Salary Cap

[cdumler7]

So just a little bit different subject but the Owners had a meeting either yesterday or today or both can't remember but one thing that came out was that the Cap is expected to be somewhere between $138-143 million for this next season.

Right now the Broncos have $108.9 million committed to next season. They also have $9.8 million in roll over money if they do not sign anybody else the rest of the season. This means they will have around $40 million in Cap Space for this next season. That number at this moment puts them top-5 once again in Cap Space. People keep trying to figure out how in the world the Broncos keep having so much money with Manning taking up such a big chunk. This is where I think the Broncos have some of the best minds in the FO for figuring out just how to write contracts and not catch themselves in bad deals. Right now the Broncos have less than $1 million in dead money for this next season. That is part of it but again forming contracts that don't get them caught with tons of dead money if the player doesn't work out. Now it does mean we have to get creative in the off seasons to resign or sign players but so far we have worked out pretty darn good.

Anyway what is the order of priority for everybody in spending that $40 million this off season with some pretty big names hitting FA for our team?

Mine are...1) Chris Harris (you don't find corners like him everyday) 2) D. Thomas (again you don't find #1 receivers just all over the place) 3) Terrance Knighton (this guy is what allows our DL to be so dominant) 4) Virgil Green (I think this guy can become a great receiving and blocking threat for this team) 5) Orlando Franklin (These past few games we have seen how much of an impact this guy can make at the guard position...he is really starting to come into his own and become one of the best guards in the game).

As much as I like Julius and what he brings to the Red Zone area I just don't think he is worth the money it would cost to keep him. I think we can find another receiving TE in the draft that can not completely replace his Red Zone ability but still make us dangerous. Plus Latimer should be ready to go next season and I think he takes at least 5 of those Red Zone touchdowns that otherwise would have gone to Julius.

 

[Broncosr0k]

I disagree in two areas.

I think O. Franklin can be replaced and Vasquez is better as a guard.

I think J. Thomas is worth more than a redzone target. If he keeps developing the guy can be very good. We are going to lose Welker (contract is up and his tank is empty); Thomas can take over some of those catches over the middle. Thomas does have question marks attached to him so it will not surprise me if we see him go.

Other than that; Harris, Knighton, and D. Thomas top my list.

 

[Malibu]

I disagree in two areas.

I think O. Franklin can be replaced and Vasquez is better as a guard.

I think J. Thomas is worth more than a redzone target. If he keeps developing the guy can be very good. We are going to lose Welker (contract is up and his tank is empty); Thomas can take over some of those catches over the middle. Thomas does have question marks attached to him so it will not surprise me if we see him go.

Other than that; Harris, Knighton, and D. Thomas top my list.

I agree 100% with these comments. Hard to replace TD's in the redzone that Denver gets from J.T. Pay him, D.T. Chris Harris and Knighton and Welker is gone.

 

[randymon]

Actually I agree with Cd on this one. I too think Franklin is just going to get better and is a strong force in the running game. As much as I like JT, we have to make a big cut somewhere and his spot makes the most scense. I think Virgil is a better blocker and if given more opportunities, I think he could be a good red-zone threat. Maybe not on a scale as JT but still the potential is there I believe. I think in the Elway era we are going to see more emphisis on the run game going forward ( no matter who`s Qb) and good blkg Tes don`t just fall off trees. If JT was an efficient blkr as Green, then I would not want to be the one to make that decision. I have feeling the releases will involve,Welker,Caldwell, Ball, possibly R. Moore among some of the bigger names. The draft and FA players availabile and price tags will dictate who gets the shaft. They don`t have alot of choice. Some popular heads will roll unfortunetly.
Ps. I wouldn`t want to release anyone on the O-Line. Teams need all the depth they can handle there

 

[Broncosr0k]

Actually I agree with Cd on this one. I too think Franklin is just going to get better and is a strong force in the running game. As much as I like JT, we have to make a big cut somewhere and his spot makes the most scense. I think Virgil is a better blocker and if given more opportunities, I think he could be a good red-zone threat. Maybe not on a scale as JT but still the potential is there I believe. I think in the Elway era we are going to see more emphisis on the run game going forward ( no matter who`s Qb) and good blkg Tes don`t just fall off trees. If JT was an efficient blkr as Green, then I would not want to be the one to make that decision. I have feeling the releases will involve,Welker,Caldwell, Ball, possibly R. Moore among some of the bigger names. The draft and FA players availabile and price tags will dictate who gets the shaft. They don`t have alot of choice. Some popular heads will roll unfortunetly.
Ps. I wouldn`t want to release anyone on the O-Line. Teams need all the depth they can handle there

Out of curiosity, why Ball? I think he is still under contract and does not cost that much.

 

[randymon]

Out of curiosity, why Ball? I think he is still under contract and does not cost that much.

Yeah Brok. Not sure of his contract stuff and all. Just know there's going to some tough cuts coming up and not sure they rate Ball above the other 3 so much anymore. If he is released he'll prob be a later one. Just a possible I think. You know I am never wrong right?

 

[Broncosr0k]

I bet Ball at least makes it to Preseason. He has only been with us for 2 seasons, one spent injured.

