SaucyGhost Mock Offseason - Don't @ me

[SaucyGhost]

Talib has cap hits of 11 and 8 mil the next 2 seasons, thats fairly manageable for an elite CB still in this day and age. A team with alot of picks and cap could cough up a 3 or 4 for him.

Totally agree. I can see teams like the Rams, Cowboys, or 49ers who would love to have his talent and experience for Super Bowl runs...

[Johnny Football]

Positives

I like that Emmanuel Sanders has been traded in this off-season mock, he wore thin on me by the end of the season and I think he has a bad attitude, at least from the outside looking in. He is a good player, but I feel like he tapped out at the end of the season, or even mid-season when he realised he wasn't going to post a 1000 yard season, or put up any sort of statistics due to our quarterback situation. I don't know if we could get a 4th rounder for him as he has a large cap number attached to him, but I would take a 7th rounder to dump his contract.

Restructuring both Von Miller and Demaryius Thomas is a must. Von Millers contract has already hurt us as we have had to allow other great defensive players to leave in free agency, he needs to make a little bit less money and so does Demaryius Thomas. I have always been very critical of Demaryius Thomas, and it seems people have caught up this season with the same opinion. However, I still think he can play at a high level and produce for a quarterback here, but he needs to take a pay cut.

In the draft from rounds 2-7 I like the positional picks you have made. I am not a fan of certain players, for example I don't see Malik Jefferson being an immediate starter for us or any sort of upgrade. And I am assuming you are drafting him as a backup ? You re-signed Davis and haven't cut Marshall ? I think we need starters from the first 3 rounds, especially if John Elway manages the cap as you have proposed here because having Von Millers contract, Kirk Cousins contract, Cordy Glenns contracts, Demaryius Thomas contract, and some other bad ones like Emmanuel Sanders and Brandon Marshall, we need to have some contributions on this team from draft picks while they earn first contract money.

Negatives

Kirk Cousins is a horrible signing for 30 million dollars, no way to twist it, he has inflated statistics and has proven he is not the alpha everyone thinks he is. He is a losing quarterback in the NFL who has proven he cannot elevate the lack of talent he has been surrounded by. He is a good player, but you will be signing him for a contract only worthy of an elite player, and he is not that.

I can't fathom the idea of drafting a running back with the 5th overall pick. The value in a running back just isn't there anymore, and to burn a top 5 pick on a position where guys just flat out don't make it to their second contracts and continue to produce, it's a short term pick in my opinion. I can understand the bust value and the thinking that their will be immediate impact, but I want a starter for 8+ years with high level production from that spot, running backs do not give you that.

I do not like the trade for Cordy Glenn. Teams do not trade for huge contracts, as well as give up high draft picks, not since the new CBA agreed that players could become unrestricted free agents after just 4 years of NFL experience. We would be taking on 30 millions dollars over the next 3 seasons, and giving up a 3rd round draft pick, I don't see that happening. And I know the rumours are there that Buffalo may move him, but they will take a 10 million dollar cap hit this season if they do, I can't see them doing that.

No team is trading a 4th round pick for Aqib Talib, none. He is over 30 years old, has an 11 million dollar cap number this season, and the only two options I can see are a straight up release as it will only come with 1 million dollars in dead money, or a re-structuring of his deal, which I am hoping for. I think if we could offer him 16 million dollars over the next 2 seasons, we would have a shot at keeping him, and he can still play at a high level.

I would not trade or cut Paxton Lynch. I am not saying I have any hope for his future, I really don't, but he has such a small cap number, and it would be pointless cutting him when you can keep him on the bench as the 3rd guy and essentially stash him. Maybe one day something clicks with him, and although he hasn't earned any sort of reps or chances, maybe he does at some point, and proves he is worth keeping around for a little longer. Why let someone else acquire him for nothing, pay him nothing, and potentially allow him to grow, we may as well do it here as there is little risk.

[ERoyal248]

Obviously there's a ton of theory in your post...assuming we could get a 4th for Talib is way too optimistic. I'd say the same for Lynch as he's literally worthless.

And idk how much leverage we have on Von Miller to restructure. Doubt that'd happen

But realism aside. I don't like the direction you went anyway. If we pass on Baker Mayfield (assuming he's there at #5) it's a massive mistake imo.

The kid has just balled out constantly and won since day 1. No way you don't take him if you have the chance and need a QB. And imo that's if you're any team drafting anywhere.

Obv there's more to be seen. But I doubt anything could happen pre-draft that could make me change my opinion on that.

He's a game changing QB. You can't find a more valuable player to have....ask the Pats.

