Less than one week into the free-agent signing period, the Denver Broncos have made several moves to improve the roster and take the team in a new direction.
The team will be going in a new direction regardless next season as Sean Payton moves in as the new head coach. He is starting to put his own imprint on the team but bringing in the kinds of players he feels are the best fit.
That leads to some uncertainty for some of the players who were on last season's roster. While some of these players are currently free agents and waiting to see where their career takes them next, others remain on the roster and could have to work their way into Payton's favor.
The Broncos took a very calculated approach once free agency opened, rejuvenating the offensive line by signing Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers to big deals. The signing of blocking tight end Chris Manhertz and fullback Michael Burton showed that there would be a renewed commitment to the rushing attack.
The team seems to be content with what it has defensively, with Zach Allen the only player signed in free agency as a replacement for Dre'Mont Jones, who left for a big deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
Looking at the roster as it currently sits, who are some players from last season who could be at a career crossroads? These three players may be facing some uncertainty in the coming days, weeks and months.
Latavius Murray, Running Back
There were not too many fans within Broncos Country who weren't in favor of re-signing veteran running back Latavius Murray and though the team could still do that, Payton may have other ideas.
Murray was plucked off of the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints last season when Javonte Williams went down with a torn ACL. Despite being 32 years old, Murray came in and did a fantastic job for the team and was easily the most effective running back on the roster.
But before coming to Denver, Murray was a running back for the Saints, where Payton was the coach. Payton was there when the Saints released him and he was out of the league until the Baltimore Ravens brought him in to replace an injured J.K. Dobbins.
It is quite possible that Payton knows Murray's limitations and while he was effective for the team last year, this staff wants more. Instead of re-signing Williams, the Broncos opted to give a free-agent deal to Samaje Perine, who is close to six years younger than Murray.
The Broncos could still bring Murray back for more depth but it would be on a short-term, team-friendly deal. It's just as possible that he will be a street free agent until another teams has a player go down with injury and calls on the veteran at that time.
Montrell Washington, Wide Receiver
The Broncos have not signed a wide receiver in free agency this offseason aside from Lil'Jordan Humphrey, who will be on the back end of the roster, but an under-the-radar move made by the team could signal some uncertainty for Montrell Washington.
The Broncos brought in Tremon Smith as a free agent. The former sixth-round pick will be playing for his sixth NFL team in Denver. A cornerback by trade, Smith is an effective kick returner, and that is where he could cut into what Washington does.
The Broncos selected Washington in the fifth round of last year's draft. The main reason he was taken was for his ability as a return man and it became clear early in training camp that he would have that job.
On the season, Washington averaged 18.9 yards on 18 kickoff returns and 8.5 yards per return on the 32 punts that he brought back. He longest kickoff return went for 29 yards and his longest punt return was for 30 yards. Those are very average numbers.
Last season, Smith averaged 21.9 yards returning kicks for the Houston Texans and 13.3 yards per punt return. For his career, he averages 24.7 yards per kick returns. That said, there is a very real chance he will take Washington's spot there.
That means that Washington will need to step up as a receiver for the Broncos. Last season, he caught just four passes for two yards and carried the ball five times for 30 yards.
He has plenty of appeal as a gadget player, but there may not be room on the roster for him, especially if he loses the returning duties to Smith.
Dalton Risner, Guard
It's not a huge surprise that the Broncos have not re-signed free agent guard Dalton Risner, but it is a bit of a surprise that he hasn't been signed by another team.
Minutes into the window in which teams could begin negotiating with players around the league, the Broncos agreed to a deal with Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Powers. That certainly showed that the team was looking in a new direction and that Risner, the former second-round pick, likely needed to start looking for a new team.
But to this point, that team has not come calling. Is Risner looking for too much money? Are teams scared off by some of the mediocre play he exhibited in Denver? It could be a combination of both.
Either way, Risner's professional future is quite uncertain. Is there a chance that he comes back to Denver? Never say never, but it would be a slim one unless the team decides to move Quinn Meinerz over to center and brings Risner in for the other guard spot on a cheap deal.
Risner is looking for stability for himself and his family. He is a Colorado boy but he has to take all things into consideration. It is likely that another team will eventually get him signed to a new deal, but it is also likely that his new deal won't be the one he initially hoped for.