Potential Cuts this offseason to look for.

[dukes88]

I really hope that we are not going to cut either Talib or Ward who are half of the best DB group in the NFL and are really not making that much considering...

We have cap space and some needs on the OL, DL, LB and QB. If we are set that Lynch/Siemian are the duo then that is what we have and it is cheap. If we go out and sign a Tony Romo type QB to start with Lynch in the wings then we may need some restructures to happen. I don't want to take on Romo and his 20+ for the next 3 years, would have to be much better than that at maybe 2 years. Our window is getting smaller and a top end QB and better OL/DL would put us back in contention without question.

As for Okung and Stephenson - it is so tough, they were both awful and we can hopefully draft a OT early in the draft, but we need some depth and a draft pick may not be ready this year. There is nothing really available in FA that we can go after and we may be changing schemes with a new OC on the way. This could be very tricky, but as of now we need to keep what we have and continue to build young players around them to take their jobs. Spend all our draft picks in the trenches and to create more depth in areas of need and we can keep the momentum going.

[58Miller]

I find that very hard to believe.

Walker had a better PFF run defense grade in 2015 than Malik. Malik obviously was a much better all around player especially as an interior pass rusher.

[FlowdaBroncoFan]

Yeah my bad, this statement came out wrong. I meant for it to come off as hyperbolic because he is my favorite Bronco, but I would rather trade him than cut or trade Talib because I feel Talib is more valuable for our team at this time.

I figured, but I had to ask.

[Gbt31]

Definitely not suggesting that we should trade or cut DT.

[Gbt31]

With the potential of McCoy coming back, I would like to keep DT. No way do I want to trade either player. We should keep what we have and build on it, not take away and hope for a replacement.

Yeah my bad, this statement came out wrong. I meant for it to come off as hyperbolic because he is my favorite Bronco, but I would rather trade him than cut or trade Talib because I feel Talib is more valuable for our team at this time.

[FlowdaBroncoFan]

You guys know me, and most know I love DT...huge fan of his since GT days. Besides Chris Harris, he is probably my favorite Bronco. Maybe a tie between him and Miller. But I would rather us trade DT than cut or trade Talib. He had his best season this year and played with pure fire. When Harry Douglas took out Harris....and the very next play I see Talib scrapping with him on the opposing sideline, that won me over. That is a player protecting his teammate and family. He is the player you hate to play against and a player you would rather have on your side. He is talented and a headcase, but his loyalty and playmaking ability....and pure passion definitely compensate for the baggage and personal fouls he might cost you.

With the potential of McCoy coming back, I would like to keep DT. No way do I want to trade either player. We should keep what we have and build on it, not take away and hope for a replacement.

[Gbt31]

You guys know me, and most know I love DT...huge fan of his since GT days. Besides Chris Harris, he is probably my favorite Bronco. Maybe a tie between him and Miller. But I would rather us trade DT than cut or trade Talib. He had his best season this year and played with pure fire. When Harry Douglas took out Harris....and the very next play I see Talib scrapping with him on the opposing sideline, that won me over. That is a player protecting his teammate and family. He is the player you hate to play against and a player you would rather have on your side. He is talented and a headcase, but his loyalty and playmaking ability....and pure passion definitely compensate for the baggage and personal fouls he might cost you.

[Rich_C]

Aqib Talib should NOT be cut. He is an All-Pro, arguably the best at his position, dominant and the leader of this defense. When he was out injured this season this defense looked completely lost. Bradley Roby is solid, and fills a nice role inside this defense however he was such a drop off from Talib and was picked on and exposed. Aqib Talib is worth his contract number and I will be really annoyed if he is gone, and I feel so will the locker room.

The rest of the guys you mentioned I would cut. Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung are not worth their contract number and are no way starting caliber players in this league. I can't believe how bad they actually were. TJ Ward has been solid for us but he isn't that great at anything. He is regarded as a hard hitting safety but he over pursues way too often, takes bad angles and whiffs a lot of the time. He makes some nice plays but I don't see him being worth his contract number. I would prefer to give that money to an Offensive Lineman in free agency.

Right and while in theory that makes a ton of sense who spells Ward as a starter and more importantly who is the backup?

I think that with the added money and other potential cuts and us not extending Okung potentially we'd likely have enough for all of our major FA needs. Then on top of that we have the draft where I am certain we will draft and expect our 1st and potentially 2nd rounder to start. That is at a minimum.

[johnlimburg]

Aqib Talib should NOT be cut. He is an All-Pro, arguably the best at his position, dominant and the leader of this defense. When he was out injured this season this defense looked completely lost. Bradley Roby is solid, and fills a nice role inside this defense however he was such a drop off from Talib and was picked on and exposed. Aqib Talib is worth his contract number and I will be really annoyed if he is gone, and I feel so will the locker room.

The rest of the guys you mentioned I would cut. Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung are not worth their contract number and are no way starting caliber players in this league. I can't believe how bad they actually were. TJ Ward has been solid for us but he isn't that great at anything. He is regarded as a hard hitting safety but he over pursues way too often, takes bad angles and whiffs a lot of the time. He makes some nice plays but I don't see him being worth his contract number. I would prefer to give that money to an Offensive Lineman in free agency.

[ksubroncosfan]

I find that very hard to believe.

I don't. At all. Just wasn't the same kind of pass rusher.