But...with that said, if we don't get Baker or another top QB. I would like us to get Cousins possibly. A lot of good options this off-season. We need to get a good one and then draft OL. Then also add some interior dline, an LB, and another WR late

Also back to the post tho. I don't like Paul Richardson or Nickell-Robey either ...cool that you took so much time on it. Don't know the draft well enough to comment on other draft picks but yeah. Ultimately I'm not a fan but that's cool! That's what forums are for. Everybody has their way they'd do things.

Talib has cap hits of 11 and 8 mil the next 2 seasons, thats fairly manageable for an elite CB still in this day and age. A team with alot of picks and cap could cough up a 3 or 4 for him.

[#24 Next Champ]

If we miss out on Cousins, I am totally on board with Mayfield. But Cousins is a proven guy in this league, and he's a guy our veteran, Championship experienced team will want to follow. Mayfield has those good attributes, but he's a rookie that will need time. Cousins comes in with instant respect with no wait period, and that is valuable to our team.

I like Cousins no doubt but if we can get Baker I hope we do. Or another top QB not named Darnold. I think he sucks

But I do like Cousins as an option so we agree there

[SaucyGhost]

Obviously there's a ton of theory in your post...assuming we could get a 4th for Talib is way too optimistic. I'd say the same for Lynch as he's literally worthless.

And idk how much leverage we have on Von Miller to restructure. Doubt that'd happen

But realism aside. I don't like the direction you went anyway. If we pass on Baker Mayfield (assuming he's there at #5) it's a massive mistake imo.

The kid has just balled out constantly and won since day 1. No way you don't take him if you have the chance and need a QB. And imo that's if you're any team drafting anywhere.

Obv there's more to be seen. But I doubt anything could happen pre-draft that could make me change my opinion on that.

He's a game changing QB. You can't find a more valuable player to have....ask the Pats.

But...with that said, if we don't get Baker or another top QB. I would like us to get Cousins possibly. A lot of good options this off-season. We need to get a good one and then draft OL. Then also add some interior dline, an LB, and another WR late

Also back to the post tho. I don't like Paul Richardson or Nickell-Robey either ...cool that you took so much time on it. Don't know the draft well enough to comment on other draft picks but yeah. Ultimately I'm not a fan but that's cool! That's what forums are for. Everybody has their way they'd do things.

If we miss out on Cousins, I am totally on board with Mayfield. But Cousins is a proven guy in this league, and he's a guy our veteran, Championship experienced team will want to follow. Mayfield has those good attributes, but he's a rookie that will need time. Cousins comes in with instant respect with no wait period, and that is valuable to our team.

[#24 Next Champ]

Obviously there's a ton of theory in your post...assuming we could get a 4th for Talib is way too optimistic. I'd say the same for Lynch as he's literally worthless.

And idk how much leverage we have on Von Miller to restructure. Doubt that'd happen

But realism aside. I don't like the direction you went anyway. If we pass on Baker Mayfield (assuming he's there at #5) it's a massive mistake imo.

The kid has just balled out constantly and won since day 1. No way you don't take him if you have the chance and need a QB. And imo that's if you're any team drafting anywhere.

Obv there's more to be seen. But I doubt anything could happen pre-draft that could make me change my opinion on that.

He's a game changing QB. You can't find a more valuable player to have....ask the Pats.

But...with that said, if we don't get Baker or another top QB. I would like us to get Cousins possibly. A lot of good options this off-season. We need to get a good one and then draft OL. Then also add some interior dline, an LB, and another WR late

Also back to the post tho. I don't like Paul Richardson or Nickell-Robey either ...cool that you took so much time on it. Don't know the draft well enough to comment on other draft picks but yeah. Ultimately I'm not a fan but that's cool! That's what forums are for. Everybody has their way they'd do things.

[SaucyGhost]

Re-sign
Cody Latimer
Todd Davis

Let Go
Virgil Green
Bennie Fowler
Jamaal Charles
Allen Barbre
Jared Crick
Brock Osweiler

Release:
CJ Anderson
Trevor Siemian
Menelik Watson
Donald Stephenson
Max Garcia

Trade

Aqib Talib – I know, it hurts. He’s a great player and leader of our defense, but at some point you have to move on. The team is wanting to get better on offense, that has to cost you something! If we trade Talib, hopefully for a 4th rounder or better, we can get a good look at Roby as a starter, to see if he has what it takes. We can trade Talib to a contender like the Rams and Wade Phillips, or his hometown Dallas Cowboys, so he has a chance to win another SB. Better to trade him a year early rather than a year late. ($11 mil cap savings)
Emmanuel Sanders – Sheesh, this is painful. But hear me out! Sanders is actually valuable to other teams that someone would want to trade for. (Chicago, San Francisco, Carolina). We get some cap space and a draft pick back. ($5.5 mil cap savings)
Paxton Lynch – Trade him for a bag of new footballs and some Gatorade. Anything to give him another chance elsewhere and we get some value for him. A 5th or 6th rounder would be nice. ($38,000 cap savings)

