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Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/22

August 4th, 2022 at 6:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/22

August 3rd, 2022 at 6:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: LS Harrison Elliott
  • Activated from PUP: DB Tristin McCollum
  • Waived-injured: WR Davion Davis

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

*Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic (on Twitter), Gono has left the squad due to an undisclosed physical issue. The lineman will meet with a doctor tomorrow, which should provide some clarity.

Cowboys, LB Anthony Barr Agree To Deal

August 3rd, 2022 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Connected to Anthony Barr for a bit now, the Cowboys are moving forward with a deal for the veteran linebacker. The sides agreed to terms Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

It’s a one-year contract worth up to $3MM, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter links). The deal carries a $2MM base value, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.

Barr, who had spent his entire career with the Vikings, did have another option. The Broncos pursued him as well, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. But the four-time Pro Bowler is heading to Dallas.

The former first-round pick had a choice between two reunions. He had Broncos GM George Paton, previously the Vikings’ assistant GM, and Cowboys assistant George Edwards — previously Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. Currently a Cowboys senior defensive assistant, Edwards was the Vikings’ DC from 2014-19. The Saints also showed interest earlier this offseason, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com tweets.

A college edge rusher, Barr transitioned to an off-ball role in Mike Zimmer‘s 4-3 defense. Barr still enjoyed some pass-rushing opportunities (17.5 career sacks), but for the most part, he operated a traditional linebacker. The early-career momentum that led Barr to four straight Pro Bowls from 2015-18 has faded. Barr, 30, missed 14 games in 2020 after tearing a pectoral muscle. He also missed six contests last year, and the Vikings’ new regime moved on.

Dallas parted ways with Jaylon Smith last season, but despite turning down Leighton Vander Esch‘s fifth-year option, the team circled back to the former first-rounder this year (via a one-year, $2MM deal). Vander Esch, however, is one of the NFL’s more injury-prone players. The Cowboys also have rookie fifth-round linebacker Damone Clark set to miss most of this season because of offseason spinal fusion surgery. Second-year ‘backer Jabril Cox is also making his way back from a rookie-year ACL tear. The combination of injury risks here likely induced the Cowboys to add a veteran.

Despite agreeing to an offseason pay cut last year, Barr still recorded a decent season in his Vikes finale. He notched 72 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and five passes defensed. The UCLA product played a key role on stout Zimmer- and Edwards-led defenses during the latter part of the 2010s. The Vikings ranked in the top 11 defensively from 2015-19, leading to three playoff berths and one NFC championship game run. He will join a Cowboys linebacking corps headlined by Micah Parsons, a hybrid player coming off one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history.

Dallas’ injury issues notwithstanding, Denver had a more apparent linebacker need. The Broncos have not brought back top tackler Alexander Johnson, who remains a free agent. While the team did re-sign Josey Jewell, it has not invested much elsewhere at the inside linebacker spot. The team also moved 2021 ILB starter Baron Browning to outside ‘backer. The Broncos have signaled their interest in making a late-summer augmentation here via the Barr interest and a recent Joe Schobert visit. Perhaps Barr’s Cowboys decision leads the Broncos back to Schobert. Given the recent connections, it would surprise if the Broncos did not add a veteran at this spot soon.

Broncos WR Tim Patrick Tears ACL

August 2nd, 2022 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:54pm: The MRI confirmed Patrick suffered a torn ACL, Klis tweets. This news will almost certainly end the veteran pass catcher’s season, and it obviously deals a blow to Denver’s talented but relatively unproven receiving cast.

Injuries continue to interfere with this group’s development. Sutton’s 2020 ACL tear came after a Pro Bowl season, while Hamler’s 2021 tear came a year after the Broncos took him in the second round. Patrick’s comes less than a year after he signed an extension to stay in Denver long-term. His through-2024 deal included $13MM guaranteed at signing and $18.5MM guaranteed for injury.

1:46pm: The Broncos’ receiving corps represented one of the drivers for Russell Wilson to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a move to Denver. The quarterback’s first Broncos wideout cast may be incomplete.

Tim Patrick went down during practice Tuesday, requiring cart transportation, and Denver7’s Troy Renck tweets the team fears a serious right knee injury. Bad news is expected, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

A former UDFA the Broncos extended last year, Patrick is going through an MRI. Patrick, 29, went down after making an over-the-shoulder catch. The injury occurred as he started running after the reception, 9News’ Mike Klis notes (via Twitter).

