The Broncos Rebuilt Oline and team status report

[Mingo]

LT Okung
LG - Max Garcia
C - Paradis
RG - Sambrailo
RT - STephenson
TE- Virgil Green/Heuerman

RB - CJ Anderson

Obviously - the Broncos made it a priority to rebuild the Oline and gear up the running game for next season. No headlines for that, but extremely smart strategy.

All Dbacks return in the two deep (except Bruton) and the top 4 pass rushers are back.

Still need some help at Safety - TE - QB - MLB and RB

In surprisingly good shape - considering the gold rush for Bronco players.

 

[SpringStein]

We will still draft another OL, most likely an OG. As we learned all too well last year, injuries are common along the OL.

On the other hand, I wondered which two of OL, DL (good year in draft and need a Malik replacement) and QB would we pick in the first two rounds. The nice thing with signing Stephenson and Okung, that doesn't have to be a pick in the first 2-3 rounds like it seemed necessary two weeks ago.

 

[CEH]

Go BPA at #31.

 

[MileHigh64]

Outside of losing Osweiler, I'm starting to really like the way the Broncos are going about their business in free agency. I was a fan of keeping Brock in town but that ship has sailed and I'm glad we didn't pay him that kind of moolah. Hated to lose Trevathan and Bruton but our defense and special teams will survive/thrive next season IMO. Games are won in the trenches and Elway has shown a commitment to make improvements there.

I'm still unsettled about the quarterback position but I'm confident that there's a plan. Most likely a QB will be drafted and another veteran may be brought in. However, I'm pretty excited about the prospect of this team becoming a great running team, starting with the commitment to the o-line.

Our defense will be good again and I expect to see players like Sly, Kilgo, Ray, Barrett and Anunike really come into their own. The Broncos are well on their way in positioning themselves to be able to focus on best player available in the draft. The one wild card to that theory will be quarterback.

In short, I'm feeling a lot better about things than I was a week ago.

 

[Mingo]

If the Broncos acquire Kaepernick - I doubt if they go early in the draft for a QB either.

It's a work in progress, but I like the way it is taking shape.

 

[iknowftbll]

We will still draft another OL, most likely an OG. As we learned all too well last year, injuries are common along the OL.

On the other hand, I wondered which two of OL, DL (good year in draft and need a Malik replacement) and QB would we pick in the first two rounds. The nice thing with signing Stephenson and Okung, that doesn't have to be a pick in the first 2-3 rounds like it seemed necessary two weeks ago.

Honestly I am wondering if the Broncos even draft a QB that high this year. I am not convinced Sanchez is the plan for 2016 but I highly doubt a QB, even one drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round, would be handed the keys. I think keep Trev and Sanchez (unless he's dealt for Kap) and maybe bring in another veteran QB to compete for the job. If they deal for Kap he'll be the starter, of course. Sanchez, Trev and said unnamed veteran signing would be an interesting story to follow in camp.

I honestly think the Broncos load up on OL, DL, and pick up a new RB in the draft this year. Probably a LB too. No QB though.

 

[SpringStein]

.

I honestly think the Broncos load up on OL, DL, and pick up a new RB in the draft this year. Probably a LB too. No QB though.

Not drafting a QB this year would shock me.

 

[SpiritOf77]

At this point, I think the Broncos will draft a QB early and go into camp with the pick ( Cook, Prescott, Lynch, Jones, etc ) and Sanchez getting the reps ...

I would still love to see Kap signed, and if that were to happen, it would change a lot ..

There is also the possibility of Sanchez being put into a deal ..

It just doesn;t make any sense to me to go into camp with Kap and Sanchez .. I think one or the other and a high pick

I don't see anything in Siemian

And now that there has been some time that has passed, I am sort of glad Brock signed elsewhere .. I liked him, and he did well considering the circumstances, but there is something about his game that just seems fragile ... He can always work on the deep ball ( which for the most part didn;t look good ), but he doesn;t strike me as a guy who will ever have the game slow down for him ..

I think Elway takes Cook, Prescott or Jones

 

[58crash]

If the Broncos acquire Kaepernick - I doubt if they go early in the draft for a QB either.

It's a work in progress, but I like the way it is taking shape.

If we get to the draft and come out of draft with out a QB .. kings ransom is the words I am thinking to now pry out a Starter type ..

I will say this 3 teams will be also top heavy with QB's ..I guess If you looks at this off season as a big picture you got to love the overall direction .

We got to fix S position with david bruton and we don't have Bolden yet signed ... Lets hope for the best ...

 

[cdumler7]

This to me is why it is so important to wait for the entire off season to pan out before getting too upset or excited about what a team is doing. I mean 2 weeks ago I don't think any of us thought we would be getting Russell Okung on our team for a very team friendly deal like we have.

So far this off season...

