Denver Broncos 2020 Off-Season Thread

[fightinredantz]

Well the end of the 2019 season is upon us. The youth of the offense took some steps going forward, but the defense seems to be starting to slide a bit as the season progressed.

There are some no brainer moves that need to be made:

• Cut Joe Flacco as no team will be stupid enough to trade for him.
• Cut Ron Leary as his play has declined and is not playing up to his contract.
• Re-sign Justin Simmons.

I want to see us build through the draft and not make the splashy free agent moves going forward.

I am really looking forward to the future of the this team, especially since the coaching staff is developing players.

I will share more when I get more time. We have months to discuss how we would like to to see the off-season go.

 

[Duffman]

I believe Ron Leary is gone because we’ll save about 8 million cutting him and will only take about a 900K penalty.

Also rumor is if the Browns don’t re-sign Joe Schobert we’re one of the front runners to sign him, I’d be ok with that. Putting him with Alexander Johnson next year we should be damn good at linebacker.

 

[Duffman]

I think we’ll re-sign Simmons and Shelby Harris, tag Chris Harris, and sign Will Parks to like a two-year prove it deal.

 

[fightinredantz]

I love Chris Harris but I am not sure we resign him. Shelby Harris will likely need to give a discount to stay in Denver.

What about Connor McGovern?

 

[58crash]

I love Chris Harris but I am not sure we resign him. Shelby Harris will likely need to give a discount to stay in Denver.

What about Connor McGovern ?

I know we have no true enforcer in the hole Lindsay loves to run though that needs to be addressed McGovern would need a better RG next to him He is barely making the grade this year last year we were way better Leary was not worth his pay that is for sure.

 

[58crash]

Two people that I think will be gone are Chris Harris and Von Miller for the same reasons.

Harris is worth more on a another team he is one of the best DB's going one on one. We are now zone and is fine at Zone but one on one Db's makes bank.

If we keep Miller I will be tickled. This weight gain by miller made him ordinary in the pass rush. And I think this staff wants bigger 3-4 OLB'ers

Both are great Broncos I don't like them leaving but IMO they will be gone because they really don't fit the scheme

 

[Draft Crazy]

I love Chris Harris but I am not sure we resign him. Shelby Harris will likely need to give a discount to stay in Denver.

What about Connor McGovern?

we have money to spend this year.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I don’t see Von Miller gone.

chris harris 50/50

 

[Duffman]

Sounds like we have our answer.

 

[megalodon30]

Need an upgrade over Garrett Holds. Need to get some speed at CB. Mahommes is gonna be the guy we're battling with the next decade. Need some darn good corners to keep up with those speedy Chief weapons.

 

[fightinredantz]

I think Chris is gone in part because of the other guys we have at corner. Issac Yiafom, Davontae Harris, and De’Vante Bausby played reasonably well. We also have Bryce Callahan coming back and you don’t know what Duke Dawson will develop into.

If Chris Harris is a Bronco next year I will be thrilled but certainly would not be surprised if he is not.

 

[CEH]

Hi George, Do you subscribe to the Athletic ?? Can you post Nikki's 13 off season moves ?

 

[CEH]

Harris was offered a 3 year $36M at the trade deadline. That's a hell of an offer.

 

[SpringStein]

Hi George, Do you subscribe to the Athletic ?? Can you post Nikki's 13 off season moves ?

Predictions for the New Year: After bizarre finale to...

only copying a portion (although it's the "meat" of the article)

1. Drew Lock is their starting quarterback
He already has the most wins by a rookie Broncos quarterback and already showed more than the previous six starting quarterbacks have in the past four seasons. Lock was uncertain to get playing time this year at all, but when he did, he made the most of it and locked up (no pun intended) the starting job for the future by going 4-1 and showing a lot of what they were missing when they had Joe Flacco as their starter.

Asked of Lock’s performance Sunday, Fangio said he “didn’t see anything out of Drew that told me, ‘Oh geez, maybe he isn’t the guy.’

“I like the way he’s played, and I like the way he’s reacted and played through games that weren’t going well,” Fangio continues. “To me, that’s part of being an NFL quarterback. He showed that he’s got that part in him.”

This was the hope all along. General manager John Elway and Fangio, however, just didn’t think it would happen this soon. It seems highly unlikely they’d even consider a first-round quarterback now — not unless they want another year of quarterback competition and another year of quarterback hysteria.

2. Joe Flacco is gone
The Broncos acquired Flacco on a sweet deal that had three years remaining but no guaranteed money. They could’ve cut ties with him after a season and have no cap charge for 2020 or ’21.

