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Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Broncos Not Interested In Carson Wentz

February 18th, 2021 at 10:12am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos aren’t all that interested in Carson Wentz, as James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. The Broncos have been linked to the Eagles QB, but they’re mostly targeting the top tier options on the market, rather than signal callers like Wentz. 

That top tier includes Deshaun Watson, if the Texans are willing to move him. Ditto for Russell Wilson, though it’s not quite clear if the Seahawks will seriously entertain offers. The Broncos pursued Matthew Stafford earlier this offseason, before he was shipped to the Rams, an indication that they saw Stafford as a potential upgrade to Drew Lock. In the case of Wentz, they are not so sure.

Lock didn’t have a banner year in 2020, throwing 15 interceptions in 13 games. However, he did finish strong in the final quarter of the regular season, posting seven touchdowns against just two interceptions. Denver’s top decision makers believe that Lock could build on that, making him a better option in 2021 than the former No. 2 overall pick.

Meanwhile, Watson has the Broncos on his list of preferred destinations, which would make Kareem Jackson very happy. Still, the Dolphins and 49ers are said to be even higher on Watson’s list. Ultimately, this could all lead the Broncos to stick with Lock and put their resources elsewhere in March.

Broncos Plan To Pursue Deshaun Watson, Not In Carson Wentz Mix

February 15th, 2021 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans continue to insist Deshaun Watson is unavailable, but the three-time Pro Bowler has dug in on his plan to leave Houston after four seasons. If the Texans make him available, several teams will certainly push to acquire him.

The Broncos can be counted as a team that will pursue Watson if he becomes available, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. Amid this potentially historic offseason of quarterback movement, Denver does not plan to make a move for Carson Wentz, Renck adds. The Broncos were loosely connected to the Eagles passer last week, but thus far, only the Bears and Colts have been mentioned as surefire Wentz suitors.

Having started nine quarterbacks since Peyton Manning‘s 2016 retirement, the Broncos certainly make sense as a Watson bidder. They would join the Panthers and 49ers in that regard, with the Dolphins, Jets and others likely set to enter the fray as well. The Broncos exchanged offers with the Lions for Matthew Stafford but were not mentioned as one of the teams willing to part with a first-round pick. Would the Broncos make a real push for Watson, it would require perhaps three first-rounders.

With the Broncos not among the teams that have two first-round picks this year, a Watson pursuit could require the team going into its 2023 draft haul — or gutting its 2021 and ’22 drafts and parting with young players — and do so shortly after hiring a new GM (George Paton). Paton was reluctant to part with young assets for Stafford, though trading for a 33-year-old one-time Pro Bowler and 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler are certainly different conversations.

Watson has the Broncos on his list of preferred destinations, with Denver safety (and ex-Watson Houston teammate) Kareem Jackson pitching the franchise to him on multiple occasions. That list, though, may feature the Dolphins and 49ers residing ahead of the Broncos. Miami and San Francisco have coaches nowhere near the hot seat; Vic Fangio is certainly there or close to it in Denver. A Fangio firing would likely mean OC Pat Shurmur exits as well. While Kyle Shanahan‘s standing as the 49ers’ play-caller is rock-solid, the Dolphins have featured instability here under Brian Flores. After having two offensive coordinators in Flores’ two seasons, the team now has a co-OC setup (George Godsey and ex-Broncos assistant Eric Studesville).

The Broncos have long been expected to add a veteran to compete with inconsistent incumbent Drew Lock. Watson or Wentz going to Denver would mean a Lock demotion. While Lock presently sits atop Denver’s depth chart, the franchise being consistently connected to QBs could change that standing soon.

Broncos Preparing To Tag Justin Simmons

February 15th, 2021 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

After failing to come to terms on a Broncos extension ahead of last summer’s deadline, Justin Simmons played the 2020 season on the franchise tag. He again profiles as the Broncos’ top free agent. Despite a new GM running the show in Denver now, the team’s handling of Simmons is not expected to change.

The Broncos are preparing to use their 2021 tag on the standout safety, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Teams have until March 9 to apply franchise tags, and the Broncos do not intend to let Simmons hit the market.

Since Simmons received an $11.4MM tag last year, his 2021 price would rise to $13.7MM. There are five safeties averaging at least $14MM on their respective long-term contracts, establishing a clear floor for Simmons. The Broncos already have plenty invested at safety, with Kareem Jackson entering the final year of an $11MM-AAV pact, but Simmons is squarely in his prime at 27. He is also coming off his first Pro Bowl season — during which he intercepted a career-high five passes and played every defensive snap for a third straight year. Jackson will be 33 next season.

