5 most significant free-agent losses for Broncos since Super Bowl 50

The Denver Broncos have had to face the decision to bring back several key free agents since winning Super Bowl 50 or allow them to look for another place to continue their careers. 

Each offseason, each team in the league must start their free-agency quest by determining the fate of their own free agents. This can be a difficult thing to balance, as the salary cap must be adhered to and teams must set aside money for other free agents around the league to go after.

This is what often sets apart the good general managers from the average ones.

Since winning Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos have missed the playoffs in six consecutive seasons. No Super Bowl winner has ever had that happen before.

Roster management has at least something to do with that and in just about every season since that big win, the Broncos have lost at least one key contributor.

Here, we will look back at the five most significant players the Broncos have lost to free agency since defeating the Carolina Panthers on February 7, 2016.

Honorable Mention: Virgil Green

Tight end Virgil Green spent seven seasons in Denver, becoming one of the league’s best blocking tight ends during that timeframe. He was like having an extra offensive lineman on the field at times.

He never offered much in the passing game but he could get the job done there too whenever his number was called.

Following the 2017 season, Green not only signed with another team, but he also signed with a team that would face the Broncos two times each year, the Los Angeles Chargers.

Green never posted huge numbers for the Bolts and was far less of a force as a blocker there than he was in Denver. He sat out the 2021 season and is currently able to be signed by any team unless his playing days are over.

It didn’t destroy the Broncos to not have Green on the roster, but they certainly missed the superb blocking he brought to the rushing attack. He was one of those unsung heroes who will be largely forgotten many years from now, but he contributed on many plays that went unnoticed for the Broncos.