Denver did well to beat the 2022 receiver market’s frenzy, signing both Patrick and Courtland Sutton to extensions — at $10MM per year and $15MM AAV, respectively — and the former has not dealt with the kind of injury trouble that has plagued Sutton and Jerry Jeudy since the Broncos formed their intriguing-but-unproven receiving corps. Patrick did miss some time in 2019 due to a broken hand, but since he became a starter in Denver a year later, the Utah product has only missed two games. One of those came because of a COVID-19 contraction last year.

The Broncos moved Patrick into a full-time player in 2020, when Sutton went down with an ACL tear in Week 2. Despite four quarterbacks (technically, three quarterbacks and one non-QB) making starts for the Broncos that season, Patrick totaled 742 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Last season, Jeudy suffered a Week 1 high ankle sprain and K.J. Hamler went down with an ACL tear in Week 3. Patrick posted 734 yards and five TDs, signing his extension midway through the 2021 campaign.

Hamler has returned from his severe knee injury, but Patrick offers security the former Penn State second-round pick has yet to provide. Should the Broncos receive bad news on Patrick, they may be a team to monitor for a veteran wideout — considering Jeudy and Sutton’s recent injury histories. The team was linked to needing to give up one of its receivers in hypothetical deals for Aaron Rodgers, but Noah Fant was the pass catcher included in the Wilson swap. The Broncos have Kendall Hinton — their emergency QB in 2020 — along with 2021 sixth-round pick Seth Williams and ex-Eagle Travis Fulgham on their roster behind their top four receivers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/22

August 1st, 2022 at 6:40pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the first minor moves of August:

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

  • Activated from active/PUP list: WR KJ Hamler

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

The Lions’ new running back, Jackson, has found a second home after playing out his rookie contract in Los Angeles. The former seventh-round pick out of Northwestern spent his time with the Chargers backing up starting running back Austin Ekeler, earning a few starts during Ekeler’s more injury-riddled periods. Despite not receiving many touches, Jackson has made the most of each one averaging 5.0 yards per carry during his four-year career in the NFL to total 1,040 rushing yards and four touchdowns, adding 508 yards receiving on 65 receptions. Jackson will compete with Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson for the reserve positions behind the top-two backs, D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.

Joe Schobert, Takk McKinley Take Visits

July 31st, 2022 at 10:54am CST by Ely Allen

July 31: McKinley had a “positive visit” with the Cowboys but will not be signing with Dallas at this time, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). The UCLA product always planned to take multiple visits, and he will now head off to a workout with the Cardinals. Arizona lost Chandler Jones to free agency this offseason, and while the club added two edge defenders in the third round of this year’s draft (Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders), having a more experienced option as part of the rotation may not be a bad idea.

July 30: Two of the top available defensive free agents reportedly took visits today. In two separate tweets ESPN’s Field Yates announced that linebacker Joe Schobert had visited the Broncos and defensive end Takkarist McKinley had tried out for the Cowboys. 

Schobert is an experienced linebacker who lined up as a middle linebacker during his tenures with the Browns and Jaguars then gained some experience as an outside linebacker with the Steelers last year. Since he became a full-time starter in his sophomore season, Schobert has been a tackling machine, never failing to amass at least 100 total tackles. During his second season in Cleveland, Schobert even led the league in tackles with 144. He’s shown an ability to get in the backfield over the years, totaling 23.0 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback hits, and 11.0 sacks, and has a propensity for forcing turnovers with 10 interceptions, 30 passes defensed, and 10 forced fumbles over his six-year career.

Denver has been shuffling around it’s linebackers this offseason including moving Baron Browning, who started inside for the Broncos last year, to outside linebacker. It vastly increased the outside linebacker depth behind star Bradley Chubb with the additions of free agent Randy Gregory and rookie second-round pick Nik Bonitto adding to the depth of Browning and Malik Reed, who were already there. Those moves resulted in a bit of a vacuum behind starting inside linebackers Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell. Schobert would be an excellent addition to the inside linebacker depth in Denver, while having the versatility to contribute on the outside if needed, as well.

