The Denver Broncos have made improvements to their roster through free agency, but outside of the trade for Russell Wilson, there haven’t been a lot of fireworks.
The Broncos were expected to be a very busy team once the free-agent signing period opened but just before it did, the team acquired Russell Wilson in one of the biggest trades in NFL history.
Many of the other high-profile free agents that the team was expected to be interested in have mostly signed elsewhere, though there are still some players the team could be targeting.
Though many in Broncos Country are going to laud general manager George Paton for his efforts this offseason, there is still work to be done. And if you look at the rest of the AFC West, which might be the most stacked division in NFL history right now, at least on paper, it’s going to take more than just adding Wilson to get to the Super Bowl.
So what more do the Broncos need to do and who are some of the potential options to fill those holes? The Broncos still have about $14.5 million in cap space according to Over the Cap, but they need to sign their draft class as well.
Broncos need another safety
The Broncos are going to need to do something at the safety spot, unless they plan to have second-year player Caden Sterns become the starter opposite Justin Simmons. While that is always possible, it does seem that the Broncos would like to bring veteran Kareem Jackson back into the fold.
The Broncos do need a veteran in that spot if they aren’t prepared to hand everything over to Sterns. Jamar Johnson and P.J. Locke are the only other safeties on the roster.
So drafting a safety does not make as much sense, unless it’s just to add more depth.
Aside from Jackson, the free-agent market is getting thin at the strong safety position, though Tyrann Mathieu and Landon Collins are still available but neither would come cheap.
The most viable options seem to be to bring Jackson back on a discounted kind of deal or to just ride with Sterns, who had an impressive rookie season. Would be be able to handle the job full time? That would be the question.
Broncos need to address the right tackle spot
The Broncos have done a little work at the right tackle spot this offseason by signing 10-year veteran Tom Compton. The well-traveled Compton will be playing for his seventh different team so the Broncos can’t be planning on going with him as their starter.
He should be a replacement for Bobby Massie, who shouldn’t have been considered a starter this season either barring major issues.
The Broncos need a better option at right tackle and that has been the case for awhile. As I talked about here, former Dallas Cowboy La’el Collins is that better option.
The Broncos could then add another tackle in the draft if they felt so compelled, but the combination of Collins and Compton should be more than sufficient for at least the 2022 season.
The Broncos have a huge investment in Wilson and the team is going to have to do its best to protect him. It seemed that he was always playing behind shoddy offensive lines in Seattle and that could have been one of the things that started to lead to his discontent there.
Collins seems to be the best option. Other options on the free-agent market include Daryl Williams and Germain Ifedi, a former teammate of Wilson’s in Seattle.
Broncos need another running back
It seems clear that the offensive backfield in Denver belongs to Javonte Williams, but there is a big question as to who will back him up.
The Broncos seem to be willing to let Melvin Gordon walk away but if he would be willing to take a discounted deal, the Broncos could consider bringing him back. It seems just as likely that that ship has sailed.
So the team could turn its sights to the open market where there are many options that could all be a great No. 2 option for the team. Rashaad Penny and Ronald Jones are a couple of the more recognizable names that are currently available, but former Bronco Phillip Lindsay is an interesting, if unlikely, thought.
The Broncos have one of the best young backs in the game in Williams but they need to preserve him as well with capable runners behind him. The only other running backs currently on the roster are Mike Boone, Damarea Crockett and Adrian Killins.
Boone was signed last year and that moved spelled the end for Lindsay, yet Boone did almost nothing the entire season as he battled an injury. Crockett and Killins are nothing more than depth pieces that will be fortunate to even earn a spot on the roster.
The Broncos could also choose to add at least one running back in the draft as there are some players who could become instant contributors that could be found in the later rounds of the selection process.
Broncos need to look at the defensive line
The Broncos made one of their bigger moves this offseason by signing run-stuffer D.J. Jones to a three-year deal, a move that was needed for multiple reasons. But the defensive line still needs help.
Jones will become a starter along the defensive line along with Dre’Mont Jones, but who else is going to be there? The team still has Mike Purcell and recently re-signed DeShawn Williams to a one-year deal, but there is not much behind them.
Will this be the year McTelvin Agim finally does something? The other names on the roster are Marquiss Spencer, Justin Hamilton, Jonathan Harris and former CFL player Jonathan Kongbo.
The Broncos certainly need to make more of an investment in this group and get better, more experienced depth on the team.
Jadeveon Clowney is still available, but is no doubt looking for a huge contract. Calais Campbell is another option and one Broncos fans would love to see sign with the team, but he is also 35 years old.
The team could also opt to put their new pass-rushing specialist, Randy Gregory, at defensive end instead of as a stand-up linebacker, but he may be more effective as an outside linebacker.
The Broncos really should attack this hole by signing one more free agent and selecting versatile defensive end in the draft as well.
Broncos don’t have enough at cornerback
This was the team’s No.1 concern last offseason and it still isn’t settled.
The Broncos will likely pass on bringing Kyle Fuller back but it does seem there is an initiative to get Bryce Callahan back on a new deal. The only other cornerbacks on the roster are Patrick Surtain, Ronald Darby, Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey.
Outside of Surtain, the other three are all a concern.
Darby missed six games and wasn’t exactly great in the ones that he did play in. Ojemudia, in just his second year, played in just two games all season. That leaves his place in the team’s future in question.
Bassey was actually waived, signed by the Los Angeles Chargers, waived by them, and then brought back by Denver.
Surtain has all the makings of a star, but the team needs more stability at this position. Without a pick in the draft until No. 64 late in the second round, they may not get an instant contributor out of college.
It would seem that re-signing Callahan should almost be considered a must at this point.
The Broncos will be having to entertain the thought of having Davante Adams come to a division that already includes passing attacks led by Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. As such, they should consider one of these available cornerbacks.
This is a position group that absolutely must be added to.