2012 Draft revisited

[cdumler7]

Most in speaking about Elway as GM have looked at his draft history and have considered him an average drafter. To me I think that is because people have judged drafts just a little too early. Take the 2012 draft where most before this year considered it Elway's worst draft. I would say this year though might have just shown it to be his best draft.

So reminder of who we picked...

2--Derek Wolfe
2--Brock Osweiler
3--Ronnie Hillman
4--Omar Bolden
4--Philip Blake
5--Malik Jackson
6--Danny Trevathan

Right now you could make the argument that all of those guys other than Philip Blake of course are starters on this team. Omar Bolden is our primary returner for both Punt and Kick Off now. Wolfe and Jackson have formed one of the better duos on the DL in the NFL. Hillman is our starting RB and has really shown those explosive plays this year that we drafted him for. Trevathan has been one of the better emotional leaders of our defense. And of course now we are seeing that Osweiler really could be our future at the QB position. 2 years ago I think most would have considered this draft a huge bust. Now it could be a draft that defines our future for the next 4-10 years.

My question since this will be huge at the end of the year is who do you keep? Let's say money wise we can only sign 4 of the 6 players still on the team. Who are you choosing? They debated this earlier this week on the radio so just interested to hear everybody elses thoughts.

 

[58crash]

2--Brock Osweiler
2--Derek Wolfe *
5--Malik Jackson*
6--Danny Trevathan *

IMO the rest can be kept anyways ..

were the money will be a issue to brass is 3 players * .. will they be worth it or should they go with what is on the team

Those 3 will draw huge bucks . facts !

We will let go one of the DE .. to pricy to keep both ..

Trevathan is gone ..love him just isn't happening ...sucks but unless he wants to stay he is gone .. he would have to want to be Bronco like Mister Harris did ! I bet he is all about the Benjamin's..

 

[cdumler7]

I'm starting to really hope we get both Wolfe and Jackson. Both are showing that this scheme is perfect for them and honestly the Broncos have really struggled to find DL players especially through the draft that can make a major impact. Probably been since our Super Bowl years that we have seen such impact on a regular basis from these guys. Wolfe to me will be the interesting one. He has the year pretty much taken away by injury and then the suspension this year. Are those red flags enough to drive down his cost? Throw in this is his first year where I would say his impact has been this consistent. I don't think he will cost as much as some might think unless he just goes crazy these last few games.

Osweiler hard to tell what he is going to cost. If he keeps playing well and the team keeps winning his price just keeps going up with each passing week.

For me I do think Bolden, Trevathan, and Hillman will be let to test the market. Joel Dreessen was talking about it on the radio that what teams do is tell players "Go find out what you are worth then come back to us." He said it is highly insulting as a player but it is the way the business works. My guess is somebody overpays for Hillman and Trevathan. Elway has shown he refuses to overpay and will let them walk. Hate to lose them but it is part of the business.

The other part about all this is we just don't know Cap Wise what we are going to have. I mean we could have anywhere from only $17 million clear up to somewhere in the $50 million area of Cap Space.

 

[Broncosr0k]

2--Brock Osweiler
2--Derek Wolfe *
5--Malik Jackson*
6--Danny Trevathan *

This would be my top four. I think the other guys are easily replaceable.

As for the 3 starred, they each have issues and are not exactly 3-down type studs. Trevathan can go rock a 4-3 but he does not stand out much in our 3-4. Jackson is best against the pass and best in a 3-4. Wolfe works best in a 3-4 and best against the run. I see someone over-paying them but I can just as easily see them sticking around for reasonable contracts.

 

[Broncos6482]

I'm starting to really hope we get both Wolfe and Jackson. Both are showing that this scheme is perfect for them and honestly the Broncos have really struggled to find DL players especially through the draft that can make a major impact. Probably been since our Super Bowl years that we have seen such impact on a regular basis from these guys. Wolfe to me will be the interesting one. He has the year pretty much taken away by injury and then the suspension this year. Are those red flags enough to drive down his cost? Throw in this is his first year where I would say his impact has been this consistent. I don't think he will cost as much as some might think unless he just goes crazy these last few games.

