So, who do we keep?

[CRL8]

We have so many decisions to make. Outside of keeping Von Miller (that should be obvious), I'm not sure who we will keep. What is everyone's thoughts?

[the0rangecrush]

Von will be franchised, Oz and Trev will reach extensions. Antonio Smith will be brought back. Bruton will as well.

[AussieBronco76]

We have so many decisions to make. Outside of keeping Von Miller (that should be obvious), I'm not sure who we will keep. What is everyone's thoughts?

All year I thought Trevathan was gonna be the first gone as I thought he was at a position where he was easily replaceable but now I reckon we can resign him long term for about 5 million a year. I would do it. Malik Jackson I think will demand money we cant afford so he will be gone(probably to the raiders).

Demarcus Ware will be another cap hit due to cap issues. Ronnie Hillman will be gone and after looking like the first cut for most of the year I think we restructure/keep Clady at about 5 million a year. Oz stays at about 12-14 million a year.

[FR Tim]

I will continue to hope they all are coming back except Manning. I am not trying to start a Manning argument. just think he retires and lives the dream with the SB win capping his career.

I realize it is not realistic for all to return but I love the defense and want them all to be back. Who knows, perhaps with some creative contracts, some re-structures and in all honesty the players not grinding for the max contracts they rightly deserve. I will continue to hope until they actually sign elsewhere.

[CRL8]

I will continue to hope they all are coming back except Manning. I am not trying to start a Manning argument. just think he retires and lives the dream with the SB win capping his career.

I realize it is not realistic for all to return but I love the defense and want them all to be back. Who knows, perhaps with some creative contracts, some re-structures and in all honesty the players not grinding for the max contracts they rightly deserve. I will continue to hope until they actually sign elsewhere.

I don't see why that would start an argument. Even last night, Manning was extremely limited. He has had a great career, but it's time to move on. Especially if we can save $19 million to sign other players. No disagreement there, my friend.

[FR Tim]

I don't see why that would start an argument. Even last night, Manning was extremely limited. He has had a great career, but it's time to move on. Especially if we can save $19 million to sign other players. No disagreement there, my friend.

You are kidding yourself. Still too many "Manning first" fans with the delusions of "PFM" all over the board still looking for arguments.

Basically I am appreciative of all he did for the NFL and the Broncos. Truly an incredible career. But "extremely limited" is being kind. I wish him well in retirement.

Back to the point of your post. It is going to be interesting to see if Elway can work some miracles with the cap and get the majority of this defense back on the field.

Miller is a no brainer. Just hope he is willing to work with the contract. In some ways the same principle applies to Jackson and Osweiler (if that is the direction chosen) to back end contracts or spread out the money to make it work. Luckily most of the main free agents are still young enough to make that realistic.

Add to that some restructuring by some of the older players and maybe a diamond in the rough free agent or two that the FO seems to find every year. Then include a solid draft to fill some depth gaps. Broncos should be right back in the mix next year if all the pieces fall into place.

But the flip side of that is if they don't and the Broncos lose multiple key free agents it could be a tough season next year.

Priority IMO is Miller, Jackson, Osweiler, Trevathan, Johnson, Bruton.

[Rancid]

I think who we keep is largely influenced by the FA market and the draft-- neither of which have occurred yet. Of all the FA's, Osweiler and Miller seem to be the priorities.

[Mantheyman]

I think who we keep is largely influenced by the FA market and the draft-- neither of which have occurred yet. Of all the FA's, Malik and Miller seem to be the priorities.

Fixed it for ya.

[Freyaka]

We have so many decisions to make. Outside of keeping Von Miller (that should be obvious), I'm not sure who we will keep. What is everyone's thoughts?

I think we'll retain just about everyone other than Danny T and Malik Jackson and I think we'll have nice replacements step up and we won't miss them. Love both of those guys, but this team is a next man up squad and there is always someone waiting in the wings to do his job.

[scottaud]

All year I thought Trevathan was gonna be the first gone as I thought he was at a position where he was easily replaceable but now I reckon we can resign him long term for about 5 million a year. I would do it. Malik Jackson I think will demand money we cant afford so he will be gone(probably to the raiders).

Demarcus Ware will be another cap hit due to cap issues. Ronnie Hillman will be gone and after looking like the first cut for most of the year I think we restructure/keep Clady at about 5 million a year. Oz stays at about 12-14 million a year.

With Peyton gone and I think Ware retires too, cut Colquitt and find a punter long term. If he wants to come back at a lower pay than 4.5 mill in 2016 (like 1 mill) then great but he needs competition. Trade Vasquez who doesn't work in zone blocking to a TON of teams who would love a power G. Get some draft choices out of him but salary off the books.

Get Clady from 10 mill to 3-4 mill. Then get brock at 10 mill for 3 years to see if he pans out. That let's him out early to get his payday (two year guarantee) if he earns it and wants to leave or stay. That gives an extra 44 mill to get Von, Trevathan, Bruton and Brock. Then you work on Malik to see if you can but replace him if he gets the big bucks I think he wants. That gives you room to draft and then add some people around in the running game (outside of getting Hillman gone) with CJ who is going to soon want to get paid. Then you have Ty at RT, Clady LT with G and Center and backup tackle on your draft radar. You then get better with on the OL that was horrid this year.

[beastlyskronk]

Keep Trevathan, he's an animal and gives our defense a lot of versatility. Let Malik walk, draft Nkemdiche, Washington, oakman, or Nassib. Iffy on keeping Bruton, I like Kearse, Thompson, and Mills as potential draft replacements.

[IAbronco24]

Is it possible to keep everyone but Jackson while still adding a piece on the OL? I love Jackson but that guy is going to get paid.. Probably not by Denver

[MHSalute]

Is it possible to keep everyone but Jackson while still adding a piece on the OL? I love Jackson but that guy is going to get paid.. Probably not by Denver

We have 10M in cap space now, so no cant keep everyone; however, I doubt you mean everyone as that would include Manning. May need to be more specific to get an accurate answer.

[IAbronco24]

We have 10M in cap space now, so no cant keep everyone; however, I doubt you mean everyone as that would include Manning. May need to be more specific to get an accurate answer.

You assumed correctly, sorry I meant with manning leaving and I guess to add to that keeping Brock

[MHSalute]

You assumed correctly, sorry I meant with manning leaving and I guess to add to that keeping Brock

Manning save 19M, say we get VM at 17M
Clady save 10M, say we get MJ for 9M
Getting Ware for 7M on restructure, plus 3M left over gets Trev for 6M

Those three moves get those three guys on defense, still have CJ RFA and Marshall RFA costing about 5M combined.

So left with the original 10M, but need to back out 5M for draft and 5M for emergencies.

Mathis?
Bruton?
R Harris?
Hiullman?
Caldwell?
Norwood?

Not looking too good. MJ vs Brock would be a decision imo Not leaving much left over for an OL piece. Could save 3-4M by restructuring Talib.

At the end of the day, I think we lose 2-3 guys we wish we could have kept.