Little Crazy, but so...(off season plan)

[MHSalute]

I see things a little different as far as team needs, but here it goes:

Cut: Dressen
Restructure: Tamme

Save us 3.5M (think we should be around 14M at this point)

Free agent signings

OT David Stewart - May be able to talk him into a cheaper deal if he would like a shot at a ring. Would take over swing OT duties (wait for it). Graded out middle of the pack OT per PFF. 1yr deal 2.5M

G/OT Eben Britten - I feel he is better at G than OT, but still young. 2yr 2.5M

WR Damian Williams - Mess of a situation in Tenn, could be a good rehabilitation guy to compete for #2 WR job. 2yr 2.5M

OC - Fernando Velasco - in 2012 he rated as #11 OC by PFF, had a bad game and then went IR, so throwing out rating. Would be nice OC depth only 29 1yr 1.75M

RFA MLB Vincent Rey - Guy was elite at MLB earning a 6.3 grade from PFF. With no compensation required, I see no reason not to flex a little cap muscle and grab a great young (only 26) MLB. 4yr 17M with 7M cap hit this year.

That's it, so about 9M total cap hit for these guys and gives us depth all along OL and a legit MLB, one of the OL will get cut imo, but it gives us great competition for 2 spots. .

On to draft:

1st Trade #31 and O Franklin to Miami for #19 pick. Miami is a perfect fit for O Franklin. I do not see us extending him and do not think he fits at LG. Clark takes over RT.

Selection: CB Darqueze Dennard - We get the best press CB in the draft and a shutdown guy opposite our shutdown guy. Pusher Webster and Carter to depth roles which is good. Alternative: Dee Ford/A Donald

2nd OC Weston Richburg - Groom behind our aging OC, will battle for LG spot.

3rd WR Donte Moncrief - Competes with Williams, and Bubba for #2 job, fills out depth at WR.

4th OT Antonio Richardson - This will give us 10 OL guys competing for 9 spots. Think Richardson can use a year or two but could be elite OT.

4th (Trade 6th, 7th, Duke) RB Andre Williams - Gives us some depth and a solid bruiser.

5th ILB Avery Williamson - LB Depth

UDFA FS Brock Vereen, SS Jerry Gates - Will compete with Carter for 2 spots backing up TJ and Moore. Best if Carter wins and one can go to PS


All done

[munoz1987]

Good call on Vincent Ray but that's it, You are crazy.

[notmyname]

Elway/Fox Draft History

Just something to look at and prod over..PFF Style grading over the last 3 drafts ..

2013 Draft
1 28 DT Sylvester Williams
2 58 RB Montee Ball
3 90 CB Kayvon Webster
5 146 DE Quanterus Smith
6 173 OL Vinston Painter
7 234 QB Zac Dysert

2012 Draft
2 36 DE Derek Wolfe
2 57 QB Brock Osweiler
3 67 RB Ronnie Hillman
4 101 CB/S Omar Bolden
5 137 DE/DL Malik Jackson
6 188 WLB Danny Trevathan

2011 Draft
1 2 LB Von Miller
2 45 FS Rahim Moore
2 46 RT Orlando Franklin
3 67 LB Nate Irving
4 108 S Quinton Carter
4 129 TE Julius Thomas
7 204 TE Virgil Green
UDFA CB Chris Harris
UDFA DT Mitch Unrien

Color Codes
Elite Starter
Solid Starter/Valuable Role Player
Adequate Starter/Solid Role Player
Needing Improvement/Depth
Insufficient Data/Snaps
NA/Not Addressed

Depth Chart Offense

QB Brock Osweiler,Zac Dysert
WR NA
TE Julius Thomas,Virgil Green
RB Montee Ball,Ronnie Hillman
LT NA
LG NA
C NA
RG NA
RT Orlando Franklin
OL Vinston Painter

Depth Chart Defense

LDE Derek Wolfe,Malik Jackson
DT Sylvester Williams
NT Mitch Unrien
RDE Quanterus Smith
SLB Von Miller
MLB Nate Irving
WLB Danny Trevethan
CB Chris Harris
CB Kayvon Webster
FS Rahim Moore,
S Quinton Carter,CB/S Omar Bolden

Notes
the color coding and language was changed to better reflect players that have not received sufficient playing time because of being backups,IR etc..UDFA Chris Harris,Mitch Unrien was added for receiving a sufficient number of snaps..The color coding system is just used to give a general idea and can mean various things about the individual player..Players not listed in the 3 year draft history or no longer on the team or have yet to receive playing time..SLB Nate Irving was moved to MLB in this depth chart ..

