moleculo
Footballguy
What a fantastic finish to 2015! Still hasn’t really sunk in that we are Superbowl champs. 2015 was an amazing ride, but it’s time to start thinking about 2016.
For the first time in a long time, I don’t think there will be any coaching turn-over. Wade is not a risk to take a head coaching position, I think he will have a job in Denver as long has he wants. Well deserved, too. Dennison – I do think he could be improved on, but the offense was really handicapped last year, between the OL turnover and the QB situation.
Personnel wise – there will be some changes in 2016. This team has quite a few pending FA’s, and not as much room to re-sign as we need. Elway said that priority #1 is to try to keep the defense together. Kudos to Elway for already getting Wolfe under contract - that's huge because it's one less deal to worry about. It's hard to say how these negotiations will go. A case can be made that there are bigger dollars to be made elsewhere - SB accolades can do that to a career. But, most of that defense will still be intact so there is plenty of incentive to stay in Denver.
Key free agents (IMO order of priority):
For the first time in a long time, I don’t think there will be any coaching turn-over. Wade is not a risk to take a head coaching position, I think he will have a job in Denver as long has he wants. Well deserved, too. Dennison – I do think he could be improved on, but the offense was really handicapped last year, between the OL turnover and the QB situation.
Personnel wise – there will be some changes in 2016. This team has quite a few pending FA’s, and not as much room to re-sign as we need. Elway said that priority #1 is to try to keep the defense together. Kudos to Elway for already getting Wolfe under contract - that's huge because it's one less deal to worry about. It's hard to say how these negotiations will go. A case can be made that there are bigger dollars to be made elsewhere - SB accolades can do that to a career. But, most of that defense will still be intact so there is plenty of incentive to stay in Denver.
Key free agents (IMO order of priority):
- Von Miller – will be tagged, and will eventually sign a deal making him the highest paid non QB in the league…and he will be worth every penny. Here's an article on what to expect for Vons upcoming deal.
- Malik Jackson – I would love to see him back, but I think he follows the money. He’s earned a big pay-day. The Broncos won’t be able to afford him. He was talking about his pay-day leading up to the superbowl. Someone like the raiders (and JDR) will snag him and over pay him.
- Brandon Marshall – RFA status will help the Broncos re-sign him. I expect him to be tendered at the first round level.
- Danny Trevathan – another guy I expect to cash in. He was talking about going to Chicago to get paid pre-SB50 (John Fox connection).
- David Brunton – this is a guy I’d love the Broncos to keep. He is a leader on ST, a leader in the locker room, and finally started making plays this season in the defensive back field. He has earned the right to go somewhere to start.
- Brock Osweiler – I’ve been hearing that Cleveland is interested in overpaying for Brock. I don’t think Denver will be able to match Clevelands paycheck. Gotta say, it would make for an interesting decision… follow the paycheck to go to Cleveland, or stay in Denver, take over the reigns of a defending SB championship team (with a defense that takes all of the pressure off of you), and have Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to throw to? Sounds like an easy decision, but I could certainly understand a guy chasing what may be his only chance at cashing in big-time.
- CJ Anderson – another RFA. I’m thinking 2nd round tender for CJ.
- Matt Paradis – ERFA. Really came along nicely starting in his first season.
- Evan Mathis – dude already took less money to play for a contender. We’ll see if he will do that again.
- Obviously PFM heads the list. No real reason to discuss him any further. He counts $21.5M vs the cap, with $2.5M if released.
- DeMarcus Ware – has a really big cap number for 2016. I think when they brought him in, it was really a 2 year deal with a 3rd year balloon. We’ll see what they want to do with him. I’m not sure they can afford him at $11.6M, but he only costs $1.6M in dead money if they let him go. Ultimately, I think they find a way to keep him around as his veteran leadership is needed, especially with letting Manning go.
- Ryan Clady: has already offered to restructure to stay in town. This dude would help the OL tremendously (if healthy). $10.1 vs cap, $1.2M in dead money.
- Owen Daniels: $4.5M vs cap, $2m in dead money. If Heuerman looks good, Owen could be a cap causality, but he probably sticks due to familiarity with Kubes.
- Britton Colquitt: @ $4M, Colquitt has the 4th highest punter salary in the league. $750k in dead money if they let him go.
- Obviously, we have some questions at the QB position. If Elway can re-sign Brock, I’d be more than happy between him and Siemian.
- The OL needs some major work, especially with Evan Mathis possibly walking. This is the key to getting the whole offense clicking. Schofield has got to either make some major improvements in his game or take a bench. What we saw from him in 2015 in not acceptable. I expect to see some gains from Sambrailio.
- There are no needs on defense. Not one. Now, some of the guys who are FA’s will need to be replaced, but that’s it. If Ware leaves, Ray will be in his second year, and Barrett has shown he can play, and lets not forget about Anunike, who flashed last pre-season. Broncos have been getting lucky at great production from unheralded MLB’s (Trevathan was a 6th rounder, Marshall was an off the street FA). If these guys walk, they will find a replacement – possibly McCray and Todd Davis, to note some guys currently on the roster. Traditionally, this is not a position Elway has emphasized so I'm not too worried.
