Fixing your Denver Broncos: A comprehensive plan in 2022
Fixing our Denver Broncos: A comprehensive plan
Step 3 – Fill a couple of holes in free agency
The next step comes in the 2023 offseason during the free agency period. The Denver Broncos will have a few holes to fill, but they now have 10 draft picks up their sleeve, so perhaps the free agency haul won’t have to be as dire as we think.
The first position I am looking at is along the offensive line, where Denver could use multiple free agents. It’s going to be so hard to project who the Broncos could sign because some of these players might get extended during the season.
Let’s just work with what we have available now. The left tackle market is quite depressing, so I am bringing back Garett Bolles and seeing if we can agree to a restructured contract. Bolles wasn’t good to start 2022 but was stellar in 2020 and very good in 2021. Perhaps he can bounce back, and with the lack of free agents here, I don’t see an appreciable upgrade yet.
For right tackle, I am eyeing Jack Conklin of the Cleveland Browns. The former All-Pro is one of the best in the game and is set to be a free agent at the end of the year. He is still in his 20s, so no reason to believe he can’t be a long-term piece here.
In this scenario, Denver would have Garett Bolles at left tackle, Quinn Meinerz at right guard, and Jack Conklin at right tackle.
For center, I’d consider bringing someone in at a lower cost and looking to couple that in the NFL draft. Guys like Austin Blythe of the Seahawks and Bradley Bozeman of the Panthers come to mind here. I’d keep Lloyd Cushenberry on the roster and would want to see if he could play well enough to stay on the team, but Blythe and Bozeman are better players here.
As for the left guard spot, I’d likely do something similar. You still have Netane Muti and Luke Wattenberg on the roster who knows the offense and could perhaps win a starting job on the interior.
Trai Turner, a former Pro Bowl guard comes to mind as someone to bring in, but as I just mentioned, I’d do something similar and look to the NFL draft with one of my highest picks for this position.
I’d also look to add a wide receiver as well. Courtland Sutton is the one. Tim Patrick is coming back from a torn ACL. Both Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler have been inconsistent, and Montrell Washington is a rookie. Denver should add a body to this unit, and a quality one at that. I’d also be cool with using a 5th round pick on a receiver as well.
Jakobi Meyers would be a very nice addition to the unit as a WR2.5. I could also get behind someone like Jarvis Landry or Marvin Jones. Denver needs to add a quality veteran who is proven and can produce consistently. That’s what I am thinking here.
Tight end might be hard to sell on spending a ton, so I would think Denver could add someone at a lower cost and maybe who has some upside. Perhaps a Hayden Hurst or Austin Hooper?
As for the defense, I could get on board with another cornerback, as Ronald Darby’s injury has seriously put a question mark at the CB2 spot. Marcus Peters perhaps? Maybe James Bradberry? Jonathan Jones? No one who would cost a ton of money.
Other free agents that Denver could add on both sides of the ball could be depth pieces that may be tier 3 or 4 additions towards the end of the free agency period.
How should the Broncos attack the draft?
For the draft, I am eyeing the offensive line with the top pick in the second round. Someone at left tackle or along the interior would be who I’d be interested in the most. As for my three third-round picks, I’d look to add someone in the secondary and perhaps a pass rusher, since Bradley Chubb is no longer on the team in this scenario.
I’d also consider looking at tight end and defensive line as well. Some front offices believe in the “best player available” mentality, but I think drafting for need is the better way to go. To make this more clear, this is how I would rank the Broncos’ draft needs right now:
- Offensive line
- Cornerback
- Defensive line
- Tight end
- Edge rusher
Oh, I almost forgot. I am totally re-signing Dre’Mont Jones as well. He’s a stud and belongs on the Denver Broncos. I’d also consider bringing Billy Turner back, simply because he can play on the outside or in.
Well, there you have it. About 2,300 words of Broncos’ goodness. This is how I would attack the team to fix the franchise starting in 2023.