Osweiler hard to tell what he is going to cost. If he keeps playing well and the team keeps winning his price just keeps going up with each passing week.

For me I do think Bolden, Trevathan, and Hillman will be let to test the market. Joel Dreessen was talking about it on the radio that what teams do is tell players "Go find out what you are worth then come back to us." He said it is highly insulting as a player but it is the way the business works. My guess is somebody overpays for Hillman and Trevathan. Elway has shown he refuses to overpay and will let them walk. Hate to lose them but it is part of the business.

The other part about all this is we just don't know Cap Wise what we are going to have. I mean we could have anywhere from only $17 million clear up to somewhere in the $50 million area of Cap Space.

Why would the players find that highly insulting? Wouldn't they want to know how much they can command on the open market?

 

[Broncosr0k]

Why would the players find that highly insulting? Wouldn't they want to know how much they can command on the open market?

I would guess it is saying "We are not interested in chasing you. You go figure out what you are worth and we will decide if it is cheap enough to keep you." Kind of an afterthought type deal.

 

[randymon]

Yeah pretty easy who, at this time, we would like to see them keep. What happens rest of year,in the draft and which ones demand to much money will weigh the heaviest on who stays and who goes. I see Lbs,rbs and dbs being the most vulnerable as to resigning or not. Now there is a few O-linemen that can certainly be released but they have more going for them as it is a difficult if not the most difficult position to find and teach quality players and the amount of injuries that occur in the trenches makes even those border line cases pretty un-expendable in today's NFL. The draft,Fa and greed will dictate I`m sure.

 

[cdumler7]

Why would the players find that highly insulting? Wouldn't they want to know how much they can command on the open market?

Essentially it is telling the player we can take you or leave you it doesn't matter to us. We wouldn't mind keeping you but it has to be for the right price. Compare that to what the team will probably do for Von Miller in spending months trying to negotiate a contract. I mean look at Terrance Knighton. The team actually didn't mind the idea of bringing him back but obviously for the right price. He went on twitter ripping the team for being such a way then went into the open market thinking he was worth top dollar for the position and even his best bud Del Rio didn't want to offer him a huge contract. These players want to be recognized as not being expendable. The truth is there are maybe 3-4 players on each roster that fit that mold otherwise everybody is up for grabs.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Well, to be fair it would be McKenzie making that decision more than Del Rio.

But there are those players who think they're worth more than they are....likely that's coming from their agents.

 

[cdumler7]

Well, to be fair it would be McKenzie making that decision more than Del Rio.

But there are those players who think they're worth more than they are....likely that's coming from their agents.

Oh I agree but at the same time I'm sure Del Rio is asked about his former player of what the coach thinks he is actually worth. I mean I think everybody thought it a foregone conclusion that Knighton was going to Oakland because of the connections so then when they didn't offer him as much as he thought and he got upset I think it showed that even Del Rio while liking the guy realized he is a part time player who is more of a run specialist and you can't pay him top dollar.

As for our guys coming up for new contracts going to be interesting to see what they are offered. My guess is Von Miller gets right in line with Houston from this last year. His contract will be organized much differently as there will be more of a cap hit year one.

Trevathan my guess is he will get something in line with what Woodyard got but just a bit more. Something like 4-year/$17 million

Malik will be the interesting one as I do think some team would be willing to overpay for his services. Jared Odrick should be the top end for him though in value with a 5-year/$42 million or about $8.5 million a year. I would love to see the Broncos keep him for something closer to 5-year/$35 million or about $7 million a year. I think if they can do that then they can keep him and Wolfe both.

Wolfe to me would be in line with maybe a Nick Fairley type deal because of both having red flags and teams just not wanting to overpay. So that would be in the $5 million a year so maybe 3-year/$15 million type deal.