[samparnell]

Unrestricted FA

DeMarcus Ware
Justin Forsett
Kayvon Webster
Vance Walker
Dakota Watson
Billy Winn
Sylvester Williams
Marlon Brown
Thomas Gafford
Jordan Norwood

D-Ware could retire or he could decide to continue to play another year or 2. If Ware decides to play and Wade Phillips is back as DC, Ware will likely be brought back assuming the money is right. The next 2 listed, Forsett and Webster, need to return. If Kubes had continued and not retired, it would have been a near gaurantee that Forsett returned. A RB trio of CJ, Forsett, and Booker, I believe is good enough to get the job done as long as our OL is fixed. Kayvon Webster is a special teams stud. He does a pretty good job when coming in to play D too. He would be my #1 priority to bring back among our Unrestricted FA's. Walker was out all of last season so we had no time to get a good look at him as the NT. I think theres a good shot we sign him back, but it could depend on our draft and other FA signings. Personally, Id like to see Watson brought back. He did good on special teams and shouldnt be to expensive. I think theres a 50/50 chance Watson returns. The next 4 listed are likely gone, I believe. I didnt seen enough out of Williams to warrant bringing him back. And the last one listed, Jordan Norwood, I may riot if he returns.

Restricted FA

Matt Paradis
Shaquil Barrett
Todd Davis
Brandon McManus
Jordan Taylor

Kapri Bibbs
Bennie Fowler

James Ferentz
Sam Brenner
Casey Kreiter
Quentin Gause
Taurean Nixon

All of these guys will be back if the Broncos want them back. The first 5 listed are definitely returning, barring something unforeseen taking place. The next 2 listed are more than likely coming back. Though the last 5 listed are probably returning, they are the least likely to return out of all the Restricted FA.

Paradis, Barrett, Bibbs, Fowler, Ferentz, Kreiter, Taylor, Anderson, Gause and Nixon are ERFAs in 2017.

McManus, Brenner and Davis are RFAs this year, as you say.

[broncos SB2010]

The Vance Walker injury I believe was a huge blow for our defense. He was a great run defender for us the year before- even better than Malik and I believe he was a big reason we let Malik go. All the reports out of camp were that he was having an amazing camp and then he went down with his injury.

If he was here he'd have been the starter at DE which would've made us MUCH stouter on 1st downs and then he could've spelled Sly and Crick wouldn't have had to play as much and both of their play would've improved imo.

Walker comes very cheap and if healthy can be a big force for our team. Hopefully we can resign him and he comes back healthy and with the same fire. .

I find that very hard to believe.

[swbroncos]

The Vance Walker injury I believe was a huge blow for our defense. He was a great run defender for us the year before- even better than Malik and I believe he was a big reason we let Malik go. All the reports out of camp were that he was having an amazing camp and then he went down with his injury.

If he was here he'd have been the starter at DE which would've made us MUCH stouter on 1st downs and then he could've spelled Sly and Crick wouldn't have had to play as much and both of their play would've improved imo.

Walker comes very cheap and if healthy can be a big force for our team. Hopefully we can resign him and he comes back healthy and with the same fire. .

[kingelway7]

While this debate on which Bronco players could see the ax, what we really need to know is which current players will be available in free agency when the season is over.

Unrestricted FA

DeMarcus Ware
Justin Forsett
Kayvon Webster
Vance Walker
Dakota Watson
Billy Winn
Sylvester Williams
Marlon Brown
Thomas Gafford
Jordan Norwood

D-Ware could retire or he could decide to continue to play another year or 2. If Ware decides to play and Wade Phillips is back as DC, Ware will likely be brought back assuming the money is right. The next 2 listed, Forsett and Webster, need to return. If Kubes had continued and not retired, it would have been a near gaurantee that Forsett returned. A RB trio of CJ, Forsett, and Booker, I believe is good enough to get the job done as long as our OL is fixed. Kayvon Webster is a special teams stud. He does a pretty good job when coming in to play D too. He would be my #1 priority to bring back among our Unrestricted FA's. Walker was out all of last season so we had no time to get a good look at him as the NT. I think theres a good shot we sign him back, but it could depend on our draft and other FA signings. Personally, Id like to see Watson brought back. He did good on special teams and shouldnt be to expensive. I think theres a 50/50 chance Watson returns. The next 4 listed are likely gone, I believe. I didnt seen enough out of Williams to warrant bringing him back. And the last one listed, Jordan Norwood, I may riot if he returns.

Restricted FA

Matt Paradis
Shaquil Barrett
Todd Davis
Brandon McManus
Jordan Taylor

Kapri Bibbs
Bennie Fowler

James Ferentz
Sam Brenner
Casey Kreiter
Quentin Gause
Taurean Nixon

All of these guys will be back if the Broncos want them back. The first 5 listed are definitely returning, barring something unforeseen taking place. The next 2 listed are more than likely coming back. Though the last 5 listed are probably returning, they are the least likely to return out of all the Restricted FA.

[Butler By'Note]

Right I agree and the two major pieces there are poor pressure and penetrate on up the middle and another quality DE to compliment Wolfe. I suppose it is posSibley we see Gostis improve but I suspect if anything we will simply just start to see flashes and not brilliance.

With a better NT and another DE our run D would have looked much different.

My contention is NT and MLB. But that's semantics we're in agreement. Assuming the Broncos keep Bill Kolar, I would anticipate seeing improvement from Gotsis next year. Solar is one of the best d-line coaches in the league and Gotsis, who was always going to be a project, will be able to participate fully in the offseason program this year.