McKinley is much more of a pass rusher than Schobert, collecting 20.0 sacks, 25.0 tackles for loss, and 53 quarterback hits during a four-year tenure in Atlanta and a year in Cleveland. What’s limited McKinley is that he doesn’t offer much more on defense. He can impose his presence at the line of scrimmage and influence plays, but he doesn’t tend to get to the ball-carrier often, owning a career-high of only 29 total tackles in a season. He’s also shown less of an impact as of late. After recording 13.0 sacks in his first two seasons, McKinley has only tallied 7.0 in the three years since.

McKinley is a former-first round pick of Cowboys defensive coordinator (and former Atlanta head coach) Dan Quinn. The familiarity with Quinn’s system, in which he’s shown the most productivity, could help him land a roster spot. Besides his previous relationship with Quinn, McKinley faces an uphill battle to make the roster as the Cowboys are already fairly stacked at defensive end. Dallas brought in Dante Fowler to start opposite DeMarcus Lawrence and drafted Ole Miss single-season sack record-holder Sam Williams in the second round. McKinley could potentially attempt to provide an improvement above backups Tarell Basham, Dorance Armstrong, and Chauncey Golston, but those three were all with the team last year and will have to be unseated.

Word will likely arrive in the coming days determining if either Schobert or McKinley will get an opportunity with a new team. If not, the two veterans will remain top names to keep track of on the defensive free agent market.

AFC West Rumors: Ross, Chargers, Broncos

July 30th, 2022 at 4:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross was one of the biggest names left on the board when the 2022 NFL Draft concluded. Unfortunately for the team that signed him, Ross was placed on the injured reserve by the Chiefs earlier this week. 

Ross helped lead the Tigers to their 2018 national championship as a true freshman with 46 receptions for 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He followed it up as a sophomore with 66 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns.

Ross’s college career was derailed by a congenital fusion condition of his neck and spine. The condition and the required surgery had the potential to end his entire career. He missed the entire 2020 season and came back to play in ten games of his redshirt junior season, catching 47 balls for 524 yards and three touchdowns. It wasn’t quite the end he desired in Clemson, but Ross decided to forgo his senior year and head to the NFL.

His debut with the Chiefs will have to wait, though, as he underwent foot surgery that will delay his first appearance in red and yellow.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC West, starting in the City of Angels:

  • The Chargers announced the hiring this week of Pat White as a new offensive assistant for the team. White is the former star quarterback for West Virginia who became a second-round pick for the Dolphins in 2009. White appeared in 13 games as a rookie for the Dolphins but never threw a pass, mainly being utilized in the Dolphins’ infamous Wildcat formation of the time. White spent last year’s training camp with the Chargers as part of the team’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship and has spent the past few regular seasons coaching quarterbacks in the college ranks at institutions such as Campbell, Alcorn State, South Florida, and Alabama State. It will be interesting to see where White fits in the coaching staff for the Chargers this season.
  • With new ownership set to take over in Denver, senior vice president of strategy, and former heir apparent to be controlling owner of the Broncos, Brittany Bowlen has stepped down from her role with the team, according to Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post. The daughter of late owner Pat Bowlen, Brittany was long presumed to be the next in line, taking all the necessary steps in preparation to take over. But with the team’s sale last month, Bowlen informed the Broncos’ staff that she would be stepping away, wishing the Walton-Penner Family Ownership luck in the process.

Broncos, Russell Wilson Yet To Begin Extension Talks

July 29th, 2022 at 2:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both the Broncos and Russell Wilson have expressed the obvious desire for a long-term partnership, a scenario introduced by the historic trade package sent to the quarterback’s former team. But the sides are operating methodically here.

No negotiations are believed to have taken place yet, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Wilson is signed through the 2023 season, with the two years of remaining control — on a $35MM-per-year contract the Seahawks negotiated in 2019 — helping increase the trade package Seattle received in March.

“I’m excited to be here for a long time, and I think that will definitely happen,” Wilson said. “So we’ll see where it goes.”

Broncos GM George Paton said earlier this week the negotiations will be kept in-house but added, via Howe, “We didn’t give up all we gave up for him to be here for two years; that’s for sure.” The Broncos would have the option of a 2024 franchise tag with their new quarterback, but this situation should not be expected to reach that point. Wilson, 33, should be expected to sign a monster extension with the Broncos. If the timing of the perennial Pro Bowler’s two Seahawks negotiations is any indication, an extension during his contract-year offseason (2023, in this case) will commence.