References

*https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...enver-broncos/
*http://www.pro-football-reference.co.../den/draft.htm
* http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/depth-chart.html

[notmyname]

Color Codes
Elite Starter
Solid Starter/Valuable Role Player
Adequate Starter/Solid Role Player
Needing Improvement/Depth
Insufficient Data/Snaps
NA/Not Addressed

Depth Chart Offense

QB Brock Osweiler,Zac Dysert
WR NA
TE Julius Thomas,Virgil Green
RB Montee Ball,Ronnie Hillman
LT NA
LG NA
C NA
RG NA
RT Orlando Franklin
OL Vinston Painter

Depth Chart Defense

LDE Derek Wolfe,Malik Jackson
DT Sylvester Williams
NT Mitch Unrien
RDE Quanterus Smith
SLB Von Miller
MLB Nate Irving
WLB Danny Trevethan
CB Chris Harris
CB Kayvon Webster
FS Rahim Moore,
S Quinton Carter,CB/S Omar Bolden

Elite Starter
Von Miller

Solid Starter/Valuable Role Player
Julius Thomas, Orlando Franklin,Danny Trevethan,Chris Harris

Adequate Starter/Solid Role Player
Montee Ball,Derek Wolfe,Malik Jackson,Sylvester Williams,Rahim Moore,

Needing Improvement/Depth
Ronnie Hillman,Mitch Unrien, Nate Irving,Kayvon Webster,Quinton Carter,Omar Bolden

Insufficient Data/Snaps
Brock Osweiler,Zac Dysert,Virgil Green,Vinston Painter,Quanterus Smith

[crash123go]

I pretty much agree. One thing I notice looking at all these players we have drafted, even those that need improvement in their technique, there is A LOT of athletic talent. It's amazing to see the talent and see how much more athletic we have gotten and too see the developing talent on the roster.

I believe 95% of our fan base gives up way, way too early on physically talented players. They are here, they got to the NFL because they are athletically gifted enough to play this game, they just need more coaching then some guys like Von Miller.

I for one am nowhere near ready to give up on players like Hillman, Bolden, Q Carter or Vinston Painter. These guys are athletes and have shown they have the ability, they just need time to be coached up and time to get those hard earned practice reps.

[cdumler7]

Only guy you have listed that I am ready to give up on is Bolden. I just haven't seen any improvement in the guy from his rookie year to now. Yes I understand some guys it does take a while but usually you start seeing little signs of improvement. The rest of them I am with you in not ready to give up on them.

Very excited for this season to get to see Q. Smith finally see the field and see what he can bring.

Also quick question about this...What qualifies as an elite starter? I would have thought PFF would have Harris as an elite starter. If it is top 5 at their respective positions then I would say all the guys under solid starter could make an argument that they fit into that. Now Franklin it would depend if you are only grading him against other Right Tackles or just the Tackle position in general. Julius Thomas would depend if you are talking about receiving TE or do you have to be the all-around TE because honestly if that is the case then I don't think Graham would fall in that category because he sucks at blocking.

[LightningRodBob]

I think Chris Harris should be bumped to elite starter and Rahim Moore deserves to be bumped to solid starter. He was very good in 2012 (graded out as a top 10 safety on PFF) and his 2013 season basically gets an incomplete, but he was grading out well in coverage again although not as good against the run. For now, based on what I saw in 2012 and part of 2013 he's at the very least, SOLID.


As for Harris, he's probably the best slot corner in the NFL and very good on the outside as well. There aren't 10 corners in the NFL I would take over him. I think he's elite

[crash123go]

Bolden has had plays where he has looked good, has he had bad ones? Yes. But Elway has built a team that has won 3 division titles in a row and Fox's staff has coached that team and developed its players. They have seen something in bolden, during practice and his good plays during games to keep him on this roster. Our FO is not afraid to cut players when they think they just don't have it anymore and Omar is still on the team so to me they have seen something

[notmyname]

I for one am nowhere near ready to give up on players like Hillman, Bolden, Q Carter or Vinston Painter. These guys are athletes and have shown they have the ability, they just need time to be coached up and time to get those hard earned practice reps.