But then they restructured his contract — a move that seemed to show their faith in him after the offseason, their belief Lock wouldn’t be ready and their desire to clear up cap space, maybe to re-sign one of their own impending free agents. But none of those met their expectations. Flacco was miscast in this offense and could not jump-start the offense, Lock appears ready, and the only impending free agent the Broncos re-signed was fullback Andy Janovich.

It’s possible Flacco decides to retire after all of this. It’s also possible he asks to be let out of his contract, though it’s hard to imagine him getting a starting job unless it comes by way of injury during the season. Cutting him will cost the Broncos $13.6 million in cap space (dead money) for 2020, but they may not have a choice. Time to move on.

3. They place a nonexclusive franchise tag on safety Justin Simmons
The Broncos negotiated with Simmons’ agent, Todd France of CAA Sports, on a deal before the start of the season. But nothing came to fruition and little if anything has happened since — aside from Simmons morphing into one of the Broncos’ top players and one of, if not the top safety in the league. Simmons has played every snap over the last two seasons, is loved by Fangio, was selected as the team’s 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year and Darrent Williams Good Guy Award winner, and will undoubtedly get paid this summer.

The Broncos could place the nonexclusive tag on him, which, for a safety, is projected to be worth an approximate $12.7 million for one year, according to Overthecap.com. (The exact figure won’t be known until the salary cap is set in March.)

Simmons’ absolute floor on a new deal surely has to be Kareem Jackson’s, with $11 million in average annual salary and $23 million fully guaranteed. But Simmons figures to garner much more since he’s an every-snap player who is only 26. (Jackson will be 32 by the start of next season).

The nonexclusive tag would bar him from negotiating with other teams, but he could decide to play on it since it’s guaranteed and seek a long-term deal the following season or even accepted a higher-priced tag. Or he follows suit of past franchise-tagged Broncos and holds out of offseason workouts until a long-term deal is reached. Matt Prater (2012), Ryan Clady (2013), Demaryius Thomas (2015) and Von Miller (2016) all held out and all received significant contracts.

4. Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon is gone
McMahon was one of the few holdovers from Vance Joseph’s staff in 2018, and he has one year remaining on his contract, according to a source. But from 2018 through Week 16 of this season, Denver’s special teams ranked 15th in kick return yards (23.1 yards), 21st in kick returns against (23.3 yards), 27th in punt return yards (6.0 average) and 30th in punt return yards against (10.4). They’ve also burned through two punters — Marquette King and Colby Wadman — in that span, who collectively have ranked 28th in the league with a 38.5 net average. They’ve also allowed three punt returns for touchdowns, tied for the most in the league. The Broncos’ have reasonable cause to move on. But who would they turn to?

5. Chris Harris Jr. is gone
Harris said he wanted to be a Bronco lifer, but he held out in the spring to get a new deal and came away with a $3 million raise. A win-win, he thought, because he got more money initially and a chance to get even more in free agency. What he didn’t anticipate at the time, was a drop in his numbers. Coupled with the fact that he’ll be 31 when the season opens, Harris may not covet the contract he thought he could get. That could work in the Broncos’ favor since they will have a significant need for cornerback help (with or without him) and his price tag may have dropped. The Broncos have the leverage now. But Elway hasn’t shied away from cutting ties with veteran starters, be it safety T.J. Ward or Aqib Talib. Harris could be the final piece of the No Fly Zone to go, and he certainly gave the impression Sunday evening that he believes he will be.
Chris Harris Jr might have played his last game as a Bronco
Asked if the team’s 4-1 finish to the season will influence his decision he said:

“Oh yeah, definitely. We’ve got a quarterback now that I feel confident in that we can get it done. We’ve got a lot of guys on defense coming back, but of course, the big decision is how I’m going to be playing and how I’m going to be used. This year I was used differently compared to how I was used my first eight years in the NFL, so I am definitely going to take a look at what I want. I had to do what was best for the team. They thought it was best for me to be on the best player, they didn’t want any of the younger guys to get on them. I did what was best for coach Fangio and coach (Ed) Donatell, and I think they have big respect for me being able to take that sacrifice. I played my position and sacrificed for the team and was able to take that and give us a chance to win every week.”

6. They draft a cornerback in the first round
Read No. 5 again. The defense that not too long ago had the best cornerback tandem in the league with Harris and Talib could be left with: Bryce Callahan, who has undergone multiple foot surgeries and hasn’t played a game since Dec. 2018; Isaac Yiadom, a former third-round pick who was demoted multiple times this season and had one of the worst penalties of the season in Sunday’s finale; Duke Dawson; Davontae Harris; Shakial Taylor and Alijah Holder.