Well before the off season started Sign Derek Wolfe to a very team friendly deal considering the deals being thrown out these days.

Manning retired giving us some much needed cap space

Ware took a pay cut to help the team out

Signed Stephenson a guy getting ready to hit the prime of his career that is known to fit the ZBS perfectly to a decent contract.

Signed Okung now to a very team friendly deal.

Traded for Sanchez giving us a QB with starting experience on the roster and only traded a 7th round pick for him.

Signed CJ Anderson to a long-term deal

So now we have a rebuilt OL that to me looks a lot more promising than what we had last year. We have our starting RB figured out. So now just a matter of figuring out our QB situation moving forward.

Defensively we have kept most everybody and at the positions that we did lose other than Safety we have replacements that the coaching staff and FO are excited to give an opportunity to.

More than anything it might be the decisions of the moves not made that have been huge. We didn't overpay for Malik or Osweiler. Good chance from those 2 deals we will get 2 3rd round comp picks next year that are tradable.

We so far haven't panicked at the QB position and traded a premium pick to try and get Kaepernick or another QB.

Really right now the one move I don't like is that we didn't at least try to offer Trevathan something. I know they like what they have on the roster right now but man am I going to miss that guy.

 

[iknowftbll]

Not drafting a QB this year would shock me.

I should have clarified, I meant in the early rounds. It's not a strong QB class. I can see them making a pick later in the draft, but that pick would be unlikely to have an impact on the outcome of the season. The Sanchez deal didn't excite me (other than how dirt cheap the Broncos got him) but now I am warming up to it. I've had to go back and look at some of his work and he actually has some of the basic skills needed to run Kubiak's offense. And if the Broncos deal him for Kap, that's good too. Either way, it'll be Sanchez/Kap, unnamed vet backup, and Trev. My best guess.

 

[SpiritOf77]

My Mom is a big Eagles fan, and I watched most of the games back in 2014 when Sanchez came in for the injured Foles

I gotta say that I was impressed ... During that stretch, Sanchez looked better than he ever did with the Jets, and ran that offense like a champ ..

If he is the back up come Sept, we are in great shape ... Even as the starter, I'd be happy because we will have a young guy developing behind him ..

The staff in Denver will be the best he's played with since coming into the league .. This is a great situation for him

 

[58crash]

Good to here buddy ... This is how I thought also

 

[Mingo]

I was just looking at some of Stephenson's measurables - and he is made for the Kubiak offense. He runs the 40 in 4.84 - he jumps 35.5 inches - he even does the 3 cone drill like a fast linebacker in 7.5 seconds. The Chiefs used him differently.

He's not going to be a guy who is going to successfully grunt out a 3rd or 4th and short very often, but he will be a guy who can take out the linebacker or even safety downfield as a run blockers.

 

[iknowftbll]

^ All the stories about the Broncos have been the talent lost. They have very quietly assembled what just may be a pretty solid O line for 2016. And that may well prove to be one of the top stories by the end of the 2016 season.

 

[Dr Cyanide 28]

i still think versatile lineman would be a good fit to help solidify the oline and to have another body in camp. Someone like a Joe Haeg who can play tackle or guard or connor mcgovern who can play guard or center with one of our two third round picks could be helpfull

 

[cdumler7]

i still think versatile lineman would be a good fit to help solidify the oline and to have another body in camp. Someone like a Joe Haeg who can play tackle or guard or connor mcgovern who can play guard or center with one of our two third round picks could be helpfull

I would bet they get a couple of versatile players in this draft. They have the starting 5 for sure locked in but beyond them we don't have much. Have to retool the back up positions. I also like Haeg and think he would be a good fit to build up for a year and see what he can do. The other 2 very versatile players I like would be Willie Beavers as I think he has the athleticism to shine at 4 of the 5 positions on the OL if coached right and Cody Whitehair. I think he could shine at 4 of the 5 positions as well. Beavers is probably a 5th round pick or later where Whitehair will probably cost our 1st so not sure we would do that for a guy that will be a back up but hey Elway has done that in the past with Shane Ray, Bradley Roby, and Sly Williams.

 

[Mingo]

I'd say the Broncos have plenty of Centers and Guards - but need a prospect at LT - and swing tackle

 

[cdumler7]

I'd say the Broncos have plenty of Centers and Guards - but need a prospect at LT - and swing tackle

Finding somebody who can play LT and do it decent is hard to find. Teams are willing to overpay even for an average LT these days so having a decent one sitting on your bench is tough. I will say though we do have 2 guys right now on our roster in Sambrailo and Stephenson who have experience starting at LT. Neither have done it well but they do have experience.

 

[Mingo]

Yes - it is hard to find CD - which is why the Broncos need a development guy to supplement. If Sambrailo could do it - they would have left him there - Stephenson is actually a better prospect at LT - IMO.