The sides did not come especially close on an extension before the 2020 summer deadline. The Broncos offered a deal that would have made Simmons a top-six highest-paid safety, but his subsequent performance should drive up his asking price this year. A Simmons tag will eat into Denver’s cap-space figure considerably. The Broncos sit seventh in cap space presently, being projected to hold just more than $30MM.

Broncos On Radar For Carson Wentz?

February 13th, 2021 at 2:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Involved in the Matthew Stafford trade talks and rumored to be on Deshaun Watson‘s destination list, the Broncos may also soon be linked to quarterbacks with their No. 9 overall pick. They may also be on the radar for another high-profile passer, in what has become an increasingly complex offseason at this position.

The Broncos are a team to monitor for Carson Wentz, Adam Caplan of InsidetheBirds.com notes. The Eagles have been connected to a Wentz deal for over a week now, but teams have clearly not met their asking price. Philadelphia initially sought a Stafford-type haul for Wentz. It does not appear teams are obliging.

Thus far, the Colts and Bears have been mentioned as the leading Wentz suitors. But other teams have discussed the former MVP candidate with the Eagles. While it is unclear if the Broncos are one of them, the team has a new GM (George Paton) and has toiled in quarterback uncertainty since Peyton Manning‘s 2016 retirement. Wentz (11th in QBR in 2019) would stand to provide an upgrade on Drew Lock, but the former No. 2 overall pick regressed considerably in 2020 and has $47.2MM guaranteed left on his deal through the 2022 season. Both factors have surely contributed to Wentz’s market not taking off like Stafford’s did.

It would make sense for the Broncos to see how the Watson saga plays out before making a move for another veteran, but the Texans have not shown any indication they will trade their franchise quarterback. This would force other teams to move to lower-cost solutions, and Wentz is fully expected to be moved before he collects a $10MM bonus on March 19.

Broncos, 49ers On Deshaun Watson Destination List

February 12th, 2021 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Texans bigwigs Cal McNair and Nick Caserio have insisted they intend to retain Deshaun Watson, but the quarterback continues to seek a Houston exit. With J.J. Watt now gone, the four-year quarterback now stands as the unquestioned Texans cornerstone player.

But potential destinations for the passer with the no-trade clause are surfacing. Watson is intrigued by the Broncos and 49ers, with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com indicating (video link) both franchises are on the standout passer’s list of teams he would agree to join via trade.

Former Texans teammate Kareem Jackson confirmed he and Watson had multiple discussions about Denver as a landing spot, and 9News’ Mike Klis also notes the Broncos have garnered appeal with the disgruntled quarterback (Twitter link). The Broncos were in the mix for Matthew Stafford, but they were not one of the teams mentioned as offering their first-round pick (No. 9 overall) for him. Carolina and Washington were believed to have done so. The Panthers are expected to make an aggressive Watson pursuit.

New Broncos GM George Paton came from a Vikings team that built its most recent playoff nuclei through the draft, and he balked at including members of his new team’s young core in a deal with the Lions. But the Paton-Rick Spielman-era Vikings also made splashy moves for QBs Brett Favre and Kirk Cousins. The Broncos have a host of young skill-position players — wideouts Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler and tight end Noah Fant — but have lacked a true answer at quarterback for five years. And they cannot match the Jets and Dolphins for draft capital. Miami and New York have three and four first-round picks through 2022, respectively.

The 49ers, who hold pick No. 12 overall, also inquired on Stafford — to the point the quarterback believed he could legitimately be heading to San Francisco. They also house young skill talent, in George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. While Kyle Shanahan indicated previously that Jimmy Garoppolo was on track to return as the 49ers’ starter, the team investigating Stafford certainly points to the pursuit of potential upgrades.

As for the original suitors connected to Watson, Fowler notes the Dolphins appear ahead of the Jets as a destination for the three-time Pro Bowler. The Jets were once reported to be ahead of the Dolphins in a trade pursuit that has not technically begun, but New York does not appear to be especially high on the quarterback’s list. The Dolphins do not have the skill groups (as of now) the Broncos and 49ers do, but hold the Nos. 3 and 18 picks in this draft and hold two second-round picks this year as well. All of this said, Watson is not expected to be veto-happy when it comes to potential trades.

Watson’s prospective destination list does not seem to matter at this point, though, with Fowler noting other teams view Caserio as entrenched on keeping him. Watson’s $39MM-per-year contract runs through 2025.

