How Much Would The Broncos Improve By Bringing in Daniel Graham?

[TXBRONC]

Lee Rasizer brought this up in his team report that he does for The Sporting News. Last year I know we were very interested in bring him in so I wonder if Rasizer is right. Oh and the other stuff is interesting as well.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/broncos/

By Lee Rasizer
Rocky Mountain News
January 28, 2007

Don't be surprised if the Broncos take a serious run at TE Daniel Graham should he become available in free agency. Denver discussed Graham but was rebuffed last offseason. Graham makes sense on several levels. He's a native of Denver and attended college in nearby Boulder and likely wouldn't mind moving closer to home. The Broncos have a fine developmental prospect in Tony Scheffler but he's more of a pass-catching option. Signing Graham would allow the team to have a solid two-way option along with a top-notch two-tight end tandem, which is a staple of their strong running game. The rub in all this could be the Patriots applying the franchise tag to Graham, since the $4.37 million figure is well below what it would take to tag CB Asante Samuel ($7.79 million). . . .
The Broncos continue to hold out hope that Jake Plummer will remain as their backup, especially since the available pool of free-agent quarterbacks is expected to be thin. But the Broncos also won't stand in Plummer's way from pursuing his goal of being a starting quarterback elsewhere and would need his blessing to stick around since his salary-cap figure would be cost-prohibitive. Denver is in the process of actively pursuing a trade for Plummer to rectify the situation and placate all sides involved.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Broncos will be counting on third-year CB Domonique Foxworth to help overcome the tragic loss of Darrent Williams, possibly as the new starter. Foxworth's biggest asset is his top-end speed and head for the game. He backpedals fluidly and has good change-of-direction skills. But he sometimes appears to be too concerned with getting beaten over the top and affords too much cushion, allowing a high percentage of underneath routes to be caught. But as his emergency move to safety last season proved, he isn't afraid to stick his nose in and initiate contact. And he has the mental toughness to take on the challenge of being a frequent target with Champ Bailey manning the opposite side.

[muse]

I'd love to see Graham here, it'd boost our running game plus he's a better pass catcher than Alexander...I really hope we net him. Alexander's been alright but really nothing special...

[HORSEPOWER 56]

Lee Rasizer brought this up in his team report that he does for The Sporting News. Last year I know we were very interested in bring him in so I wonder if Rasizer is right. Oh and the other stuff is interesting as well.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/broncos/

By Lee Rasizer
Rocky Mountain News
January 28, 2007

Don't be surprised if the Broncos take a serious run at TE Daniel Graham should he become available in free agency. Denver discussed Graham but was rebuffed last offseason. Graham makes sense on several levels. He's a native of Denver and attended college in nearby Boulder and likely wouldn't mind moving closer to home. The Broncos have a fine developmental prospect in Tony Scheffler but he's more of a pass-catching option. Signing Graham would allow the team to have a solid two-way option along with a top-notch two-tight end tandem, which is a staple of their strong running game. The rub in all this could be the Patriots applying the franchise tag to Graham, since the $4.37 million figure is well below what it would take to tag CB Asante Samuel ($7.79 million). . . .
The Broncos continue to hold out hope that Jake Plummer will remain as their backup, especially since the available pool of free-agent quarterbacks is expected to be thin. But the Broncos also won't stand in Plummer's way from pursuing his goal of being a starting quarterback elsewhere and would need his blessing to stick around since his salary-cap figure would be cost-prohibitive. Denver is in the process of actively pursuing a trade for Plummer to rectify the situation and placate all sides involved.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Broncos will be counting on third-year CB Domonique Foxworth to help overcome the tragic loss of Darrent Williams, possibly as the new starter. Foxworth's biggest asset is his top-end speed and head for the game. He backpedals fluidly and has good change-of-direction skills. But he sometimes appears to be too concerned with getting beaten over the top and affords too much cushion, allowing a high percentage of underneath routes to be caught. But as his emergency move to safety last season proved, he isn't afraid to stick his nose in and initiate contact. And he has the mental toughness to take on the challenge of being a frequent target with Champ Bailey manning the opposite side.

I don't think Graham would be that much of an improvement over what we already have. He's just another Stephen Alexander with slightly better hands. Scheffler will be the pass catcher of the duo, anyway, and Graham will command a pretty good chunk of change to do what Alexander is already doing. If Graham was as solid in the passing game as he's made out to be, the Pats wouldn't have dropped a first rounder on Ben Watson. I think somebody is going to pay too much for this guy just because he's a Patriot, I just hope it's not us.