I agree ..

Outside of injuries to the top draft picks the Broncos have hit and landed good players..The players you listed from the third round back (3-7) should be viewed as needing time to develop..Unless being viewed with severely high expectations ..

Its easy to judge with the ability of hindsight..Everyone has the chance to be Bill Walsh.. I will say I understand those that are critical of how a team drafts to a certain point..I know I always tried to find reason behind who they drafted even when I don't understand why or like who they drafted

I find it interesting ... When breaking down the last 3 drafts the major difference in drafting defense over offense but with the well known position and player PFM to tip the scale of becoming a record setting offense ..Elway done a magnificent job at understanding and reshaping the roster with he had to work with..

[cdumler7]

Bolden has had plays where he has looked good, has he had bad ones? Yes. But Elway has built a team that has won 3 division titles in a row and Fox's staff has coached that team and developed its players. They have seen something in bolden, during practice and his good plays during games to keep him on this roster. Our FO is not afraid to cut players when they think they just don't have it anymore and Omar is still on the team so to me they have seen something

We shall see...I think he has been helped by the fact that he has been at a position where we haven't had a ton of depth. Plus him playing safety this past year helps in versatility but every year but his rookie season he has been on the roster bubble. Yes he has done enough to stay but with this team getting deeper each year guys like him are going to be tougher to justify keeping on the roster.

[Amari24]

I think Chris Harris should be bumped to elite starter and Rahim Moore deserves to be bumped to solid starter. He was very good in 2012 (graded out as a top 10 safety on PFF) and his 2013 season basically gets an incomplete, but he was grading out well in coverage again although not as good against the run. For now, based on what I saw in 2012 and part of 2013 he's at the very least, SOLID.


As for Harris, he's probably the best slot corner in the NFL and very good on the outside as well. There aren't 10 corners in the NFL I would take over him. I think he's elite

I prefer Harris in the slot myself if only because he has a ton of experience going against some of the top slot receivers in Welker and Stokely during practice. I would also bump Moore into the solid category as well.

Hillman and Painter I'm fine with, but I've honestly given up hope on Bolden. He's like Nate Jones. One good play for every two bad ones.

[crash123go]

We shall see...I think he has been helped by the fact that he has been at a position where we haven't had a ton of depth. Plus him playing safety this past year helps in versatility but every year but his rookie season he has been on the roster bubble. Yes he has done enough to stay but with this team getting deeper each year guys like him are going to be tougher to justify keeping on the roster.

It took knowshon 4 years before he developed noticeable talent on the field. Just a example. Another would be Thomas jones, I think it took him 5 but when he hit he was a top 5 RB for the next 4-5 years

[ERoyal248]

Pretty much agree.

Bolden is awful.

The rest looks about right.

[notmyname]

I think Chris Harris should be bumped to elite starter and Rahim Moore deserves to be bumped to solid starter. He was very good in 2012 (graded out as a top 10 safety on PFF) and his 2013 season basically gets an incomplete, but he was grading out well in coverage again although not as good against the run. For now, based on what I saw in 2012 and part of 2013 he's at the very least, SOLID.

As for Harris, he's probably the best slot corner in the NFL and very good on the outside as well. There aren't 10 corners in the NFL I would take over him. I think he's elite

I know what you're saying LRB

Saying Harris is a solid starter is by no means disrespecting the ability he has shown to this point..Its just means he hasn't reached the status of being considered one the greatest at his position at this time..Like a player such as Champ did consistently for so many years . Elite Starter is not pro bowl level its All pro

With Moore I can understand why some would like to view him ranked higher .. I just don't believe his play has been consistent enough with one year as a full time starter and getting injured last year..The potential is there tho,saying someone is a Adequate Starter/Solid Role Player I believe is fair

Its interesting in that Moore is one the higher draft picks in this regime..The magnifying glare from hero to zero will be judge upon quickly..The Broncos need him to stay healthy first and foremost and start to play up to the expectations many of us have in him going into his 4th year ..

[notmyname]

Pretty much agree.

Bolden is awful.

The rest looks about right.

I needed an extra color palette..

For labeling a player a bust..However I don't have that type of bravado yet