Broncos Release A.J. Bouye

February 10th, 2021 at 12:52pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We’ve got one of our first big cuts of the young offseason. The Broncos are releasing cornerback A.J. Bouye, a source told Mike Klis of Denver 9 News (Twitter link).

It ends an unceremonious run in Denver for Bouye, after the Broncos traded a fourth-round pick for him last March. Injuries limited him to only seven games this past season, all of which were starts. The move means the team will save the non-guaranteed $11.7MM he was owed for this upcoming season, and new GM George Paton clearly wasn’t about to pay his excessive salary. An UDFA back in 2013, Bouye had a couple of really solid years with the Texans which he parlayed into a five-year, $67.5MM deal from the Jaguars in March of 2017.

Things went well initially, as he was a second-team All-Pro and had six interceptions in his first year in Jacksonville. Things went south quickly after that (as they did for that entire Jags defense), and he had only one interception in each of the next two seasons.

In addition to the injuries, Bouye was also hit with a six-game PED suspension back in December. He’ll still be sidelined for the first two games of the 2021 season, which could complicate things when looking for his next contract this spring. That being said he’s still only 29, and there should be significant interest in the established starter.

Broncos Add Ex-Packers Staffer

February 6th, 2021 at 4:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

In contention for the Jaguars’ quarterbacks coach position, Mike Sullivan will instead land in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are hiring the former Giants and Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Sullivan, 53, will replace Matt Canada, who is now the Steelers’ OC. Pittsburgh’s QB coaching role grew in importance recently, with the Steelers giving Dwayne Haskins an opportunity to reboot his career. While Ben Roethlisberger is planning to return for an 18th season, Sullivan will have multiple developmental QBs — Haskins and Mason Rudolph — to mentor. Sullivan has not coached since the 2018 season, when he served as the Broncos’ QBs coach.

  • The Broncos will fill their defensive backs coach position by hiring former Packers assistant Christian Parker, according to the Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran (on Twitter). This will mark a big jump for Parker, who spent the 2020 season as a quality control staffer in Green Bay. Parker was DBs coach at Texas A&M previously, however. Previous Denver DBs coach Renaldo Hill left to become the Chargers’ DC.

Jackson: Watson Interested In Broncos

February 4th, 2021 at 2:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kareem Jackson‘s final two Texans seasons overlapped with the start of Deshaun Watson‘s Houston stay. Jackson left for Denver in 2019 and has one season remaining on his contract. He has spoken with his former teammate about his interest in the Broncos as a trade destination.

Watson is interested in Denver as a destination, per Jackson, who told TMZ Sports he has discussed this topic on multiple occasions with the disgruntled quarterback. The Broncos figure to be among the many teams interested in Watson, should the Texans make him available. Watson requested a trade last week, shortly after the Texans hired David Culley as head coach.

Like the Panthers, who are planning to make a push for Watson after being in the mix for Matthew Stafford, the Broncos present an intriguing wide receiver group. But Denver would not be able to put together the kind of draft pick package the Dolphins and Jets could. The Broncos hold the No. 9 overall pick, but the Jets and Dolphins have top-three selections and additional first-rounders this year. The Jets have two first-rounders this year and next. Watson, who has a no-trade clause that will allow him to approve his destination, is also believed to be open to most deals.

New Broncos GM George Paton exchanged offers with the Lions for Stafford, though the longtime Vikings exec balked at including promising young players on his new team in the deal. Those talks did include Drew Lock, however. Watson is certainly a more valuable asset than Stafford, going into his age-26 season on the heels of three Pro Bowls (to Stafford’s one in 12 seasons), so it will be interesting to see how serious the Broncos would be if Watson is made available. Acquiring Watson will require one of the best trade packages in NFL history.

The Broncos have used nine starting quarterbacks in the five seasons since Peyton Manning retired. They used a first-round pick on a passer in 2016 (Paxton Lynch), a second-rounder on Lock in 2019 and have acquired starters via the trade route (Joe Flacco) and free agency (Case Keenum). Before the Broncos signed Keenum in 2018, a few of their Super Bowl holdovers made pitches to Kirk Cousins. The team, which has seen almost all of its Super Bowl 50 cogs depart, remains in search of quarterback stability. Limited by this position, the Broncos ranked 30th in offensive DVOA in 2020.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/2/21

February 2nd, 2021 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed to reserve/futures contract: LS Steven Wirtel

Pittsburgh Steelers

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