FA fits for Denver and some interesting draft pks

[cdumler7]

Interesting info on Myers. Didn't realize that he was so poor in pass protection. Perhaps he's not a player we should pursue.

Definitely agree with your last sentence. Broncos have been very active in free agency ever since Elway's been in charge. Given that, our cap space, and all of the players available, I fully expect that we'll again be very aggressive. Wilfork and Ngata are definitely two of the most interesting potential targets.

According to PFF (which take that with a grain of salt or however the saying goes) he graded out as the 33rd worst Center for pass blocking. Now some of that could be scheme issues considering he went from a zone blocking scheme under Kubiak to a little more of a power system under O'Brien. He was probably asked to do more 1-on-1 in that system compared to with Kubiak where does a lot more of what I call the help block. Having said that even under Kubiak he still struggled some. Run Blocking though the dude has been lights out for years. I would say sign him but only for back up/depth type money. Like I said I don't think I view him as a starter on our team if we sign him.

Right now I would say there are 2 FA's at the NT position that I am really wanting the Broncos to look at very hard. The first is Ngata as he has been the best NT of the last 5-years in my opinion. He is about as well rounded as they come being good against the run and pass. I would honestly be willing to pay him an equal contract to that of Knighton even though he is 3 years older. He plays over half the snaps and in those snaps offers quite a bit more to the defense. Heck he had about double the number of quarterback hurries/hits/sacks than that of Knighton. So more snaps and more all around ability and has played in a 3-4 NT position compared to Knighton with this being his first time.

The other that might be a bit more controversial is that of Nick Fairley. I know he has been labeled as a dirty/lazy player but he also played for the Lions where just about half of their team was labeled that it felt like so to me that turned more into a coaching issue than a player issue. I would also say with the lazy thing that this past year he really worked to get himself in shape by hiring a nutritionist/trainer and spent the whole off season getting himself ready for the season. He was dominating and looking like a top-5 DT in the NFL before he got hurt this past year. Some of that can be that he was playing next to Suh of course but I think he would be a perfect fit to play the NT position in the 1-gap system that Phillips likes to run. It fits his best abilities in being able to attack and disrupt things in the backfield.

 

[DownSetHutch]

The Broncos should try to sign Vince Wilfork to a 1- or 2-year deal. He's a stud NT and apparently a good dude to boot. If we lose Pot Roast to FA, he would make sense to me because we wouldn't have to give him a long-term contract. Even if he made a lot per year it wouldn't be a huge commitment. It just seems that it would be a great fit.

 

[randymon]

Was thinking about conversation some of us had about weighing first rd draft pks,etc and DT`s value earlier in week. We were discussing if DT and the money he is prob seeking on a long term contract vs a trade where Denver could pk up possibly a couple 1st and maybe more. CD made some great points as well as others. Part of discussion was regarding... a wr is really only as good as the qb throwing him the ball,to a point. So I decided to look up one qb/wr situation....Palmer and Larry Fitz vs Fitz without Palmer. Fitz with Palmer - 80 % recpts, other qb`s 48% avg recpts per game. With Palmer Fitz avg 81 yds per game compared to 38 without. Tds were not as telling as it was 2 compared to 0. That`s just one I looked up. You really have to consider who`s throwing the ball to the wr`s that are getting the stats and recognition and how much their really worth without a Manning,Brady Rodgers qb throwing them the ball. I tend to agree that any "talented wr" can only aquire the attention and accolades if he has a premier qb at the helm. Its true about other situations as well.. rb and o-line, etc. They all revolve and only succseed if they have a very good general running the show. Of course a great coaching staff is certainly a vital compponent as well. I think Belicheck and now I believe Elway,among others, are very smart in evaluating what,who,and where money should be spent and that you don`t need to pay these guys a ton of money ( if you have a great qb) to accomplish your goals and have succsess in the NFL.

 

[Duffman]

What makes DT special is his ability to run after the catch and make plays happen more often than not. Sure DT has the ability to catch a 40 yard bomb resulting in a TD but he also has the ability to turn a 7 yard slant from Tim Tebow into an 80 yard game winning touchdown.

Some receivers are great at making the big catch down the field and while DT is good at that how many screen passes has he taken to house because he has that type of vision for the endzone.

Great QB's help turn average receivers into really good ones but great WR's excel no matter who the QB is and DT has shown that he was a special player before Manning and he'll be a special player after Manning. He actually averaged more yards per reception with Orton/Tebow than he has with Manning and that should tell you a lot about his ability as a WR.

 

[randymon]

True Duff but where would DT be if his career started in San Fran or Minnesota or NY or Cleveland,etc. He wouldn`t have the chance to showcase his talents if it wasn`t for the qb he`s had so far. HOF wr`s are made from great qb`s. Look at the top 10 wr`s and see who was throwing the rock.....

 

[WalkerBoh]

True Duff but where would DT be if his career started in San Fran or Minnesota or NY or Cleveland,etc. He wouldn`t have the chance to showcase his talents if it wasn`t for the qb he`s had so far. HOF wr`s are made from great qb`s. Look at the top 10 wr`s and see who was throwing the rock.....

Thomas likely makes Kaepernick look better.

As for some of those HOF wr's, they helped make their QB's great. Bradshaw is a prime example. I doubt he has 4 SB rings if he's stuck with Edelman or Baldwin as a #1 receiver.

 

[cdumler7]

I think it is a two way street. DT definitely is a great receiver that helps any quarterback he is with. At the same time DT is getting the contract that he is because of Manning really helping to maximize his ability. I mean just look at Decker when he left the Broncos in he was getting around 1,300 yards a season to now in NY he is getting under a thousand yards. Quarterback makes a difference for the receiver.

Probably the one receiver that has just flat out impressed me with his production even without a top level quarterback is that of Andre Johnson. That guy has been dominant even though his quarterback list has been about as bad as it gets. Josh Gordon I think would be another if he could get out of his own way.

Again I love DT and what he brings to this team and am excited to have him back for another year and would be excited if the Broncos locked him up long-term. I also though wouldn't mind if we did trade him for the 2 1st round picks and then say use that money to sign Von Miller long-term or resign some of our FA's like Franklin and Knighton. I don't think either way is a lose situation for the Broncos. Either way we get top level players playing for the Broncos for years to come.

 

[randymon]

Thomas likely makes Kaepernick look better.

As for some of those HOF wr's, they helped make their QB's great. Bradshaw is a prime example. I doubt he has 4 SB rings if he's stuck with Edelman or Baldwin as a #1 receiver.

True Walker but I think Franco Harris and the D ( arguebly one of the best ever in that time) had alot to do with Bradshaws succsess too

 

[TDs3nOut]

Looks as if we might be in danger of losing Virgil Green. Tight end Virgil Green weighing multiyear offer from Broncos - The Denver Post

 

[cdumler7]

Looks as if we might be in danger of losing Virgil Green. Tight end Virgil Green weighing multiyear offer from Broncos - The Denver Post

It makes sense that he would be getting so many offers. Really hoping though he will come back to us. I think he has so much to offer us beyond just being a great blocker.

 

[WalkerBoh]

It makes sense that he would be getting so many offers. Really hoping though he will come back to us. I think he has so much to offer us beyond just being a great blocker.

I get the impression Elway sees him as Julius's replacement.