The Denver Broncos are already dealing with some injuries after week one of the 2021 season. Here are five free agents they should consider.
The Denver Broncos are 1-0 after one week of the 2021 NFL season, but that victory came at a cost. Two of the team’s top players — wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Ronald Darby — went down with injuries in week one that landed them on temporary injured reserve.
Although the team is presently going with the “next man up” mentality, it will be interesting to see how aggressive general manager George Paton might be in terms of going after some proven veteran players or guys who might be worthwhile risk/reward propositions either soon or down the line.
Ultimately, you can never have too much depth in the NFL. Injuries happen all the time, and teams need to expect the unexpected.
With one week of the regular season down, veteran contracts are no longer fully guaranteed through the duration of the season. As much as the Denver Broncos would like to carry over their large amount of cap space to the 2022 offseason, there are chances right now to upgrade the roster and fill some holes left by the recently injured players.
Let’s stir the pot and have an open mind for a little bit. Here are five free agents I think the Denver Broncos should consider.
Denver Broncos FAs to consider
1. Josh Gordon, WR
Stay with me here. Remember I said — have an open mind.
Josh Gordon ain’t done with the NFL yet, apparently.
NFLPA determined Josh Gordon has successfully completed his NFL-monitored treatment program and has recommended to the NFL that he be reinstated, per sources. Gordon is awaiting final approval from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but he is said to be ready to play and vaccinated.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2021
Although Gordon has been suspended by the NFL almost too many times to even count at this point, his talent is undeniable and in a one-year vacuum, he might be worth picking up if you’re a team like the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos kept only four actual receivers on the roster with Diontae Spencer — all due respect to Spence — kept primarily and maybe even strictly for his skill as a return specialst.
Jeudy is slated to now be out for potentially up to six weeks, so maybe you bring in a guy like Gordon first to the practice squad and give him a shot to see what he can do against your starting defense as part of the scout team.
Gordon has outstanding size and speed, and he’s had success with some vastly different quarterbacks and offensive systems.
If anyone in the NFL is picking up Josh Gordon, it will probably involve some prior relational equity or someone vouching for him in the front office or on the coaching staff.
It just so happens that in Gordon’s rookie season in 2012 with the Cleveland Browns that Pat Shurmur was his head coach. I’m just saying.
If I’m the Denver Broncos, for whatever low price it would cost, I would take this risk 100 percent.
Denver Broncos FAs to consider
2. Richard Sherman, CB
So you just suffered an injury to one of your top cornerbacks?
May I interest you in a future Hall of Famer at the position?
Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell coached against Richard Sherman’s Seattle Seahawks for a long stretch of time when the two traded blows as the best teams in the NFC West.
After Fangio and Donatell were already long gone, Sherman then joined the “enemy” and did some nice work for the 49ers when healthy.
He was limited to only five games a season ago and is not the same player he once was, but let’s not get it twisted — Richard Sherman could still play.
In Vic Fangio’s zone-heavy defense, Sherman would be an intriguing addition for some depth over the long haul of an NFL season.
The last thing you would want if you’re a team like the Denver Broncos is a situation like this:
You decide that Sherman is too high-profile of an in-season signing. All of a sudden, not only is Ronald Darby injured but then Bryce Callahan suffers an injury as well.
What once was one of the deepest positions on the team suddenly becomes an area of concern and you didn’t make a move you probably should have when you had the chance to do it.
I’m not saying signing Richard Sherman is a no-brainer or something that is so obvious that George Paton would be a fool not to do, but it’s worth him giving it some serious thought.
Denver Broncos FAs to consider
3. Nick Easton, OL
It was reported by Vic Fangio after the week one win against the New York Giants that starting right guard Graham Glasgow had an irregular heartbeat and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance where he stayed overnight.
Although this is the first issue that has come up with Glasgow of this nature, it’s something the Denver Broncos are going to have to be very careful with moving forward.
With that in mind, remember when the Denver Broncos signed veteran Brett Jones to the roster in training camp?
They might consider a similar move to what we just saw from the New Orleans Saints, who signed former Chiefs center Austin Reiter to replace injured starting center Erik McCoy.
Nick Easton has familiarity with Pat Shurmur when the two were in Minnesota together and has started at all three of the interior offensive line positions.
Even if you just bring this guy onto the practice squad, he might be worth having around as Glasgow was possibly the Denver Broncos’ true backup option at the center position and not necessarily rookie Quinn Meinerz.
Denver Broncos FAs to consider
4. John Brown, WR
People are going to immediately dismiss this idea because John Brown carries the sickle cell trait, which has historically been an issue for some players but for Brown, it didn’t appear to be a major issue when he was weighing whether or not to join the Denver Broncos as a free agent back in the 2019 offseason.
As a matter of fact, there was a confirmed report that neither the Broncos nor Brown were worried about it.
After a couple of really good seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Brown signed on with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 free agency but they didn’t keep him on the 53-man roster going into the season.
With so many young players at the receiver position, it made little sense for the Raiders to sign Brown in the first place.
With the injury to Jerry Jeudy, perhaps the Denver Broncos and John Brown would reconsider a possible union.
Brown brings an element of speed to the wide receiver position and while the wide receiver position is fine for the time being, what happens if there’s one more injury, even during a game?
The Broncos are currently one KJ Hamler hamstring pull or Courtland Sutton knee tweak away from needing a player like John Brown on the roster anyway.
Denver Broncos FAs to consider
5. De’Vante Bausby, CB
The injury to Ronald Darby has potentially paved the way for any and all options to be on the table at the cornerback position.
The fact that it’s not a season-ending injury maybe indicates the Denver Broncos would be more likely to make a low-profile addition at the position, and after calling up Nate Hairston from the practice squad, they’ll probably maintain the status quo for the time being.
Keep in mind also, Michael Ojemudia will be back soon from a preseason injury he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks.
Even still, there’s a chance the Broncos could look outside the current roster for some cornerback help and De’Vante Bausby has experience in Vic Fangio’s system.
Although he wasn’t able to secure a long-term role, there were stretches and spurts of play where Bausby looked really good for Fangio, even making some massive plays last season against the New England Patriots.
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If the Denver Broncos are interested in signing cornerback help, Bausby could make some sense with his prior ties to the coaching staff.