Osweiler is the tough one. Obviously don't know how the season will finish. A player though that I think could be a decent indicator is that of Nick Foles. He had the one really good year of production but nobody quite knew what he was. He ended up getting a 2-year/$24 million contract. It doesn't destroy the team if he busts but gives the player a short contract to prove that they are worthy of that huge deal.

If we took on all those contracts and say they were even every year that would add up to $46.5 million in cap space per year. Obviously we would play some with the numbers to not have all that hit in one year but on average that is what it would cost to keep all those guys.

So if we cut Ware, Manning, and Clady plus what the Cap is looking like next year if we signed all these guys for what I have above that would leave us about $14.9 million in cap.

 

[WalkerBoh]

And if we keep Ware? As you noticed, there's a pretty significant difference in defense between his presence and absence. We don't appear to be getting similar impact from Barrett and Ray as of yet...

 

[cdumler7]

And if we keep Ware? As you noticed, there's a pretty significant difference in defense between his presence and absence. We don't appear to be getting similar impact from Barrett and Ray as of yet...

Yeah I am torn on that one. Ware brings huge leadership and wisdom especially for our young guys plus on the field production. I would probably lean towards keeping him but honestly that probably costs us either Wolfe or Jackson. Going to have to see how Ware finishes the season though. This year's injuries have me thinking a Manning situation all over again where he started out on fire but then faded as the season wore on as his body couldn't handle a full season.

 

[MileHigh64]

Need to spend the money on the future. I'd rather lock up Malik and Wolfe and watch Barrett and Ray mature. I'd love to see the Broncos keep them all but if they have to make that choice, I think D. Ware may not be back.

 

[58crash]

Need to spend the money on the future. I'd rather lock up Malik and Wolfe and watch Barrett and Ray mature. I'd love to see the Broncos keep them all but if they have to make that choice, I think D. Ware may not be back.

wait until you see the money those two will garner ..you will then flinch ..

 

[MileHigh64]

wait until you see the money those two will garner ..you will then flinch ..

Yeah, we'll see. Schefter is reporting that next year's salary cap will rise to somewhere between 150-153.4 million. The cap in 2015 is 143.28 million. Another size-able increase next year. I just hope the Broncos focus on locking up as many of their young stars as possible.

 

[Mingo]

Osweiler - Jackson - Wolfe and Trevathan (though - there is a ready dispute with Trevathan as the Broncos will argue because of his knee injuries - they can't guarantee a longer contract - and Trevantan will naturally want one)

I think Bolden could be a tweener in the sense - someone around the league will want him more than the Broncos - in a more prominent role on the D, but I think the Broncos would like to retain him - because he is tremendously useful and a plus for team chemistry. He might get a longer guarantee at less money to stay.

So - Only Oz, Jackson and Wolfe as targets - and Trevathan and Bolden as value signings.

 

[Mingo]

Here's what I would do with D Ware - I'd sign him to a deal at reduced pay - guarantee him fewer snaps - and groom him for Front Office or Coaching staff material. I would over pay for D. Ware - because of the intangibles and because I'd want him to stay with the team in some capacity.

 

[58crash]

Yeah, we'll see. Schefter is reporting that next year's salary cap will rise to somewhere between 150-153.4 million. The cap in 2015 is 143.28 million. Another size-able increase next year. I just hope the Broncos focus on locking up as many of their young stars as possible.

Look I thought the same thing this year .. I am glad Elway thought different this year with the Vets he let go to keep our team out of cap hell .. it was the right thing to do letting all the vets go this year ! That is what the Draft is for . My want as a fan some times is not good for the team .

I don't think Elway is Perfect but in the end his product is consistent and he will not over pay .. My guess one DE will get resigned .. But really I could see him let both walk .

 

[Mingo]

Great topic CD - lots of possibilities.

 

[58crash]

Anderson, Zaire will get his chance to shine and our Tim Tebow pick will be making huge bucks