7. Garett Bolles returns
Seems doubtful (at best) the Broncos would exercise his fifth-year option, given his persistent problem with holding penalties. But as Vic Fangio said, Bolles’ durability has allowed to him stay available when nearly everyone else on the line has missed time to injury, and availability in this league matters a ton. Plus, his rookie deal is fully guaranteed, so the Broncos already have an approximate $3.5 million cap charge tied to him. Depending on what the Broncos do with Connor McGovern (free agent) and Ron Leary (team option), they could be in search of two starters on the line and adding a third could make things harder for their young offense. They have the luxury of having Mike Munchak as their offensive line coach, so if anyone is able to help Bolles correct his technique, it’s him. Plus, a second year of Bolles and Dalton Risner on the left side of the line could be good for both.

But in 2021, the Broncos will likely be in the market for a new left tackle.

8. Derek Wolfe stays
The eight-year veteran has dealt with a string of serious injuries throughout his tenure as a Bronco, but before dislocating his elbow in Week 13, he had already solidified a career year with seven sacks, 34 total tackles, a batted pass and one forced fumble. The Broncos could lose multiple veterans on the defensive line, and keeping Wolfe as a veteran upfront and in the locker room would be huge. But given his injury history, perhaps they settle on a two-year deal that is either heavy on incentives or includes a bigger guarantee in Year 1 so the team has an out for 2021.

9. Shelby Harris and Adam Gotsis are gone
Harris has been a play-maker since he arrived, despite few — if any — expecting him to actually make the team. He turned in a career season in his first year as a full-time starter. But he could foreseeably earn more money than the Broncos are willing to pay.

Gotsis’ time as a Bronco seemed to end when he was demoted during the season. He recently underwent surgery on his left ACL and meniscus.

10. There won’t be a decision in the ownership dispute
If the case between Pat Bowlen’s two oldest daughters and the trustees charged with selecting his successor make it to trial (scheduled for Sept. 1, 2020), it could take a few months for Judge John E. Scipione of the 18th Judicial District to give his ruling, and that could drag out a decision until 2021.

This case is complex, and his ruling could be 25-50 pages. Even then, however, it likely won’t end the dispute. If he rules the 2009 trust is valid and decides the sisters had probable cause to challenge the trust, the two won’t be disinherited and can appeal (again possibly risking violating the no-contest clause and being disinherited). If Scipione rules the sisters didn’t have probable cause, their rights as beneficiaries bypass them and go to the kids. But then it’s possible family members aligned with them file suit.

If the sisters prevail in their case and the trust is invalidated, brace yourself for a whirlwind as the court, the league and the Bowlen family figure out the next steps with the trustees and the future of the team.

 

[SpringStein]

11. They do exercise the contract options for Von Miller and Brandon McManus
Miller is the leader of this team and Miller is pissed off over three losing seasons, and when Miller is pissed off, he plays his best. His salary for a top pass rusher is pretty reasonable ($17.5 million), but his cap hit ($25.625 million) is high because the Broncos reworked his deal. Nonetheless, the Broncos need him.

“I can tell you one thing right now, we got a good team,” Miller said Sunday. “We got a great quarterback, running back, receiver, Noah Fant is going to be in his second year, we’re going to get (Bradley) Chubb back, we’re going to get K-Jack (Kareem Jackson) back. We’re done with this losing shit. Next year is gonna be our year. Gonna be ready to go.”

McManus had his misses, but he’s also one of the most accurate kickers in team history and who would be a better available option anyway?

12. They do not exercise the contract options for Ron Leary or Todd Davis
Leary has dealt with injuries throughout his career that have kept him from playing a full season since signing with the Broncos. He missed most of last year with a torn Achilles and missed the last four games this season with a concussion.

Davis just turned in a career year with 136 total tackles — the sixth-most by a Bronco (based on press-box totals). But linebacker is Fangio’s specialty and the Broncos continued to struggle at times against the run and in coverage, and he could look to remake that group with Alexander Johnson as one starter.

13. They place a second-round restricted free-agent tender on Mike Purcell
The journeyman might have found his best fit yet — back with his first defensive coordinator and back home in Denver. Making Purcell the starting nose tackle and shifting Shelby Harris to his natural position of defensive end added size and an immediate improvement to the defense, especially against the run. The exact amount of the restricted free-agent tenders can’t be calculated until the salary cap is set, but Overthecap.com projects a second-round tender to be $3.278 million for one year. If Purcell signs an offer sheet elsewhere, the Broncos can either match it and keep him or let him walk for a second-round pick.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Report today was that Flacco finds out if he has surgery or not soon. If he does speculation is that he will retire. If not, or depending on the severity he said he would welcome being a backup to Lock next year. Not sure we want that though. I know we owe him money either way, but it just depends..... Be nice to have a backup with a lot of experience as that is hard to find, even if we are screwed with Flacco or not. I never wanted him in the first place so a big part of me just wants him out of Denver.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Be interesting to see what happens to the above. I think we can all agree we all have mixed opinions on who stays and who walks and is let go!

