Denver Broncos free agency: Day 1 recap and players still available
The first day of NFL free agency is in the books, and the Denver Broncos didn’t exactly make a significant move. Who is still out there for them to sign?
For those hoping for a splash in free agency from the Denver Broncos, you may have to wait until later. The Broncos did not make a hugely significant move on the first day, unlike other teams.
Their first non-in-house move was to sign former Packer Ben Braden, a guard who figures to be a depth piece. He’s 28 and has not started a game in his career.
Hours later, the team agreed to terms with former San Francisco 49er and elite run-stuffer D.J. Jones.
Jones is one of, if not the best run-stuffer in the NFL. He broke out in 2021 with San Fran and was out of their price range. He had 56 total tackles in 2021 but does not provide a huge pass rush threat.
Jones also notched 10 tackles for loss. In fact, he had the highest run stop win rate, 48%, among defensive tackles in 2021.
This will be a great signing for Denver in hopes that they can improve on their run-stopping in 2021. It remains to be seen if this was a replacement signing for Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell, or something else.
As we enter into day two of free agency, there are still many players on the board for the Broncos to sign. A few targets that we at Predominantly Orange have written about are going to other teams, but there are still elite players remaining.
Most notably, Chandler Jones and Von Miller are still available at this moment, along with Za’Darius Smith, who the Packers released.
Morgan Moses is a free agent now, along with former Broncos right tackle Billy Turner, who was most recently with the Packers. Bobby Massie can still be re-signed, along with former Bills’ right tackle Daryl Williams. La’el Collins could also be released as well. Denver still has a ton of options for their right tackle spot.
The team is also poised to bring in a cornerback as well. The cornerback market was a bit active on Monday. Stephon Gilmore, Patrick Peterson, Chris Harris, Jr, and Darious Williams among many others. The Broncos could also look to retain Bryce Callahan, but re-signing Kyle Fuller is unlikely.
The Broncos do not have to break the bank for a cornerback, so signing someone to serve as the CB3 is likely the move. I am personally a fan of Donte Jackson, formerly of the Carolina Panthers. I would also love Desmond King, formerly of the Houston Texans. The cornerback market is pretty deep, so the Denver Broncos should have no issue finding a player for this unit.