scouting department obviously loved as they tried to acquire him numerous times before trading Christian Covington to Cincinnati to get him in 2020.

It didn’t work out and Calitro struggled to stay healthy enough to contribute in 2020.

Home/Broncos Free Agency