 

[Draft Crazy]

And obviously if Flacco took a role as a backup here he would be taking a different pay restructure. I don’t see him returning.

 

[CEH]

Predictions for the New Year: After bizarre finale to...

only copying a portion (although it's the "meat" of the article)

1. Drew Lock is their starting quarterback
He already has the most wins by a rookie Broncos quarterback and already showed more than the previous six starting quarterbacks have in the past four seasons. Lock was uncertain to get playing time this year at all, but when he did, he made the most of it and locked up (no pun intended) the starting job for the future by going 4-1 and showing a lot of what they were missing when they had Joe Flacco as their starter.

Asked of Lock’s performance Sunday, Fangio said he “didn’t see anything out of Drew that told me, ‘Oh geez, maybe he isn’t the guy.’

“I like the way he’s played, and I like the way he’s reacted and played through games that weren’t going well,” Fangio continues. “To me, that’s part of being an NFL quarterback. He showed that he’s got that part in him.”

This was the hope all along. General manager John Elway and Fangio, however, just didn’t think it would happen this soon. It seems highly unlikely they’d even consider a first-round quarterback now — not unless they want another year of quarterback competition and another year of quarterback hysteria.

2. Joe Flacco is gone
The Broncos acquired Flacco on a sweet deal that had three years remaining but no guaranteed money. They could’ve cut ties with him after a season and have no cap charge for 2020 or ’21.

But then they restructured his contract — a move that seemed to show their faith in him after the offseason, their belief Lock wouldn’t be ready and their desire to clear up cap space, maybe to re-sign one of their own impending free agents. But none of those met their expectations. Flacco was miscast in this offense and could not jump-start the offense, Lock appears ready, and the only impending free agent the Broncos re-signed was fullback Andy Janovich.

It’s possible Flacco decides to retire after all of this. It’s also possible he asks to be let out of his contract, though it’s hard to imagine him getting a starting job unless it comes by way of injury during the season. Cutting him will cost the Broncos $13.6 million in cap space (dead money) for 2020, but they may not have a choice. Time to move on.

3. They place a nonexclusive franchise tag on safety Justin Simmons
The Broncos negotiated with Simmons’ agent, Todd France of CAA Sports, on a deal before the start of the season. But nothing came to fruition and little if anything has happened since — aside from Simmons morphing into one of the Broncos’ top players and one of, if not the top safety in the league. Simmons has played every snap over the last two seasons, is loved by Fangio, was selected as the team’s 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year and Darrent Williams Good Guy Award winner, and will undoubtedly get paid this summer.

The Broncos could place the nonexclusive tag on him, which, for a safety, is projected to be worth an approximate $12.7 million for one year, according to Overthecap.com. (The exact figure won’t be known until the salary cap is set in March.)

Simmons’ absolute floor on a new deal surely has to be Kareem Jackson’s, with $11 million in average annual salary and $23 million fully guaranteed. But Simmons figures to garner much more since he’s an every-snap player who is only 26. (Jackson will be 32 by the start of next season).

The nonexclusive tag would bar him from negotiating with other teams, but he could decide to play on it since it’s guaranteed and seek a long-term deal the following season or even accepted a higher-priced tag. Or he follows suit of past franchise-tagged Broncos and holds out of offseason workouts until a long-term deal is reached. Matt Prater (2012), Ryan Clady (2013), Demaryius Thomas (2015) and Von Miller (2016) all held out and all received significant contracts.

4. Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon is gone
McMahon was one of the few holdovers from Vance Joseph’s staff in 2018, and he has one year remaining on his contract, according to a source. But from 2018 through Week 16 of this season, Denver’s special teams ranked 15th in kick return yards (23.1 yards), 21st in kick returns against (23.3 yards), 27th in punt return yards (6.0 average) and 30th in punt return yards against (10.4). They’ve also burned through two punters — Marquette King and Colby Wadman — in that span, who collectively have ranked 28th in the league with a 38.5 net average. They’ve also allowed three punt returns for touchdowns, tied for the most in the league. The Broncos’ have reasonable cause to move on. But who would they turn to?

