Broncos Unlikely To Cut Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders
Although Broncos wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders have both been mentioned as potential cap casualties, the “belief” is that both are safe bets to stick on Denver’s roster given that the club is searching for a top-end quarterback this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
General manager John Elway is reportedly considering any and all options to improve the Broncos’ quarterback situation over the coming months. As PFR’s Sam Robinson detailed in an extensive look at Denver’s offseason priorities, the Broncos could theoretically target a free agent solution such as Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, or Tyrod Taylor, or perhaps look to draft a collegiate signal-caller like Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, or Josh Allen. Either way, Denver’s ability to retain its top two pass-catchers should help the club’s next quarterback.
Additionally, salary cap space shouldn’t be a problem for the Broncos in 2018, so saving money by cutting Thomas or Sanders isn’t an absolute necessity. Although Denver currently boasts only $27MM in cap room (16th in the NFL), it can easily create more space through personnel moves that don’t involve Thomas or Sanders. The Broncos could release cornerback Aqib Talib, running back C.J. Anderson, and offensive tackle Menelik Watson — each of which is a rumored transaction — and catapult their available cap space to more than $40MM.
Thomas, 30, has two years left on his current contract, and is scheduled to count for roughly $12MM in 2018. Denver could release him and save nearly $5MM, but the team would also take on $7.06MM in dead money. A post-June 1 designation would create $8.5MM in savings, but having extra room in June wouldn’t help the Broncos sign a quarterback in April. Thomas managed only 949 receiving yards last season, his lowest total since 2011, but the lack of effective quarterback play in Denver played a large part in that lack of production.
Sanders was also affected by the Broncos’ dismal efforts under center, as he posted just 555 receiving yards while appearing in 12 games. Prior to 2017, the 30-year-old Sanders had produced three straight campaigns with at least 1,000 yards through the air. If they were to release Sanders, the Broncos would pick up ~$5.563MM in cap space but incur $5.375MM in dead money.
Could Broncos Consider Trading Sanders?
- Miller did not mention the Broncos as a trade-down candidate from No. 5, but what happens in March will determine how they operate. If Kirk Cousins is set on establishing a new NFL salary threshold, the Broncos may need to do more than trade or cut Aqib Talib to clear sufficient funding. While the Broncos would have $37MM-plus in cap space after jettisoning Talib, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post writes they might also consider putting Emmanuel Sanders on the block. Soon to be 31 and coming off his worst season as a Bronco, one limited by an ankle injury, Sanders stands to count $10.9MM against the Broncos’ 2018 cap. Sanders’ age and 2017 season aside, the franchise has experienced rampant trouble finding wideouts since its successful 2014 Sanders signing and Cousins choosing the Broncos would likely be partially because of their veteran core. A Sanders departure would deplete that setup.
Broncos Interested In Case Keenum?
Plenty of variables exist in what promises to be a complex quarterback marketplace this offseason. Kirk Cousins and the Broncos are centerpiece elements of it, with both the quarterback and the team standing to affect how free agency and the draft unfolds.
The Broncos could conceivably go either way in addressing their quarterback situation, and whether they sign Cousins or lose that race and end up taking a passer at No. 5 will determine plenty about how the offseason plays out. But what happens if the Broncos can’t land Cousins? Do they still target a veteran? And if so, would any non-Cousins addition induce Denver to use its No. 5 pick on a non-quarterback?
One other passer might. The Broncos are intrigued by Case Keenum, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report notes. He adds that a Keenum addition would allow the team to select a player at another position at No. 5, so Keenum could be the Broncos’ second choice on the veteran market. They are expected to enter the Cousins sweepstakes.
Of course, the Vikings could still place the franchise tag on their primary 2017 starter and effectively take him off the market. They are open to doing so, and may be likely to take this route with one of last season’s biggest surprises. But if Keenum hits the market, the Broncos — who discussed a Keenum trade during the 2016 offseason, when his price was much lower — figure to be interested.
Keenum will not cost what Cousins would, but the sample size of proficiency is far less than what Cousins’ career has offered, so spending lower-end or midlevel franchise-quarterback money on Keenum would be a risk. Mike Klis of 9News noted recently Denver’s Cousins contingency plan was likely to be Keenum (if available) or a bridge player that would mentor the passer the team would be in line to select at 5.
