Off Season Thread

[randymon]

Denver is looking at former Dolphin and Texan OG/C Shelley Smith:

Shelley Smith - Unsigned Free Agent - 2015 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

The Falcons are also interested. He has experience with Kubiak, and may play center if signed.

I also hear that the Broncos want to bring back Tamme and Unrein, but I would rather focus on Stefen Wisniewski than anyone else right now.

Update: The Broncos also are visiting with Raven and ex-Ram S Darian Stewart.

Not really familiar with either Smith or Ste

The Denver Broncos have officially signed Vance Walker. Looks like the deal is a 2-year $4 million. Not bad for a nice rotation piece to the DE group. He is exactly what Elway likes to find of players hitting their prime that have shown glimpses of ability. Sign them for a low contract then let them go when they blossom and take the big deal.

This was intended for CD`s post on Walker signing but just noticed wrong post. Don`t feel like re typing so...there
Well one thing about Mr. Walker is he`s played almost in 16 games each yr since around 2007. Best yr was with Raiders ( stat wise) were he got alot more playing time. He`s still young and has room for improvement. Not sure how physical he plays but must of been something that caught Elway`s attention in his time with either Chiefs or Raiders. Looks to be more of a rotational guy ( maybe more time if Denver has a big lead) or just a compitition signing. Who know`s, maybe they elevate his potential with their coaching staff and he is pleasant surprise.

 

[cdumler7]

Denver Broncos have signed Darian Stewart to the roster. He was a 14 game starter for the Ravens this past year. He finished with a better overall grade than Rahim Moore this past season at the FS position so definitely a quality signing. Still have to see the details of the deal but if he has signed for less than Rahim Moore I would say the Broncos have won in the quality signing department.

Shelley Smith is in for an interview today.

 

[cdumler7]

Elway continues to be the closer! While yes these are not the DeMarcus Ware or Talib type signings these guys do bring about some good depth for the team. The Broncos have now signed Shelley Smith to play LG.

Now if you look at these three signings that the Broncos have made they actually all have a lot in common.

#1--None of them break the bank. None of these days go past 2-years and are just low cost against the cap anyway.

#2--Stewart, Smith, and Walker are all 27 years or younger. That means they are actually just entering into their physical peak and should be getting ready for the prime of their career.

#3--They all three have shown some glimpses of ability. Stewart with the Ravens started 14 games this past season and was actually one of their best players in the playoffs. PFF actually graded him as a better safety this past season than that of Rahim Moore. Walker graded out as the best DL player of the Chiefs this past season even better than Poe. Yes he didn't have the snaps that Poe did but should show Walker adds some at least good depth to the DL. Smith was drafted by Kubiak and was being sought after by some of the top teams in the league that play the ZBS. Just 2 years ago he graded out as a top-10 LG in the NFL so he has some potential.

#4--All of these guys have a lot to prove but if nothing else add some quality depth. They all have starting experience so if need be can come in and give the Broncos snaps. They add competition to some positions where we were lacking depth and needing some bodies to help out.

#5--All of these give the Broncos more options come draft time where they don't have to reach to fill a need now.

 

[Duffman]

Wow did Pot Roasts stock fall fast, he only ended up signing a 1 year $4 million contract with the Redskins.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Wow did Pot Roasts stock fall fast, he only ended up signing a 1 year $4 million contract with the Redskins.

Someone posted that he is incredibly out of shape. Even the Raiders and Del Rio passed on him.

 

[cdumler7]

Supposedly this past year he was at times during the season tipping the scales at 385. The coaches kept getting after him to get his weight under control and he just wouldn't do it. Then this off season he showed up for all of his interviews exactly the same with being severely overweight and the teams just couldn't offer him the contract he thought he deserved. He is a great locker room guy from what I understand but I don't like the fact of him being one of the captains if he refuses to put in the work and the discipline that the younger players need to see.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Looks like Denver added another Walker: LB Reggie Walker reportedly signing a 1-year deal.

NFL Rumors - 2014 Season - CBSSports.com

 

[randymon]

Looks like Denver added another Walker: LB Reggie Walker reportedly signing a 1-year deal.

NFL Rumors - 2014 Season - CBSSports.com

not the most endearing stats for a 6 yr vet. I suppose you`ll be rooting for him "Walker"Boh

 

[WalkerBoh]

not the most endearing stats for a 6 yr vet. I suppose you`ll be rooting for him "Walker"Boh

Only if he plays well.

 

[cdumler7]

Looks like Nate Irving is going to the Colts. Hate to see him go as I thought he never quite got the fair chance to show what he can do under Fox but I do wish him well.

 

[MileHigh64]

Irving, Unrein and Tamme all gone. It's tough to see some of our depth gone and some key veterans from the locker room. We knew going into free agency that we would lose a lot of players but it still hurts as each one is peeled away. Between the draft and continuing to build depth through free agency, the Broncos should be all right but this team is going to look and feel pretty different come time for camp. I'm quite anxious to see what the Kubiak led coaching staff has in store for our offense and defense in the coming season. Should be pretty interesting.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Looks like Nate Irving is going to the Colts. Hate to see him go as I thought he never quite got the fair chance to show what he can do under Fox but I do wish him well.