Wilson’s previous two negotiations did not exactly stay in-house. In 2015, Wilson extension talks ran from mid-April to late July. The Seahawks hammered out a deal July 31, 2015 — a four-year, $87.6MM agreement — but that came after numerous headlines pertaining to the talks surfaced. In 2018, a report emerged indicating Wilson expected to be tagged after his second contract expired. But, after a three-plus-month negotiation in 2019 — one that included Wilson setting a mid-April deadline to wrap his third contract — the sides reached agreement on the then-record $35MM-AAV extension.

Although the Broncos gave Peyton Manning a lucrative five-year deal in 2012, this will be new financial terrain for a franchise that has famously struggled to replace the all-time great. Denver’s issues replacing Manning, a marketplace that could include new deals for Lamar Jackson and possibly Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, an again-rising salary cap, and the Broncos being set to have the NFL’s wealthiest owner (Rob Walton) soon all stand to work in Wilson’s favor.

A bounce-back year from the likely Hall of Fame-bound passer would only further drive up his market. Although Paton and Seahawks GM John Schneider kept their trade talks quiet, Wilson’s past negotiations indicate low-key contract talks might not happen. Regardless of how this process reaches a conclusion, the Broncos will be expected to have their new franchise passer signed long-term by the start of the 2023 campaign.

DL Derek Wolfe Retires After 10 Seasons

July 29th, 2022 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

After the events of this offseason, it was considered a longshot for veteran defensive lineman Derek Wolfe to play again in the NFL. Today, the former Bronco and Raven confirmed those thoughts, officially retiring after nine seasons played in the league (10 in total). 

He announced the decision via a video shared on the Broncos’ Twitter page (link). “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the game,” he said. “Time for a new beginning.”

The 32-year-old had dealt with injuries throughout his career, but none as significant as the hip ailment which kept him sidelined for the entire 2021 campaign, which would have been his second in Baltimore. In March, it was reported that Wolfe was considering retirement, pending his ability to recover in full from surgery. The chances of that happening were considered slim in June, however, after he underwent a second procedure allowing him to “live a normal life.”

One day later, he and the Ravens parted ways, though Wolfe was still able to receive a portion of the guaranteed money remaining on his deal, a three-year extension signed the previous offseason. He had established himself as an effective run-stopper in his lone season on the field with the Ravens, continuing his high level of play dating back to his time in Denver.

A second-round pick of the Broncos in 2012, Wolfe registered 299 tackles and all but one of his 34 career sacks in the Mile High City. He was a member of the Super Bowl winning 2015 squad, one whose defensive front led the team to the title. His play earned him multiple contract extensions, pushing his career earnings over $52MM.

Today’s announcement confirms that Wolfe isn’t recovered to the point where he can continue playing, but he can now turn his attention squarely to the next chapter of his life.

Broncos Bring Back RT Cameron Fleming

July 27th, 2022 at 9:35am CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos brought in two new candidates to vie for their right tackle position, a job that has seen numerous players cycle through during a 10-year period of instability. But the team circled back to one of its 2021 right tackles Wednesday.

Cameron Fleming is re-signing with the Broncos, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Fleming, one of the two post-Ja’Wuan James veterans the team added during the 2021 offseason, will be part of the team’s right tackle competition. To make room on their 90-man roster, the Broncos waived linebacker Kadofi Wright.

Fleming lost last summer’s right tackle competition to Bobby Massie but ended up starting four games at the position. Massie is not on Denver’s 90-man roster, and the longtime Bears blocker has not caught on with another team this year. Fleming, 29, joins Tom Compton and Billy Turner as veterans vying for the 2022 right-edge gig. Multiyear Broncos backup Calvin Anderson is also in the mix for the position, though Compton’s experience and Turner’s familiarity with Nathaniel Hackett‘s scheme make them likelier candidates to end up with the gig.

The Broncos placed Turner on their active/PUP list to start camp, complicating their situation. Denver has used a different Week 1 right tackle in each of the past nine seasons. Unless Massie re-emerges, that streak will run to 10. Fleming could inject some rare continuity into this situation, but this is likely an insurance move.

Almost all of Turner’s one-year, $2.5MM deal is guaranteed. Compton signed for one year and $2.25MM; $1.5MM of that is guaranteed. Neither of these sums would be too onerous, dead money-wise, to jettison before Week 1. This would be Fleming’s ninth NFL season. He worked as a starter or swing backup with the Patriots, Cowboys and Giants from 2014-20.

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