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With the start of the new NFL league year approaching in two days, and the start of the legal tampering period in just mere hours, here is a mock offseason based on what I think Denver will do in free agency and what I would do in the draft.
CAP SPACE: $57.4M
REPORTED MOVES:
DEN acquires JAX CB A.J. Bouye for a 4th round pick (SF).
CUT:
QB Joe Flacco – saves $9.5M
RE-SIGN:
FS Justin Simmons – franchise tag ($12.7M)
C Connor McGovern – 4 years, $40M
OL Elijah Wilkinson – 2nd round RFA tender ($3.2M)
DT Mike Purcell – 2nd round RFA tender ($3.2M)
DE Joel Heath – original round RFA tender ($2.1M)
S Trey Marshall – ERFA tender
WR Tim Patrick – ERFA tender
SIGN:
DL Javon Hargrave – 4 years, $48M
CB Prince Amukamara – 1 year, $7M
The free agency period results in three major signings. Our homegrown talents, Simmons and McGovern, are extended as they both rank among the top ten at their respective positions in the league. Hargrave is a big-money signing for Coach Vic Fangio’s defense with his best years yet to come. The former Steeler can line up all over the defensive line (including nose tackle), and wreaked havoc in both the running and passing game. Hargrave’s 83.4 PFF grade in 2019 was good for 8th among all interior defenders in the NFL. Elway & Co. give Chicago cast-off Prince Amukamara a one-year, “prove-it” deal to reunite him with Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. Amukamara is in the twilight of his prime, but his experience with the defensive scheme will be valuable to the secondary. RG was a position that I admittedly struggled with while creating this mock. I think overpaying for Joe Thuney in FA would be short-sighted to the future of our personnel. My belief is that Munchak and the FO have enough confidence in Wilkinson to develop and take over as the starter at right guard.
DRAFT:
1 (15) Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
A lot of things have to happen right for the 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner to slide into Denver’s lap at #15. In my TDN simulation, Jerry Jeudy became available as the top four OTs, CeeDee Lamb (AZ), and Henry Ruggs III (LV) all went off the board before our pick. Jeudy is a top-five prospect in this entire draft class and has remained the #1 WR on my board despite the pre-draft noise. A model of consistency for the past two years, Jeudy has arguably been the best wide receiver in college football during that time. The Alabama standout is an elite route runner with superb short-area quickness and a special gift for getting separation. Jeudy has reliable hands and can burn defenses deep with his gliding 4.45 speed. The combination of Pro Bowl wideout Courtland Sutton and Jeudy could make for the best WR tandem in the league. Drew Lock will need weapons to be able to go toe-to-toe with KC and Patrick Mahomes for the next decade. The addition of Jeudy will be a home run pick, gifting our franchise with a perennial All-Pro talent.
2 (46) Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
With the departure of Chris Harris Jr., the last remaining piece of the original “No Fly Zone” is no longer with the team. Since 2015, our front office has desperately tried to fix holes at the cornerback position with a lack of success. Insert Cam Dantzler, the 6’2”, 185 lb. lockdown corner from Mississippi State. The 2018 second-team All-SEC selection is a long, wiry defensive back who excels in both man and zone coverages, making him a natural fit for Fangio’s defense. Dantzler’s ball skills are impressive as he knows when to turn around and look for the ball, tracking it in the air similar to a WR. He is very physical in press coverage without being liable for grabbing (unlike Isaac Yiadom or Brendan Langley). Dantzler plays with a competitive fire and that is reflected by the fact that he has allowed only ONE touchdown in his entire career at Mississippi State. At 185 pounds, Dantzler stands to add a bit of muscle to his thin frame—thus, he will likely be a rotational player during his rookie year as he develops behind Bouye and Amukamara. The one-year rental of the latter veteran will give Dantzler a fast track towards a starting spot in the near future.
3 (77) Matthew Peart, OT, UConn
Elway takes a step to invest in the future of our offensive line with the selection of the ultra-athletic Matt Peart from UConn. The likely scenario for 2020 is that our front office lets Bolles play out his final year of his rookie contract at LT without exercising his fifth-year option, while they also give Ja’Wuan James a chance to stay healthy and anchor the RT position. Peart is a raw prospect with light feet and great length. He has all the tools to be a quality OT in the NFL, so he would benefit from a full year working with legendary offensive line coach Mike Munchak. Peart has various technique issues that affect his playing strength, which need to be refined in order to become a starter in the future.
3 (83) Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Our young RB corps are a polarizing bunch. On one hand, Phillip Lindsay has been an electric Pro Bowl stud, epitomizing what it means to wear the Orange & Blue with his gritty style and willingness to block. On the other hand, Royce Freeman has been largely unspectacular despite being the more reliable receiver out of the backfield. Competition in the backfield will only make our offense better. With the second 3rd round selection, Elway gifts new OC Pat Shurmur a new toy at RB in Utah star Zack Moss. The 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year is a much better prospect than our previous third round Ute RB Devontae Booker. At 5’10”, 222 lbs., Moss has a strong frame to go with a low center of gravity and highly-elusive feet. With an elite PFF overall grade of 91.5 last season, Moss is a complete back with great vision, hands, and blocking effort. Shurmur and Drew Lock will appreciate Moss’ pass protection skills and smarts in the backfield.