 

[cdumler7]

I disagree in two areas.

I think O. Franklin can be replaced and Vasquez is better as a guard.

I think J. Thomas is worth more than a redzone target. If he keeps developing the guy can be very good. We are going to lose Welker (contract is up and his tank is empty); Thomas can take over some of those catches over the middle. Thomas does have question marks attached to him so it will not surprise me if we see him go.

Other than that; Harris, Knighton, and D. Thomas top my list.

Franklin a month ago was gone in my book. After seeing him the last 3 weeks though he has shown his worth to me. He is one of the biggest reasons our run game has taken off. If you go back and watch our last 3 games you see him just blowing people up and not just scrub DL players as we have played some of the better DL's in the NFL with the Bills and Dolphins especially. Plus at this point we only have really 2 of our starters under contracts for next season in Clady and Vasquez. Not sure we want to replace 60% of our starting unit. I do think Schofield will be given a shot at either guard or right tackle next season so that is one of the spots but I would just rather only replace 2 guys instead of 3. And if there is one guy to keep Franklin is my guy.

J. Thomas is not a guy I want to lose but so far he has not shown me he can be much more than a Red Zone target. His blocking is just down right terrible. His route running is not that great which is why he doesn't do much damage between the 20's. Finally he is very injury prone. From what I understand the Broncos offered him a contract with him being paid something like $8 million a year. I'm sorry but he has shown me nothing this season that makes me have to try and keep him especially if he is wanting more than that at this point. Plus have to remember that for next season our receiving core should be DT, Sanders, and Latimer. To me Sanders is the one taking over the slot for Welker while DT and Latimer man the outside. Plus to me Latimer is the Red Zone guy next season that takes quite a few of the JT touchdowns. So again I just see Green as the bigger need for this team moving forward as I think the pieces to replace JT next year are already on the team. Plus haven't you noticed that the receiving TE is becoming the new trend and teams are finding them throughout the whole draft? I think JT is more a product of Manning than any other player on our team as well.

 

[Broncosr0k]

Franklin a month ago was gone in my book. After seeing him the last 3 weeks though he has shown his worth to me. He is one of the biggest reasons our run game has taken off. If you go back and watch our last 3 games you see him just blowing people up and not just scrub DL players as we have played some of the better DL's in the NFL with the Bills and Dolphins especially. Plus at this point we only have really 2 of our starters under contracts for next season in Clady and Vasquez. Not sure we want to replace 60% of our starting unit. I do think Schofield will be given a shot at either guard or right tackle next season so that is one of the spots but I would just rather only replace 2 guys instead of 3. And if there is one guy to keep Franklin is my guy.

I agree he has turned it up the past few games. My thought is that neither him nor Vasquez should be in the RT position. I think they are best at the guard position. So keep him but address RT.

As for J. Thomas, if he turned down 8 million then I can pass. He is not a Jimmy Graham or Gronkowski and has had too much injury for me to be comfortable. As for getting his game down, the guy has not been playing football all that long. If he has hit his ceiling then I agree with you but if he still has potential to improve his game he will be a weapon. I guess he would be one of those guys that if we kept him I am happy and if he moves on I wish him the best of luck.

 

[cdumler7]

Broncosr0k I agree that J. Thomas is a weapon and if we can keep him then I will be happy. I just will not be torn up if he leaves either as I realize there is just only so much money that can go around.


Looking at this list DT probably takes up $14 million a year just by himself of the $40 million we will have. Harris takes up another $9 million or so in my opinion so with 2 guys we have taken up over half our cap space. I would rather get both Franklin and Knighton for the price that it would take to get J. Thomas at this point. I think those guys because they can stay healthy, are considered leaders in the locker room, and are both playing at a very high level would be worth letting JT walk out the door.


Again just thinking money wise how much we have to go around and where are the priorities. I just like those 4 guys best and would like to see them be the first priority. Then once they are signed begin to figure out the rest. Now maybe they organize the contracts so that say instead of DT's contract having that $14 million hit year one maybe it is only $7 million and then we can work to keep JT as well. This year above any others in the John Elway era is going to get interesting for contracts. Lots of talent will need to be resigned.

 

[Broncosr0k]

Again just thinking money wise how much we have to go around and where are the priorities. I just like those 4 guys best and would like to see them be the first priority. Then once they are signed begin to figure out the rest. Now maybe they organize the contracts so that say instead of DT's contract having that $14 million hit year one maybe it is only $7 million and then we can work to keep JT as well. This year above any others in the John Elway era is going to get interesting for contracts. Lots of talent will need to be resigned.

Maybe back load DT until Manning's contract is up?

I think one great thing is that last offseason fans of other teams were predicting the broncos were going to be in salary cap hell. Seems like that will not be the case. I doubt we see the FA spree we have in past offseasons but I also don't see us hemorrhaging talent to get under the cap.

 

[braves66boy]

The one guy I want to let go is Jacob Tamme. He struggles to hold onto the ball and he makes me want Julius Thomas or someone similiar. Tamme needs to be let go. He is awful. He should retire. I think we have more than enough running backs. Maybe we can trade one for draft picks or a player. We are lucky to have the depth at running back.