The 2022 NFL Draft is in the books. Free agency is mostly over. Trades have been made. What moves could put the Denver Broncos’ 2022 offseason over the top?
By just about any metric, the Denver Broncos have had arguably the best offseason in franchise history.
Perhaps the most comparable offseason to what the Denver Broncos have accomplished in 2022 was exactly 10 years ago when John Elway reeled in Peyton Manning, the biggest NFL free agency fish ever, just one year after drafting the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and one of the brightest young star pass rushers in Von Miller.
Russell Wilson joins the Denver Broncos along with a host of other impact players, ready to help get this team back to Super Bowl contender status.
Even as great as the offseason has been already, there’s nothing wrong with scoping the remaining available players and trying to find potential fits. There are some moves that the Denver Broncos could make to really push this offseason over the top into downright euphoric.
Let’s explore a handful of them.
Denver Broncos move no. 1: Ndamukong Suh, DL
The five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman and 2020 Super Bowl champion is still a free agent. Have the Buccaneers moved on? Is it time for Ndamukong Suh to find yet another team to continue his NFL career with?
Why not in Denver?
Ejiro Evero was the safeties coach for the Los Angeles Rams back in 2018 when Suh helped get the Rams all the way to the Super Bowl.
Yes, Suh is 35 years old, but who cares? The Denver Broncos could sign Suh to a one-year deal and watch him get after the quarterback.
Over the last two seasons, Suh has 12 sacks and 48 QB hurries. His pass rush productivity has not waned.
I’ll reiterate this because it’s been some time since I’ve said it — the Denver Broncos are a contending team and this is a contending team type of move.
Maybe the craziest thing about Suh? He has only missed two games his entire NFL career, and hasn’t missed a single game or start since 2011.
Denver Broncos move no. 2: Akiem Hicks, DL
Even though the Denver Broncos just added some defensive line help through the 2022 NFL Draft, I think this is one area of the roster that could potentially use some veteran attention yet.
Obviously, signing Ndamukong Suh would be a lot of fun, but I don’t think anyone would scoff at the chance to get Akiem Hicks in the building, either.
Of course, this fit made some more sense when the Denver Broncos still had Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell around, and that’s obviously no longer the case.
Even without those guys around, I feel like Hicks is a scheme versatile defensive lineman who can play a lot of different positions for you up front.
In his last 24 games, Hicks has 30 QB hits, seven sacks, and 40 total pressures.
He’s still a highly productive rusher and would be a tremendous veteran mentor to some of the young players the Denver Broncos now have on the defensive line.
Obviously, you don’t want to slap bandages on areas of your roster where you could take a bit of a risk and actually play a younger guy, and the Broncos have no shortage.
They have McTelvin Agim, who could be in line for a bigger role, as well as 2022 draft picks Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen.
2021 seventh-round pick Marquiss Spencer also has some upside but there’s definitely more youth than experience with this group.
Denver Broncos move no. 3: Larry Ogunjobi, DL
One of the more interesting unresolved situations so far in the 2022 NFL offseason has been the situation surrounding free agent defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi.
Ogunjobi had a tremendous season with the Cincinnati Bengals last year, helping them get to the Super Bowl with a career-high seven sacks, 16 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss, and 24 pressures.
The Chicago Bears rewarded that big season by Ogunjobi by making him their prized free agent acquisition…until he failed a physical.
Ogunjobi’s failed physical sent him back to the open market and although you typically see guys sign right away with other teams after that, nobody has signed Ogunjobi yet.
He’s undoubtedly one of the best players still available in free agency and although the Broncos spent big money on a free agent defensive lineman in DJ Jones, perhaps Ogunjobi’s situation will cause him to have to take another one-year prove-it deal.
Ogunjobi will turn 28 in June. I think the Broncos could obviously benefit from having a player like this around long-term as well but how much money are you going to devote to the interior defensive line?
With Dre’Mont Jones’ contract expiring after this season, along with Bradley Chubb, the Broncos investing a ton long-term in another defensive lineman may not make the most sense but a player like Ogunjobi could really upgrade that unit for the short and long term.
If the Broncos could convince Ogunjobi to take a one-year deal, I think this marriage would make a ton of sense.
Denver Broncos move no. 4: Anthony Barr, LB
In some ways, I think a lot of fans would view a signing like Anthony Barr as the final piece to the 2022 offseason puzzle.
Many in Broncos Country have been absolutely clamoring for more off-ball linebacker help.
The team is moving Baron Browning to the edge, and that move has undoubtedly created a bit more cloudy of a future at the off-ball linebacker position next to Josey Jewell, who is fully healthy and now under contract for two more seasons.
Next to Jewell, who is going to play?
Is it really going to be Alex Singleton? Do the Broncos have confidence that Jonas Griffith is going to take that next step as a full-time starter after what he showed last year?
We all know that connections are a huge deal in the NFL, and Anthony Barr just so happens to have a great connection with Denver Broncos GM George Paton.
Not only was Paton part of drafting Barr as a first-round pick a few years back, but Barr and Paton also went to the same college (UCLA) and high school (Loyola) and have even taken a trip to their old stomping grounds together.
ICYMI, these two Loyola Football legends (Anthony Barr ‘10 & George Paton ‘87) were back on campus yesterday. The Vikings held practice here on Smith Field in advance of their game tonight vs the LA Rams. It was a privilege to host this 1st class organization. #C4L #GoCubs #Skol pic.twitter.com/phZy9Qysc3
— Loyola High Alumni (@LoyolaHSAlumni) September 27, 2018
The Broncos clearly aren’t desperate for help at the linebacker position. They passed on that position group altogether in the 2022 NFL Draft, but they did consider guys at that position with their top pick, no. 64 overall.
Although it might only be a year-to-year thing, Anthony Barr has the ability to come in and be a veteran presence at a position that could be considered a need. He won’t have to call the defense but can float around the formation and help in a variety of ways.
I think at this stage of the offseason, adding Barr would be a huge move for the Denver Broncos.
Denver Broncos move no. 5: Darrel Williams, RB
Yes, the Denver Broncos just re-signed Melvin Gordon to a one-year contract.
No, I don’t think that means they should stop looking for upgrades at the running back position.
Although the team obviously also has Mike Boone and Damarea Crockett under contract, a player like Darrel Williams at the right price could be a fascinating addition to fortify the Denver Broncos’ backfield.
Williams had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season for the Chiefs, showing off his three-down capabilities with 47 receptions among his 191 total touches.
At this stage of the offseason, you’re looking for guys that could potentially be worthwhile dart throws in addition to potentially some moves that could put your roster over the top.
Having Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (having two capable starting backs) is a necessity. Having a third back might seem like a luxury to some, but it’s really not.
You’re always one injury away from that third back being the guy to primarily split carries with the other.
Williams had eight total touchdowns for the Chiefs last year and has shown over the course of his four seasons with the Chiefs that he can grind out tough yardage as a runner and he can also give you a legitimate pass-catching threat.
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I don’t think the Broncos need to go after another running back but it’s not going to hurt anything and it would be worth seeing how Williams could do in this new offense that Nathaniel Hackett is installing.