After clearing through the first wave of free agency, the Denver Broncos still have some areas to improve. Who should George Paton target to fulfill those needs?
Through the first few days of free agency, the Denver Broncos have been methodical in their approach. If you have followed the franchise and how George Paton operates, this would not come across as a major surprise.
While he has stayed true to his word in keeping the Denver Broncos involved and aggressive, he also is not going to overpay or reach for a certain player or position. Paton is not the first to show his cards, but he will wait to see what the next gambler next to him has, and then he will decide if he is going to go all-in or fold.
Before this offseason began, the Denver Broncos were hurting at several positions, none less vital than the quarterback position. Followed by edge, cornerback, right tackle, and the defensive line, George Paton would need to be aggressive in order to fill these positions with, at the bare minimum, competency.
Some positions of need have been filled, while some have not. Quality starters have been added, Super Bowl Champions, and even some depth pieces.
Welcoming the following to the 2022 version of the Denver Broncos, including the returning:
- Quarterback- Russell Wilson
- Backup quarterback- Josh Johnson
- Outside Linebacker- Randy Gregory
- Defensive Lineman- D.J. Jones
- Defensive Lineman- DeShawn Williams
- Inside Linebacker- Josey Jewell
- Inside Linebacker- Alex Singleton
- Tight End- Eric Tomlinson
- Tight End/Fullback- Andrew Beck
- Offensive Lineman- Ben Braden
- Offensive Lineman- Tom Compton
- Offensive Lineman- Calvin Anderson
There have been some great additions up until this point, but the Denver Broncos still need to add at the bare minimum, another cornerback. Maybe even two. It wouldn’t hurt to add another pass rusher with the availability issues of Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory.
After converting Tim Patrick’s roster bonus to a signing bonus, the Denver Broncos do have a little bit more wiggle room.
Even with the extra space created, there is still a crunch on the current salary cap space. However, the salary cap is easily manipulated and I think the Denver Broncos should do just that to ensure this team is the best it can be, in 2022.
Who should George Paton target for the final positions of need if he is able and willing to move some numbers around?
1. Denver Broncos should trade for James Bradberry
In the final year of his three-year $45 million contract, the cornerback for the New York Giants could be had for maybe a day two pick with the addition of another according to KOA Insider, Benjamin Allbright.
If you can get a playmaker like Bradberry in your secondary, especially when you are facing the tandems of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Darren Waller, and Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, you pull the trigger. What I would call the best Denver Broncos defense of all-time, the strongest component of that group was led by an elite secondary, the No-Fly Zone.
With what the AFC West is compiling together, scoring points is just as important as holding your opposition from doing so. In today’s league, that starts with a pass rush and the ability to hold up on the back end as well.
As a second-round pick out of Samford, Bradberry was faced with the task of filling the shoes of Josh Norman when he left the Carolina Panthers, for now, Washington Commanders. Norman initially was franchise tagged, but the Carolina Panthers had such belief in Bradberry that they were willing to rescind the tag and place Bradberry in his role.
James Bradberry performed well enough to warrant the New York Giants offered him a pretty lofty contract back in 2020.
However, this is the final year of his deal, so even after trading for Bradberry, an extension would be likely. It wouldn’t be wise to find yourself trading for a player, having him for a year to just move on elsewhere, ala Von Miller and the Los Angeles Rams.
Extending Bradberry while keeping his current money on the books could help George Paton get Bradberry into a similar deal that current CB2, Ronald Darby, is playing under. Having the duo of Bradberry and Surtain for the next few years would be of immense value, especially in this division.
In his past three seasons, he has tallied at least three interceptions and 47 tackles. Bradberry is just 28 years old, so he is still playing in what I would say is his prime and would be worth the draft capital and salary that it would take to require him and his talents.
2. Re-sign Cornerback Bryce Callahan
When former Head Coach, Vic Fangio, came to the Denver Broncos, Bryce Callahan was one of the players that followed suit in 2019.
In his first season in Denver, Callahan injured his foot in training camp and missed the entire season after facing many setbacks throughout the season. This had many Broncos fans in a blaze as there were high expectations for the uber-talented Callahan.
Callahan did not sign a bank-breaking deal when he signed with the Broncos, but it was a strong contract. If the Denver Broncos and George Paton were to look at bringing Callahan back, which I obviously think they should, it should come with a haircut off of his previous average salary.
His contract should also be incentive-laden with the ability to earn a much higher salary if he plays in a certain amount of games and/or snaps.
Bryce Callahan is so good when he is available, it’s just that he is not always available.
At the age of 30, I would not suggest signing Callahan to a long-term deal, but maybe a two-year $10 million dollar contract with him having the opportunity to earn some incentives in regards to his playing time.
Callahan has the ability to be the best slot cornerback in the game. His playing style always brought up memories of a former great Denver Bronco cornerback in Chris Harris Jr., who believe it or not, has been reached out to by the Broncos’ brass.
Hard pass on Chris Harris Jr. although he was at one point, my favorite Denver Bronco, but give me Bryce Callahan in 2022 all day. Important to note, if Bryce Callahan was brought back, he would not be the only body I would bring in.
Paring James Bradberry and Bryce Callahan with Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby would give Broncos Country a ton of confidence, even in facing the immaculate group of pass-catchers in the AFC West.
3. Sign Outside Linebacker/Defensive End Arden Key
In the picture above, one of these guys already signed with the Denver Broncos this offseason.
D.J. Jones, a former teammate of Arden Key, just inked a three-year deal with the Denver Broncos for $30 million. So if George Paton and the Denver Broncos were watching tape on Jones, they had to see Arden Key as well.
Along with D.J. Jones, the Denver Broncos signed an offensive lineman from the San Francisco 49ers, Tom Compton. Meaning, if George Paton has the slightest bit of interest in adding another pass rusher, he could ask two current members of the Denver Broncos about what type of player and person Arden Key truly is.
Arden Key also spent the first three seasons with a division rival, the Las Vegas Raiders.
Much like Randy Gregory, Arden Key’s stats are average, but his ceiling is what warrants so much intrigue. Key hasn’t even sniffed his potential yet and in a situation where he only played 35% of the 49ers’ snaps last season, he had 6.5 sacks.
In a season where the Denver Broncos couldn’t get a sack if they went to the local King Soopers, now Seattle Seahawk, Shelby Harris led the team in sacks with just six. That lack of pressure is not going to cut it facing Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, and Derek Carr twice a year, especially with the disposal of talent at all of their respective hands.
Key has shown that he can impact games, even if a part-time role. Signing Arden Key as the team’s third pass rusher would refrain George Paton from breaking the bank as well.
As a 6-foot-5 240 pound pass rusher, Arden Key could be tough to handle as a stand-up pass rusher on the opposite side of Bradley Chubb or Randy Gregory. Imagine the NASCAR package that this team could have with Bradley Chubb, Dre’Mont Jones, Randy Gregory, and Arden Key coming after the opposing quarterback.
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