With the 2014 free agency period starting up today, the Denver Broncos have their work cut out for them. Several departures will leave the team thin at key positions, and the Super Bowl loss made it clear which areas need to be strengthened. Here are five free agents who can help take Denver back to the Super Bowl next season:
2014 by the numbers:
Estimated Salary Cap Space: $27,110,856
Offense: $75,657,767 (31 players)
Defense: $34,164,181 (31 players)
Special teams: $7,633,834 (three players)
The Denver Broncos will have a long grocery list to check off before they can even think about making a return to the Super Bowl. That doesn't mean the 2014 Free Agency period -- which begins today -- won't present enough opportunities for them to make it happen, though.
Last season, the Broncos signed Louis Vasquez, Wes Welker, Terrance Knighton, Shaun Phillips - who led the team in sacks last season with 10 - and Quentin Jammer in May. This year will likely be another active offseason for the Broncos.
With the potential losses of Knowshon Moreno (RB), Eric Decker (WR), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB) and the actual loss of Champ Bailey (CB), the Broncos will likely see a very different roster heading into next season. At the end of the day, it's going to be a matter of whether or not the Broncos can appropriately fill the voids and improve upon them.
The Broncos will look to improve in virtually every area this offseason. From a change-of-pace back to cornerbacks, the Broncos will be looking to stock up on talent in what looks to be an exciting free agency pool.
Simply put, offense was not the issue last season... defense was the real problem. If the Broncos are serious about making one last crack at the title with an aging Peyton Manning, it will have to begin and end on the defensive end. Losing a receiver like Decker and a back like Moreno may make it seem like the offense is a more urgent need, but the results on the defensive end of the field will determine Denver's success in this year's free agent frenzy.
Jared Allen (6-foot-6, 270 lbs, defensive end, 31 years old)
2013 season stats: 33 tackles, 19 assists, 11.5 sacks
One of the more intriguing free agent prospect thus far has been former Minnesota Viking DE Jared Allen. According to St. Paul Pioneer Press's Chris Tomasson, Allen is as sure a thing the Broncos will have this free agency, and picking him up is by no means far-fetched.
Despite the fact that Allen will turn 32 this April, he's still a formidable lineman, and is exactly what the Broncos currently need.
With Derek Wolfe being the lone returning starter on the defensive line, the Broncos are in dire need of a pass rusher, and Allen couldn't fit that mold any better. Allen is not quite the player he was back in 2011, but he would do wonders for a Broncos defensive line that has been suspect at best. Pairing Allen with a healthy Von Miller alone would not only legitimize the Broncos defense, but it would also provide veteran leadership that the Broncos could use in the postseason.
Darren Sproles (5-foot-six, 190lbs, running back, 31 years old)
2013 season stats: 220 yards on 53 attempts, 4.2 average, two touchdowns
Before the Broncos pursue a plethora of players on defense, they'll first need a feature back that can complement Manning. Assuming the Broncos lose Moreno, they'll need to find another proven pass-catcher in the backfield.
Last season, Montee Ball, C.J. Anderson, Jerodis Williams and Ronnie Hillman combined for just 278 receiving yards and didn't provide any proof they're ready to fill that void. Ball may be capable of being a three-down back for the Broncos next season, but they will need another back to switch up the pace.
This is where Sproles comes in. Last season, the 31-year old caught 71 passes for 604 yards and two touchdowns in a season where he ranked among the best backs in the NFL in receiving yards. Sproles has not been known to post flashy numbers in traditional running back fashion, but he has proven to be one of the best change-of-pace backs in the league.
Age may be a concern, as any running back past 30 raises natural red flags, but the Broncos aren't looking for a superstar. They're looking for someone to fill the shoes of Moreno, who recorded a staggering 60 receptions last season - and Sproles can do just that.
T.J. Ward (5-foot-10, 200 lbs, strong safety, 27 years old)
2013 season stats: 75 tackles, 37 assists, two interceptions, one touchdown
Duke Ihenacho and Rahim Moore both had solid outings for the Broncos last season. Iheacho, who played in 15 games last year finished with 56 tackles, 18 assists and three forced fumbles -- could have had a touchdown too had he not prematurely dropped the ball -- while Moore finished with 38 tackles, six assists and two interceptions. The two safeties are expected to log in more minutes next season.
Having said that, there's always room to grow. If the rumors surrounding T.J. Ward are indeed true, the Broncos will have no choice but to pursue the former Cleveland Browns safety. In other words, the Broncos will likely approach this offseason with a Seattle Seahawks-esque mentality that values safeties first.
Following the Super Bowl performances of players like Kam Chancellor, safeties will be more valuable commodities in this year's free agency period than they have been in the past. Safeties have been somewhat undervalued lately, considering what they've done in the postseason, and the Broncos will definitely see their value thanks to what happened in the Super Bowl. Ward is a top-two safety in the free agency pool this year, and the Broncos will likely pursue him.
Steve Smith (5-foot-9, 185 lbs, wide receiver, 34 years old)
2013 season stats: 64 receptions, 745 yards, four touchdowns
With the strong likelihood of the Carolina Panthers releasing Steve Smith due to his $7 million cap number, there is an intriguing opportunity for the Broncos to snatch one of the better wide receivers in the league. Smith, 34, may be over the hump, but the Broncos would be simply looking to replace Decker with a third or fourth option. Given the chance, Smith could be extremely dangerous in this capacity.
Why would the two mutually agree to this? Smith wants a Super Bowl, and the Broncos want a veteran leader who can help them get there. There may not be publicized interest between the two, but it would make a lot of sense if they did indeed ink a deal.
Vontae Davis (5-foot-11, 204 lbs, cornerback, 25 years old)
2013 season stats: 41 tackles, five assists, one interception
Similar to Smith, Vontae Davis is expected to sign a deal with a different team--specifically Tuesday. This is good news for the Broncos, although there's little evidence to show that the two sides have mutual interest at the moment. Davis would be a good fit for a Broncos team that's lacking at the cornerback position.
Coming from an Indianapolis Colts team that made some noise in last year's postseason, Davis will likely be looking to play for another contender. Whether it will be the Broncos is yet to be seen, but don't be surprised if it happens.
Former Broncos players
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (6-foot-2, 193 lbs, cornerback, 27 years old)
2013 season stats: 25 tackles, six assists, three interceptions, one touchdown
If there's one player the Broncos will have a clear shot at returning, it will be Rodgers-Cromartie. Considering he isn't currently rumored to be interested in any other teams, it would make a lot of sense for the Broncos to return one of their better defensive players from last season.
Continuing with the trend that the Broncos do not have much depth at the cornerback position, Rodger-Cromartie, who is obviously acclimated to the defensive schemes in Denver, is someone who would be welcomed back with open arms. Rodger-Cromartie may currently be a free agent, but that shouldn't be the case for much longer.