It's nice to see Foxy getting some mention, finally. I think it's ludicrous that he's been as overlooked as D-Will's replacement in the media (picking us to go CB in the first round ) as he has. I don't think that there will be any drop off vs the pass with him in there, but Foxy is not as solid a tackler so the rush defense won't be as strong to his side.

[TXBRONC]

I don't think Graham would be that much of an improvement over what we already have. He's just another Stephen Alexander with slightly better hands. Scheffler will be the pass catcher of the duo, anyway, and Graham will command a pretty good chunk of change to do what Alexander is already doing. If Graham was as solid in the passing game as he's made out to be, the Pats wouldn't have dropped a first rounder on Ben Watson. I think somebody is going to pay too much for this guy just because he's a Patriot, I just hope it's not us.

It's nice to see Foxy getting some mention, finally. I think it's ludicrous that he's been as overlooked as D-Will's replacement in the media (picking us to go CB in the first round ) as he has. I don't think that there will be any drop off vs the pass with him in there, but Foxy is not as solid a tackler so the rush defense won't be as strong to his side.

I hear ya. I don't why the media thinks Denver will pick an early round CB. Foxworth will be fine.

[halfback]

id rather save the money and see what scheffler can do in a full season, i think he is going to be a good 50 rec a year tight end, i think he has good upside and a pretty bright future

[Lorcust]

I don't think Graham would be that much of an improvement over what we already have. He's just another Stephen Alexander with slightly better hands. Scheffler will be the pass catcher of the duo, anyway, and Graham will command a pretty good chunk of change to do what Alexander is already doing. If Graham was as solid in the passing game as he's made out to be, the Pats wouldn't have dropped a first rounder on Ben Watson. I think somebody is going to pay too much for this guy just because he's a Patriot, I just hope it's not us.

It's nice to see Foxy getting some mention, finally. I think it's ludicrous that he's been as overlooked as D-Will's replacement in the media (picking us to go CB in the first round ) as he has. I don't think that there will be any drop off vs the pass with him in there, but Foxy is not as solid a tackler so the rush defense won't be as strong to his side.

I'm sorry, but he's far superior the blocker that Alexander is.

Take a look at some of the Pats longer post-season runs and who is lead blocking and creating holes? Graham.

Alexander is also pretty... not poor, but below average in pass protection. Sadly, he is the best mix of receiving/blocking we have, hence why he is the "blocking TE."

The only qualms I have about signing him is the potential cost he could have.

[muse]

Graham is regarded as one of the best blockers in the league and is a good pass catcher too albeit not as good as Watson. Scheffler's blocking will not be up to starting scratch yet so it makes sense to bring in Graham.

[TXBRONC]

I'm sorry, but he's far superior the blocker that Alexander is.

Take a look at some of the Pats longer post-season runs and who is lead blocking and creating holes? Graham.

Alexander is also pretty... not poor, but below average in pass protection. Sadly, he is the best mix of receiving/blocking we have, hence why he is the "blocking TE."

The only qualms I have about signing him is the potential cost he could have.

If the Patriots don't put the franchise tag on him I don't will still get $4.37 million. Not that we could get him for a song and a dance but maybe something less than what his franchise tag number would be.

[CHARLIEADAMSFAN]

for some reason i feel we will not get him

[TXBRONC]

for some reason i feel we will not get him

If we do great, I hope he's everything we hope for and a bag nuts. If we don't we at not any worse off.

[stnzed]

Daniel Graham

Graham is thought to be one of the better blockers in the league, and right now he's every bit as good as a pass catcher as Scheffler. That may change as Scheffler progresses...

But if they signed Graham he'd be no worse than the 3rd option in the base offense, imo. (Unless the o-line continues to struggle pass blocking, which would make Graham even more valuable)

Graham has been taking somewhat of a back seat to Watson in the offense...But, simply put, Graham is as complete a TE as you'l find in the NFL.

There isn't a player in free agency that I'd rather have the Broncos sign....Excluding Freeney of course!


Shanahan should right the wrong move he made in 2002....When he picked Lelie over Graham..

.

[Broncosinindy]

i am in aggrement we need a guy that can anchor the Defense Line..more then we need a grahm type ..smply because i think alexander is serviceable..

[muse]

Shanahan should right the wrong move he made in 2002....When he picked Lelie over Graham..

.

Wouldn't it be doing the double after acquiring Walker?

[pipes]

Wouldn't it be doing the double after acquiring Walker?

Then he should acquire Ed Reed...that's who he should have taken over both of them......

[stnzed]

You get the point!

Wouldn't it be doing the double after acquiring Walker?

Two different positions. But he could right two wrongs in two consecutive off-seasons.