The Broncos may well believe Keenum is good enough not to be viewed as a stopgap passer, which would take a team out of the mix for a quarterback at the top of the draft. But the Vikings may believe this as well and retain Keenum to make outside interest essentially moot.
Broncos Name New HC Assistant
- Rob Grosso has been named as an assistant to Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, reports Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post (via Twitter). Grosso served as an operations intern with the organization in 2017. Previous coaching assistant Phil Rauscher joined the Redskins staff as their assistant offensive-line coach.
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Broncos Lose Strength Coach To Texans
- Despite the Texans blocking the Broncos from interviewing Wes Welker, the Broncos will see their six-year strength and conditioning coach depart for Houston. Luke Richesson will become the Texans’ strength coach, 9News’ Mike Klis reports, with the team set to give him a bigger role than he had in Denver.
Chiefs Didn’t View Broncos As Smith Option
Although Andy Reid has dealt a starting quarterback to a team in his division before, sending Donovan McNabb to the Redskins in 2010, the Chiefs did not seriously entertain that notion in fielding offers for Alex Smith.
The two-time defending AFC West champions did not appear to consider the Broncos as a realistic trade destination for Smith, chairman Clark Hunt said (via Mike Klis of 9News).
“I think it’s pretty typical in the NFL not to seek trades within the division,’’ Hunt said, via Klis. “That’s pretty standard fare particularly when we’re talking about a high-profile player.”
The Chiefs’ starting quarterback from 2013-17 reportedly drew widespread interest, with as many as six teams contacting the Chiefs. Although the Broncos haven’t been mentioned as one of the suitors, their need for a passer to complement a veteran nucleus would have made the 33-year-old Smith a logical option. But it appears Hunt wasn’t going to seriously entertain a potential Denver offer.
The Broncos’ current power structure got a good look at Smith during his Kansas City tenure. Smith faced the Broncos nine times as a Chief, going 4-5, losing the first five matchups to the then-Peyton Manning-led team before helping turn the tide in the division and helping Kansas City to back-to-back season sweeps in this rivalry series. Patrick Mahomes‘ appearance against the Broncos in Week 17 helped illustrate the direction the Chiefs were going.
The Chiefs ended up acquiring a third-round pick and Kendall Fuller, who has two more years of rookie-deal control.
Von Miller: Broncos Should Sign Kirk Cousins
During Super Bowl week, Mike Klis of 9News asked former and current NFL players about what the Broncos should do at quarterback this offseason. One of those current players was Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, who gave a very interesting response.
“I like all the guys out there,” Miller said when asked whether the Broncos should sign Kirk Cousins for ~$30MM/year, Case Keenum for $18MM/year, or draft a QB at No. 5 overall. “But if we could get Kirk that’d be great. If we get solid play (from the QB position) that’d be great. And we got to get better on defense as well. But, since you asked me the question, I would like to have Kirk. I would rather have Kirk.’’
While you mull over the Broncos’ QB options, here’s more from the AFC and NFC West:
Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order
With the Super Bowl in the books, we now know the draft order for the entire first round of the 2018 draft. Here’s the rundown:
1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)
2. New York Giants (3-13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos (5-11)
6. New York Jets (5-11)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
8. Chicago Bears (5-11)
T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
13. Washington Redskins (7-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
20. Detroit Lions (9-7)
21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)
25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)
31. New England Patriots (13-3)
32. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Broncos Requested Permission To Interview Wes Welker For WRs Coach
- The Broncos requested permission to interview Texans offensive/special teams assistant Wes Welker for its WRs coach position, per Mike Klis of 9News (via Twitter). Had Denver hired Welker in that capacity, it would have represented a promotion for him, but Houston denied the request. The Broncos hired Zach Azzanni as WRs coach instead.
Cousins Would "Love" If Broncos Were Interested
While this stance didn’t come during an actual interview, Kirk Cousins let it be known he would enjoy being courted by the Broncos. The seventh-year quarterback said in passing during Super Bowl week (via Mike Klis of 9News) he would “love it” if Denver shows interest. This figures to be the case, with the Broncos being mentioned as a prime Cousins candidate. Bovada lists the Broncos as the favorites to land Cousins, with the Jets running second early in the pursuit (Twitter link, via Klis). It’s not certain either of these teams will pursue the 29-year-old passer, but it seems likely. These teams hold picks five and six in the draft, so the loser — should this race come down to Denver or New York — would be very much in play for one of the rookie quarterbacks expected to go in the top 10.