3 (95) Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
For years, Denver’s defense has lacked an athletic, sideline-to-sideline linebacker anchoring our defense. Last year’s emergence of A.J. Johnson was a breakout surprise that our defense needed. Todd Davis has been our team’s most productive and reliable tackler for awhile now, however, it is evident that an upgrade will take our defense to the next level. With the jury still largely out on Josey Jewell, Elway grabs one of the best athletes in this LB class in Akeem Davis-Gaither from Appalachian State. Fangio will absolutely love Davis-Gaither’s versatile skillset. He can blitz or drop back into coverage seamlessly due to his smooth hips and outstanding agility. Although Davis-Gaither is quite undersized (6’2”, 215 lbs.), his intense physicality and quick instincts more than make up for these “limitations”. His stellar PFF grades reflect his excellent prowess against the run (87.0 run-defense grade) as well as rushing the passer (82.2 pass-rush grade). Scouts liken Davis-Gaither to Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith, so snagging him with our last Day 2 pick is an absolute steal with high upside in Fangio’s defense.
4 (108) Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
As the first two days of the NFL Draft come to a close, several sure-fire Day 2 prospects fall to the 4th round. Missouri DT Jordan Elliott being one of them. With the highest overall PFF grade of any SEC defender in 2019 (92.4), Elliott is a major grab for Denver in the 4th round. His high motor and consistency, combined with his polished skills at DT could make him a candidate to see the most defensive snaps out of any rookie from this class. After signing Javon Hargrave to a big deal in free agency, Elliott is added to the mix at defensive tackle. With the departures of Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris, and Adam Gotsis, more talent and depth on the interior of our defensive line is much needed.
5 (178) Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
Letting Will Parks walk in free agency was a tough decision. Fortunately, the addition of Antoine Brooks Jr. in the 5th round cushions that blow quite a bit. Brooks Jr. is equally as physical and aggressive as Parks (perhaps even better), with a 90.8 PFF run-defense grade. A Tony Jefferson-type of box safety, Brooks Jr. can play near the line of scrimmage in a variety of looks. Pass coverage is not a strength for him, so I would trust Fangio to utilize him correctly.
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CAP SPACE: $57.4M
REPORTED MOVES:
DEN acquires JAX CB A.J. Bouye for a 4th round pick (SF).
CUT:
QB Joe Flacco – saves $9.5M
RE-SIGN:
FS Justin Simmons – franchise tag ($12.7M)
C Connor McGovern – 4 years, $40M
OL Elijah Wilkinson – 2nd round RFA tender ($3.2M)
DT Mike Purcell – 2nd round RFA tender ($3.2M)
DE Joel Heath – original round RFA tender ($2.1M)
S Trey Marshall – ERFA tender
WR Tim Patrick – ERFA tender
SIGN:
DL Javon Hargrave – 4 years, $48M
CB Prince Amukamara – 1 year, $7M
The free agency period results in three major signings. Our homegrown talents, Simmons and McGovern, are extended as they both rank among the top ten at their respective positions in the league. Hargrave is a big-money signing for Coach Vic Fangio’s defense with his best years yet to come. The former Steeler can line up all over the defensive line (including nose tackle), and wreaked havoc in both the running and passing game. Hargrave’s 83.4 PFF grade in 2019 was good for 8th among all interior defenders in the NFL. Elway & Co. give Chicago cast-off Prince Amukamara a one-year, “prove-it” deal to reunite him with Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. Amukamara is in the twilight of his prime, but his experience with the defensive scheme will be valuable to the secondary. RG was a position that I admittedly struggled with while creating this mock. I think overpaying for Joe Thuney in FA would be short-sighted to the future of our personnel. My belief is that Munchak and the FO have enough confidence in Wilkinson to develop and take over as the starter at right guard.
DRAFT:
1 (15) Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
A lot of things have to happen right for the 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner to slide into Denver’s lap at #15. In my TDN simulation, Jerry Jeudy became available as the top four OTs, CeeDee Lamb (AZ), and Henry Ruggs III (LV) all went off the board before our pick. Jeudy is a top-five prospect in this entire draft class and has remained the #1 WR on my board despite the pre-draft noise. A model of consistency for the past two years, Jeudy has arguably been the best wide receiver in college football during that time. The Alabama standout is an elite route runner with superb short-area quickness and a special gift for getting separation. Jeudy has reliable hands and can burn defenses deep with his gliding 4.45 speed. The combination of Pro Bowl wideout Courtland Sutton and Jeudy could make for the best WR tandem in the league. Drew Lock will need weapons to be able to go toe-to-toe with KC and Patrick Mahomes for the next decade. The addition of Jeudy will be a home run pick, gifting our franchise with a perennial All-Pro talent.