Restructure:
Von Miller ($14 mil cap savings)
Demaryius Thomas ($5 mil cap savings)

Free Agency: (≈ $63 million in Cap Space, in this scenario)

Kirk Cousins – ($30 mil/yr) The Broncos locker room has shown that we either need to get an Alpha QB, or we need to blow it up and start over. I don’t see Elway wanting to start over. So I think he will go after Cousins hard. I have no idea why Cousins would pick us over the Jags or Browns, but there you go.

Paul Richardson – ($7 mil/yr) – Richardson is in the same place where Emmanuel Sanders was when we got him, except better. Sanders hadn’t had a 100 yard receiving game in PIT, Richardson has had multiple 100 yard games and amazing, clutch catches. He’s a Colorado guy, bring him home!

Nickell Robey-Coleman – ($5 mil/yr) – Solid slot corner who can step in and allow Chris Harris Jr. to play outside. We’ll need to find more depth at outside corner, but Robey-Coleman has played well under Wade Phillips this year, and shows he’s a willing tackler.

DRAFT:

1 – Saquon Barkley – RB – Penn State
I do think that Barkley will be available to Denver at #5. I see Darnold, Rosen, Chubb, and Fitzpatrick will be the picks, with Cleveland having a lot of guys in their new front office who do not want to invest a top pick on a RB. That’s good news for Denver, because we need playmakers. There’s a legitimate argument for Quenton Nelson, and I LOVE Nelson, but Denver needs an identity, and Barkley is the kind of guy who can be a star. Give Denver someone to root for.

2 – Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas
Rashaan Evans would be preferable, but I think he goes RD1. I like Jefferson’s athleticism, and we need to get some athleticism at LB next to Marshall. Jefferson can blitz well, and we need to see if he can cover at the combine.

3 – Braden Smith – G - Auburn
Will Hernandez is a pipe dream, but I think he goes in late RD1. Braden Smith is a very athletic guard who will move down through RD2, and be there for us in RD3. He would fit in nicely at RG and move Leary back to LG

3 – **Compensatory (Okung) – **Trade to Buffalo Bills for LT Cordy Glenn**
Cordy Glenn is a good LT who has dealt with some injuries, but that’s no different than Russell Okung when he came to Denver. Glenn fills a need at LT, and allows us to move Bolles to RT. Makes us more dangerous in the draft because we don’t have to fill needs.

4 – Marquise Haynes – OLB – Ole Miss
Good pass rusher who can be depth behind Von, Shaq and Shane. Had a really good 2016, haven’t seen as much in 2017. Great motor and speed to the ball, will need to get bigger to stand up against the run.

4 - **Trade for Aqib Talib** - Deadrin Senat – DT – South Florida
Short, powerful DT who did well at the Shrine game. Should be stout against the run and push the pocket.

4 - **Trade for Emmanuel Sanders** - Levi Wallace – CB – Alabama
Any player who can walk on and start for Nick Saban has something special. We’ll see how athletic he is, but I think he could be a good pro.

5 – Daurice Fountain – WR – Northern Iowa
6 – Cam Serigne – TE – Wake Forest
6 – ** Trade for Lynch** - Nick Deluca – LB – North Dakota State
7 – Johnny Townsend – P - Florida


Roster:
QB - Cousins, Kelly, *Insert post training camp cuts QB here* (3)
LT – Glenn, Wilkinson (OL= 8)
LG - Leary, McGovern
C - Paradis, McGovern
RG – Smith, Kouandijo
RT – Bolles, Kouandijo
TE - Butt, Traylor, Heuerman (TE-3)
WR –Richardson, Henderson, Fountain (WR-6)
WR – Thomas, Latimer, Taylor
RB – Barkley, Booker, Henderson, (RB-4)
FB - Janovich
DE - Wolfe, Kerr (DL = 7)
NT - Peko, Senet
DE – Harris, Gotsis, Walker
SLB - Miller, Ray (LB = 8)
WLB - Barrett, Haynes
ILB - Marshall, Anderson
ILB – Jefferson, Davis
LCB – Roby, Wallace, Hunter (CB = 6)
RCB - Harris Jr., Robey-Coleman, Langley
SS - Simmons, Carter (S = 4)
FS - Stewart, Parks
K – McManus (ST = 3)
P – Townsend
H – Kreiter