Would The Broncos Go After Kirk Cousins?
The Broncos my have lost their 10th game of the season on Sunday, but they also got a glimpse at a potential quarterback target in Washington signal caller Kirk Cousins. Playing on his second straight franchise tag, the 29-year-old posted close to 300 yards and tossed three scores against a very formidable Broncos defense. It was a performance that made Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post ask, “is Cousins worth $30MM?”
In fact, many Broncos defenders seemed to think that he could be worth that type of investment this offseason.
“A lot of teams would literally kill to have a quarterback like that,” Broncos linebacker Von Miller said.
“He’s the real deal as a quarterback,” Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall added.
There’s a lot of QB needy teams in the NFL, but the Broncos got a personal look on Sunday of what Cousins could bring to a team that’s been craving any sort of offense since Peyton Manning retired after their Super Bowl 50 run.
- With their win yesterday, the Chiefs have clinched the AFC West and the fourth seed in the AFC. This means that rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes could get the start or at least see a lot of playing time in a meaningless Week 17 game against the Broncos. But as expected, head coach Andy Reid wasn’t tipping his hand about how the team will approach the QB position next week. “We’ll get through Christmas and then we’ll get on with that,” Reid said. There had been some speculation that Reid may turn to Mahomes during the team’s midseason losing streak, but veteran Alex Smith has bounced back in a big way and led Kansas City to their second straight division title. Mahomes has been playing with the scout team and would probably be well served in getting some actual playing time in his first professional season.
Broncos To Start Brock Osweiler?
- Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler is likely to start Sunday against Washington, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Recently, Osweiler indicated that he wants to stay with Denver even though the team probably does not see him as a starter for next year. At minimum, he’ll have a platform at the end of the year to prove that he can be an option for the team going forward. Paxton Lynch, for now, will be on the bench.
Team Could Only Have 4 WR's In Week 16
- The Broncos are very much playing out the string of this season with a number of different QB’s given injuries and poor play. However, the wide receiver position has taken a hit over the past week, according to Mike Klis of 9news.com. Klis notes that Denver could only have four wideouts active against the Redskins in Week 16. Demaryius Thomas, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor and Isaiah McKenzie are the only healthy receivers available and could lead the team to serious depth problems should one of them go down this weekend. Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer are both listed as questionable and really have no reason to be pushed given that the Broncos are not in the playoff race. Expect the team to rely on the running game in order to keep their receiving corps healthy on Sunday.
- Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper has not been 100% since he suffered a concussion and an ankle injury vs. the Broncos a few weeks ago. The third-year wideout has been inconsistent while on the field this season, but said after practice on Friday that he “felt all right” and is “still working through” the injuries, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link). He remains questionable to play for Monday night’s game against the Eagles. Gehlken also passed along that four Raiders missed practice today, including: CB David Amerson (foot), C Rodney Hudson (ankle/illness), DL Treyvon Hester (ankle) and TE Clive Walford (concussion/neck) (Twitter link).
NFL Workout Updates: 12/22/17
Here’s today’s workout updates. All credit goes to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Denver Broncos
- P Alex Knight (Twitter link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- OL Stephen Evans (Twitter link)
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Brandon Shippen (Twitter link)
Minnesota Vikings
- P Taylor Symmank (Twitter link)
NFL Workout Updates: 12/21/17
Today’s workout updates, with all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:
Arizona Cardinals
- WRs Harvey Binford, Rashad Ross, Brandon Zylstra; DBs Jonathon Mincy, Kacy Rodgers (link)
Cincinnati Bengals
- OL Gabe Ikard, Max Rich, Austin Shepherd, Jerry Ugokwe (link)
Cleveland Browns
- RB Kelvin Taylor; DT Jimmy Staten; LB Max Bullough; CBs Makinton Dorleant, Demetrius McCray, Sheldon Price; DBs James Sample, Earl Wolff (link)
Dallas Cowboys
- WRs K.D. Cannon, Dezmin Lewis, Tevaun Smith; LBs Tyrell Adams, Arthur Miley; DBs Jeremy Boykins, Marcus Cromartie, Marqueston Huff, Ezra Robinson (link)
Denver Broncos
- TE Gavin Escobar; DTs Paul Boyette, Will Sutton; LBs Houston Bates, Jayrone Elliott, Connor Harris, Marcus Rush; DBs Rickey Jefferson, Jordan Moore, J.R. Nelson, D’Joun Smith, Malik Smith (link)
Detroit Lions
- CB Jarnor Jones (link via Balzer)
Houston Texans
- DE Kasim Edebali; DT Rickey Hatley; DB Tracy Howard (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Marcus Lucas (link)
New Orleans Saints
- WR Diontae Spencer (link)
New York Giants
- QB Brandon Burge; WR Nick Demski; OL Freddie Burden; DBs Malik Golden, Ed Reynolds (link)
New York Jets
- G Greg Pyke (link via Balzer)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB James Summers (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- TE Brandon Barnes; OL Erik Austell; DT Euclid Cummings; LB Chris Casher; CB Shaq Richardson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- RBs Kalif Phillips, Jalen Simmons (link)
Brock Osweiler Wants To Stay In Denver
- Conversely, Brock Osweiler still wants to stay with the Broncos next season despite the team presumably not viewing him as a starter going into a pivotal offseason. Osweiler’s contract is up after Week 17, but he wants to stay in Denver, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post relays (on Twitter). The Broncos have not decided if he or Paxton Lynch will start on Sunday against the Redskins. Osweiler may be amenable to again being the backup in Denver, with the franchise likely to explore options in what promises to be one of the more unique groups of available quarterbacks in the free agency era, and is unlikely to be be viewed as a starter-level talent by another team.
