The Denver Broncos Are Under the Most Pressure This Offseason
The Denver Broncos are in for a big offseason after falling short against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Denver was very active last year, signing Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Evan Engram. If they want to get to the Super Bowl next season, they’ll need to be smart with their money and sign high-impact players on offense.
Running back is expected to be one of their top priorities, and there are a ton of names available. Outside of that, Denver could use an upgrade at linebacker and tight end, given how disappointing Evan Engram was last year.
Will the Broncos Make a Splash?
It does sound like the Denver Broncos will make a run at a top free agent when the legal tampering period opens at Noon Eastern tomorrow. Some of the biggest names on the market are MLB Devin Lloyd, and RB’s Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne. With JK Dobbins going down for most of the season, it showed how badly they needed another back.
Walker is coming off a Super Bowl MVP and would fit perfectly in Sean Payton’s offense. He is the workhorse that Denver has needed for years, and he dominated every team in the playoffs. Given how well he performed last year and his age of only 25, he is expected to get a big payday in free agency. The Broncos could opt to go out and get someone like Etienne, who will sign for less money.
Etienne has been extremely consistent during his time with the Jaguars, rushing for over 1,000 yards in three of the four seasons. On top of being a good runner, he is also a threat in the passing game. According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, when word spread a year ago that Etienne was on the trade market, the Broncos did their due diligence, but the Jaguars wound up keeping him.
Have To Hit On the Margins
Even if they do make a big splash, Denver has to make multiple other signings to improve its depth and find players capable of making an impact next season. Tight end will be one to watch, as Evan Engram was nowhere to be found all season long. Cade Otton has been frequently linked to Denver, given his ability to block and still be a good asset in the passing game.
With how thin their receiving core is, not having a true tight end for Bo Nix to throw to was a crushing blow. The NFL Draft has a lot of talent at that position, headlined by young star Kenyon Sadiq from the Oregon Ducks. Reality is, Denver must add another tight end, even after it gave Adam Trautman a three-year deal.
The other position they need to add to? Linebacker. Dre Greenlaw missed a ton of time this year, and the Broncos were extremely thin for multiple weeks. Justin Strnad played well in an elevated role, but after him, there is no one else capable of stepping up. Devin Lloyd, Kaden Elliss, and Quay Walker are potential names to watch in free agency. In the Draft, the inside linebacker position is stacked, and Denver could draft one early on, which would be perfect.
Free Agency Frenzy Begins
Last year, we had a better idea of what the Denver Broncos would do in free agency. This time around, they’re a complete wild card and have a ton of different ways to go. I still expect them to land a big name tomorrow, and many insiders have predicted them to go all in on a running back.
George Paton has done an incredible job of adding to this roster aggressively since the arrival of Nix. We will know by the end of the week whether the Broncos’ front office is truly willing to go all in to win a Super Bowl and maximize their window with Nix on a rookie contract.