5. Chris Harris Jr. is gone
Harris said he wanted to be a Bronco lifer, but he held out in the spring to get a new deal and came away with a $3 million raise. A win-win, he thought, because he got more money initially and a chance to get even more in free agency. What he didn’t anticipate at the time, was a drop in his numbers. Coupled with the fact that he’ll be 31 when the season opens, Harris may not covet the contract he thought he could get. That could work in the Broncos’ favor since they will have a significant need for cornerback help (with or without him) and his price tag may have dropped. The Broncos have the leverage now. But Elway hasn’t shied away from cutting ties with veteran starters, be it safety T.J. Ward or Aqib Talib. Harris could be the final piece of the No Fly Zone to go, and he certainly gave the impression Sunday evening that he believes he will be.
Chris Harris Jr might have played his last game as a Bronco
Asked if the team’s 4-1 finish to the season will influence his decision he said:

“Oh yeah, definitely. We’ve got a quarterback now that I feel confident in that we can get it done. We’ve got a lot of guys on defense coming back, but of course, the big decision is how I’m going to be playing and how I’m going to be used. This year I was used differently compared to how I was used my first eight years in the NFL, so I am definitely going to take a look at what I want. I had to do what was best for the team. They thought it was best for me to be on the best player, they didn’t want any of the younger guys to get on them. I did what was best for coach Fangio and coach (Ed) Donatell, and I think they have big respect for me being able to take that sacrifice. I played my position and sacrificed for the team and was able to take that and give us a chance to win every week.”

6. They draft a cornerback in the first round
Read No. 5 again. The defense that not too long ago had the best cornerback tandem in the league with Harris and Talib could be left with: Bryce Callahan, who has undergone multiple foot surgeries and hasn’t played a game since Dec. 2018; Isaac Yiadom, a former third-round pick who was demoted multiple times this season and had one of the worst penalties of the season in Sunday’s finale; Duke Dawson; Davontae Harris; Shakial Taylor and Alijah Holder.

7. Garett Bolles returns
Seems doubtful (at best) the Broncos would exercise his fifth-year option, given his persistent problem with holding penalties. But as Vic Fangio said, Bolles’ durability has allowed to him stay available when nearly everyone else on the line has missed time to injury, and availability in this league matters a ton. Plus, his rookie deal is fully guaranteed, so the Broncos already have an approximate $3.5 million cap charge tied to him. Depending on what the Broncos do with Connor McGovern (free agent) and Ron Leary (team option), they could be in search of two starters on the line and adding a third could make things harder for their young offense. They have the luxury of having Mike Munchak as their offensive line coach, so if anyone is able to help Bolles correct his technique, it’s him. Plus, a second year of Bolles and Dalton Risner on the left side of the line could be good for both.

But in 2021, the Broncos will likely be in the market for a new left tackle.

8. Derek Wolfe stays
The eight-year veteran has dealt with a string of serious injuries throughout his tenure as a Bronco, but before dislocating his elbow in Week 13, he had already solidified a career year with seven sacks, 34 total tackles, a batted pass and one forced fumble. The Broncos could lose multiple veterans on the defensive line, and keeping Wolfe as a veteran upfront and in the locker room would be huge. But given his injury history, perhaps they settle on a two-year deal that is either heavy on incentives or includes a bigger guarantee in Year 1 so the team has an out for 2021.

9. Shelby Harris and Adam Gotsis are gone
Harris has been a play-maker since he arrived, despite few — if any — expecting him to actually make the team. He turned in a career season in his first year as a full-time starter. But he could foreseeably earn more money than the Broncos are willing to pay.

Gotsis’ time as a Bronco seemed to end when he was demoted during the season. He recently underwent surgery on his left ACL and meniscus.

10. There won’t be a decision in the ownership dispute
If the case between Pat Bowlen’s two oldest daughters and the trustees charged with selecting his successor make it to trial (scheduled for Sept. 1, 2020), it could take a few months for Judge John E. Scipione of the 18th Judicial District to give his ruling, and that could drag out a decision until 2021.

This case is complex, and his ruling could be 25-50 pages. Even then, however, it likely won’t end the dispute. If he rules the 2009 trust is valid and decides the sisters had probable cause to challenge the trust, the two won’t be disinherited and can appeal (again possibly risking violating the no-contest clause and being disinherited). If Scipione rules the sisters didn’t have probable cause, their rights as beneficiaries bypass them and go to the kids. But then it’s possible family members aligned with them file suit.

If the sisters prevail in their case and the trust is invalidated, brace yourself for a whirlwind as the court, the league and the Bowlen family figure out the next steps with the trustees and the future of the team.

Thanks so much.

 

[Draft Crazy]

No brainer but Elway did say Miller’s option will be picked up.