According to Andrew Mason's answer to the first question in this mailbag piece, it was cap and ST considerations that led to letting Irving leave: Mason's Mailbag: Reggie Walker, the offensive line and zone-blockers in the draft

 

[TDs3nOut]

Not much news about the team lately, but I found this opinion piece mildly interesting: Merilatt: The Broncos are getting a bad reputation

The writer basically argues that the team is getting a bad reputation among players that could make it more difficult in the future to attract FAs. The evidence that he uses to support his claim is that Denver never made offers to either Julius Thomas or Orlando Franklin before letting them sign elsewhere, and that Manning's renegotiated deal includes a no trade clause, suggesting that he no longer "trusts" the organization.

I'm not sure what to make of this. I feel like Elway has taken a very business like approach to running the team, much like the Pats are known for, which I viewed favorably. Is there a potential downside to such an approach?

 

[DownSetHutch]

I wish the Broncos would have tried to keep Franklin. Even though he may not have been an ideal fit in the ZBS, he has a lot of talent and now he's going to help strengthen the Chargers. We may not have been able to keep him, but I don't understand why the FO didn't even try. Maybe there is more than what is apparent here.

As for Julius Thomas, he way overvalued himself and didn't seem to give a damn about blocking. IMO, he didn't deserve a contract offer, so no harm done there.

To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of Peyton's demand for a no-trade clause, but it doesn't smack of distrust to me. Maybe he just wanted to make sure he finished his career in Denver. I highly doubt that it would have gone any other way anyway.

It seems to me that the writer may be either fabricating or misreading attitudes and feelings. I hope so, because if the sort of perception that he is purporting is or becomes widespread, it would become a problem for morale, as well as retaining and attracting FAs.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Looks like Broncos want to try Roby out at safety, according to CBS Sports.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Looks like Broncos want to try Roby out at safety, according to CBS Sports.

Elway mentions that here: John Elway not concerned with Broncos' roster - The Denver Post

Excerpt:
"Elway did reveal one surprise: There has been some internal discussions about possibly giving second-year cornerback Bradley Roby a look at free safety.

"He can tackle he's tough and that safety has to be a cover guy there," Elway said of the team's first-round draft pick who had a fine rookie season in 2014. "There area lot of different combinations you need to play because the game is changing. Instead of having a strong safety, you want both of them to play center field.""

 

[cdumler7]

I don't mind that move one bit. It is about getting the best 11 on the field at the same time and Roby has plenty of ability in coverage and throw in is not afraid to actually hit somebody. To me that sounds like the perfect FS. If nothing else trying some of these guys out at different positions gives us a chance just to see what they can do. Patriots did this with their 1st round pick in McCourty and I would say that worked out pretty well for them.

In my perfect world though Roby stays at Corner and they move Webster to the FS spot. Webster doesn't quite have the coverage ability of Roby but he is just as big of a hitter. So this gives us our best coverage guy on a WR in the slot with Roby or moving Roby to the outside and kicking Harris inside. Either way really. Then we still have a good coverage guy that can hit hard at FS with Webster. Anyway it should be interesting to see come training camp what all they actually do.

 

[WalkerBoh]

It's official: Denver gets an extra 4th round, 6th round, and two 7th round picks as compensation for lost 2014 FA's.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Kind of disappointing to learn that DT is skipping offseason workouts and PM's passing camp at Duke if he doesn't get a long term deal.

Demaryius Thomas Says Hell Skip Offseason Workouts CBS Denver

This draft is supposed to be deep at WR. Hope the plan isn't to try and replace Thomas.

 

[cdumler7]

Kind of disappointing to learn that DT is skipping offseason workouts and PM's passing camp at Duke if he doesn't get a long term deal.

Demaryius Thomas Says Hell Skip Offseason Workouts CBS Denver

This draft is supposed to be deep at WR. Hope the plan isn't to try and replace Thomas.

Few things about this...I don't think DT was left with much choice. If he gets hurt at the off season workouts or the passing camp then he hurts his value big time. This is about the only leverage as a player that they have in these negotiations so might as well use them. My only thing is with us having a different offense this year it does hurt in him working on and building with Peyton and the receivers.

At this point though honestly not sure I want the Broncos to sign him long-term. I love DT and what he brings to this team but giving $15 million to a receiver just seems crazy to me. With how many great receivers seem to be entering the league lately it is a position that I can see going the way of the RB and the value actually going down not up. Throw in us drafting Latimer I wouldn't mind seeing what he has for a year and if he shows up big then I think it negates our need to sign DT and gives us the ability to sign somebody else at a position that is harder to find. I mean if it comes down to it who would you rather have of DT or Miller? They are probably going to cost about the same price and if you had to choose at least for me I would pick Miller every time.