2 (46) Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
With the departure of Chris Harris Jr., the last remaining piece of the original “No Fly Zone” is no longer with the team. Since 2015, our front office has desperately tried to fix holes at the cornerback position with a lack of success. Insert Cam Dantzler, the 6’2”, 185 lb. lockdown corner from Mississippi State. The 2018 second-team All-SEC selection is a long, wiry defensive back who excels in both man and zone coverages, making him a natural fit for Fangio’s defense. Dantzler’s ball skills are impressive as he knows when to turn around and look for the ball, tracking it in the air similar to a WR. He is very physical in press coverage without being liable for grabbing (unlike Isaac Yiadom or Brendan Langley). Dantzler plays with a competitive fire and that is reflected by the fact that he has allowed only ONE touchdown in his entire career at Mississippi State. At 185 pounds, Dantzler stands to add a bit of muscle to his thin frame—thus, he will likely be a rotational player during his rookie year as he develops behind Bouye and Amukamara. The one-year rental of the latter veteran will give Dantzler a fast track towards a starting spot in the near future.
3 (77) Matthew Peart, OT, UConn
Elway takes a step to invest in the future of our offensive line with the selection of the ultra-athletic Matt Peart from UConn. The likely scenario for 2020 is that our front office lets Bolles play out his final year of his rookie contract at LT without exercising his fifth-year option, while they also give Ja’Wuan James a chance to stay healthy and anchor the RT position. Peart is a raw prospect with light feet and great length. He has all the tools to be a quality OT in the NFL, so he would benefit from a full year working with legendary offensive line coach Mike Munchak. Peart has various technique issues that affect his playing strength, which need to be refined in order to become a starter in the future.
3 (83) Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Our young RB corps are a polarizing bunch. On one hand, Phillip Lindsay has been an electric Pro Bowl stud, epitomizing what it means to wear the Orange & Blue with his gritty style and willingness to block. On the other hand, Royce Freeman has been largely unspectacular despite being the more reliable receiver out of the backfield. Competition in the backfield will only make our offense better. With the second 3rd round selection, Elway gifts new OC Pat Shurmur a new toy at RB in Utah star Zack Moss. The 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year is a much better prospect than our previous third round Ute RB Devontae Booker. At 5’10”, 222 lbs., Moss has a strong frame to go with a low center of gravity and highly-elusive feet. With an elite PFF overall grade of 91.5 last season, Moss is a complete back with great vision, hands, and blocking effort. Shurmur and Drew Lock will appreciate Moss’ pass protection skills and smarts in the backfield.
3 (95) Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
For years, Denver’s defense has lacked an athletic, sideline-to-sideline linebacker anchoring our defense. Last year’s emergence of A.J. Johnson was a breakout surprise that our defense needed. Todd Davis has been our team’s most productive and reliable tackler for awhile now, however, it is evident that an upgrade will take our defense to the next level. With the jury still largely out on Josey Jewell, Elway grabs one of the best athletes in this LB class in Akeem Davis-Gaither from Appalachian State. Fangio will absolutely love Davis-Gaither’s versatile skillset. He can blitz or drop back into coverage seamlessly due to his smooth hips and outstanding agility. Although Davis-Gaither is quite undersized (6’2”, 215 lbs.), his intense physicality and quick instincts more than make up for these “limitations”. His stellar PFF grades reflect his excellent prowess against the run (87.0 run-defense grade) as well as rushing the passer (82.2 pass-rush grade). Scouts liken Davis-Gaither to Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith, so snagging him with our last Day 2 pick is an absolute steal with high upside in Fangio’s defense.
4 (108) Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
As the first two days of the NFL Draft come to a close, several sure-fire Day 2 prospects fall to the 4th round. Missouri DT Jordan Elliott being one of them. With the highest overall PFF grade of any SEC defender in 2019 (92.4), Elliott is a major grab for Denver in the 4th round. His high motor and consistency, combined with his polished skills at DT could make him a candidate to see the most defensive snaps out of any rookie from this class. After signing Javon Hargrave to a big deal in free agency, Elliott is added to the mix at defensive tackle. With the departures of Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris, and Adam Gotsis, more talent and depth on the interior of our defensive line is much needed.
5 (178) Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
Letting Will Parks walk in free agency was a tough decision. Fortunately, the addition of Antoine Brooks Jr. in the 5th round cushions that blow quite a bit. Brooks Jr. is equally as physical and aggressive as Parks (perhaps even better), with a 90.8 PFF run-defense grade. A Tony Jefferson-type of box safety, Brooks Jr. can play near the line of scrimmage in a variety of looks. Pass coverage is not a strength for him, so I would trust Fangio to utilize him correctly.
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