The Denver Broncos have made a variety of veteran additions this past year, but none of them are working out for George Paton and Vic Fangio.
The Denver Broncos’ level of incompetence in the 2021 season has officially reached a boiling point for most, if not all of the team’s fans.
After starting the season 3-0 against some of the worst teams in the league, the Broncos have dropped four straight games in the month of October and are now on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.
Of course, the playoffs are still a ways off, but they are not out of reach for the Broncos, who need to get their act together. The team’s veteran additions made under first-year general manager George Paton have been virtually no help whatsoever.
Denver Broncos veteran additions have been busts so far
The jury is still out on a couple of moves, but it’s unfortunate that we can actually go position by position on this roster and look at one disappointing acquisition after another.
The team’s decision to release recent free agent signing John Brown has me absolutely triggered. When is the team going to make a move that actually pans out and helps the team this season?
Quarterback
The Broncos acquired Teddy Bridgewater the day before the 2021 NFL Draft, and that move made sense at the time because the Broncos had no one to compete with or back up Drew Lock.
Bridgewater, of course, came in and won the job but over the course of the last four weeks, it’s been difficult to take Vic Fangio at his word when he says the race for the QB job was a close one and that he feels he has two quarterbacks he can win with.
After playing some really efficient ball in the first three weeks, Bridgewater has been horrendous in the past four games for the Broncos, missing open receivers, throwing interceptions, holding the ball too long, and not keeping the offense on schedule.
Fans are (rightfully) calling for Bridgewater to be benched with the ineptitude of the offense in recent weeks and his leash should be short from here on out.
Denver Broncos veteran additions have been busts so far
Running Back
The Broncos decided to move on from Phillip Lindsay this offseason, and while it wasn’t a one-for-one type of thing, the team brought in Mike Boone, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, to essentially take Lindsay’s spot on the roster.
They also upgraded with Javonte Williams in the Draft, but Boone was expected to come in and be a key piece of special teams and change of pace option for the offense.
He’s been neither.
Boone spent the first five weeks of the season on IR, appeared in one game, and then was inactive in Week 7. Gross.
Wide Receiver
After injuries to both Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, the Broncos weren’t exactly aggressive in pursuit of replacement options for two critical players in the offense.
They finally got around to signing David Moore and eventually John Brown, both of whom have been cut in consecutive weeks.
Moore was brought back to the practice squad, so maybe we’ll see him again, but the team’s inability to find and incorporate veteran wide receiver talent when it was needed is extremely off-putting.
The decision to release Brown from the practice squad instead of elevating him to the 53-man roster is particularly maddening.
Brown would have had a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns if Teddy Bridgewater wasn’t short-arming deep balls out there.
Brown adds an element of speed that is simply missing from the offense and gives the Broncos someone who can take the top off. He was a strong replacement for KJ Hamler and the team’s decision to move on from him makes zero sense to me.
Denver Broncos veteran additions have been busts so far
Offensive Line
Bobby Massie came in somewhat on short notice this offseason, and he’s played decent but has also had some ugly reps.
For the most part, it’s fair to say Massie has been solid.
Cam Fleming, however, has been completely wasting a roster spot for this team. The Broncos already have Calvin Anderson as the backup tackle right now and Fleming is going to be riding the inactive list weekly all season long. It’s frustrating that the team can’t find a better use for that roster spot.
Defensive Line
When are we going to see Shamar Stephen show up? On 138 snaps so far this season, Stephen has 0 sacks, 0 tackles for loss, and just two QB hits.
That kind of production is unacceptable when you factor in the struggles the Broncos have had defending the run in recent weeks.
Denver Broncos veteran additions have been busts so far
EDGE
The jury is still out on Stephen Weatherly, who was recently acquired in a trade, but it’s the inaction of the team at this position that has been particularly maddening.
The team has opted for younger options off the EDGE since Bradley Chubb’s injury like Aaron Patrick, a player who was previously on the Jaguars’ practice squad.
Instead of going after veterans that could help in the pass rush, the Broncos have opted for bargain types here and it’s been costly in the pass rush department early on.
Linebacker
The Broncos have unfortunately lost both of their initial starting linebackers — Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson — to season-ending pectoral injuries.
A few weeks ago, the team made the wise move to sign Avery Williamson, but let him go to the Titans despite their need for a veteran run-stuffing presence.
Since Williamson left, the Johnson injury happened and the Broncos had to bring in Micah Kiser from the Rams’ practice squad, who has already landed on IR.
The team brought in Jonas Griffith at roster cut time from the 49ers but he was only brought in for his special teams abilities and he’s been on injured reserve the last few weeks, not making an impact.
Most recently, the team acquired Kenny Young from the Rams in a trade. The jury is out on that pickup but he’ll play substantial snaps.
Overall, the additions made at linebacker so far have been extremely disappointing even if they have been put in tough positions. The team’s handling of Avery Williamson is the most disappointing so far considering the impact he could have made.
Denver Broncos veteran additions have been busts so far
Defensive Backs
The Denver Broncos only signed Kyle Fuller to a one-year deal, but it’s looking more and more like the Chicago Bears made a wise move every week that goes by.
Fuller has been the victim of too many game-altering big plays in the passing game for the Denver Broncos’ defense, and the team has effectively benched him for the time being.
Now, he’s likely to be traded before the league’s trade deadline.
Aside from Fuller, it’s safe at this point to say that Ronald Darby, who signed a three-year, $30 million deal in free agency, has been a disappointment.
He’s given up some big plays in the passing game as well and had a stint on injured reserve after the team’s first game of the season.
Where is the game-changing ball production from these veteran cornerbacks?
Additionally, the team brought in Mike Ford off the waiver wire at roster cuts, a cornerback on the roster who has also gone on injured reserve and is no longer making an impact.
Obviously, injuries are part of the way of things in the NFL. You really have to just expect them at some point and thank your lucky stars if star players make it through the season healthy.
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With that being said, it’s been extremely frustrating to see virtually no positive impact from the team’s veteran additions this season, or at least in recent weeks. Something has got to change, and soon.