- With the Broncos having little inclination Lynch can be counted on as a potential above-average starter, Troy Renck of Denver7 explores the idea of the team adding Kirk Cousins. While it would surely cost a team Derek Carr or Matthew Stafford money to sign Cousins, should be become a free agent, Renck notes the Broncos’ inability to replace Peyton Manning has cost them dearly. Manning wasn’t even making $20MM per year, so the prospect of Cousins — whom Renck lists as a player who figures to be pursued by the Jaguars, Bills, Browns, Cardinals and Jets as well — would be interesting. The Broncos are projected to have $30MM in 2018 cap space.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Brittan Golden
Buffalo Bills
- Designated to return from injured reserve: S Colt Anderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB B.W. Webb
- Placed on injured reserve: DB Derrick Kindred
Denver Broncos
- Promoted to active roster: CB Michael Hunter
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Shane Ray (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Signed off Broncos‘ practice squad: OL Dillon Day
- Waived: FB Joe Kerridge
New York Giants
- Activated from injured reserve: DE Romeo Okwara
- Waived: LB Jeremy Cash
New York Jets
- Waived from injured reserve: LB Edmond Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: LB Kache Palacio
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted to active roster: LB Nigel Harris, DT Channing Ward
Washington Redskins
- Promoted to active roster: S Fish Smithson
- Placed on injured reserve: S Montae Nicholson
Broncos To Place Shane Ray On IR
In all likelihood, Shane Ray will not suit up for the Broncos’ final two games. The linebacker is expected to be placed on IR after having two screws removed from his left wrist (Twitter link via Troy Renck of Denver7). 
By placing Ray on IR, the Broncos will give him a head start on his rehabilitation. The hope is that Ray will be ready for offseason activities, giving him ample time to prepare for Week 1 of the 2018 season. Of course, after falling to 5-9 on Sunday, there isn’t much reason for the Broncos to have Ray out on the field for the final two games of the 2017 campaign.
Ray had a breakout season last year, recording 48 tackles and eight sacks in 664 snaps. Only two Denver linebackers – Von Miller and Todd Davis– saw more burn than Ray in 2016. He placed an above-average 45th in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 110 qualified edge defenders.
Unfortunately, Ray’s wrist kept him off the field until late October this year. He placed just 99th on PFF’s list of edge defenders after 354 snaps.
Broncos Sign OL J.J. Dielman Off Bengals’ Practice Squad
The Bengals have again seen one of their 2017 draft picks poached from their practice squad. Months after the Eagles added Jake Elliott, this time a rookie offensive lineman will travel elsewhere.
J.J. Dielman will now take Trevor Siemian‘s place on the Broncos’ active roster, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com categorizing this move (on Twitter) as a “present and future decision.”
Like Elliott, Dielman was a fifth-round pick. The Rams claimed Dielman off waivers following the preseason but waived him later in September, leading to the Utah product’s three-month stay on Cincinnati’s practice squad. Prior to his Bengals selection, Dielman played guard alongside current Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles with the Utes. The Bengals did not make a move to promote Dielman in an effort to prevent this transaction. Dielman is listed as a guard but played right tackle and center over the past three seasons in Salt Lake City.
The Broncos placed Ronald Leary on IR this week and started Connor McGovern in that spot. McGovern and Max Garcia, a 2015 fourth-round pick, were drafted to play in Gary Kubiak‘s system. And the Broncos have been linked to Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, a first-round prospect.
So, guard appears to be a place with which the franchise is willing to tinker.
Broncos’ Trevor Siemian Dislocates Shoulder
Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian suffered a dislocated shoulder in tonight’s contest and will miss the final two games of the 2017 season, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link).
Siemian’s third NFL campaign will end after a year-long run of disappointing results, as the former seventh-round pick couldn’t live up to his surprisingly effective 2016 season, his first as a starter. Nearly every metric showed a drop-off, as his adjusted net yards per completion dropped by nearly 25%, while his total quarterback rating slipped by 25 points. On the year, Siemian tossed 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions after posting a 18:10 ratio a year ago.
Unlike 2016, Siemian didn’t enjoy an uninterrupted string of success this season, as he was initially removed from the starting lineup after eight starts. Both Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch were utilized without success, and Lynch is now injured. With Osweiler the only healthy signal-caller on their roster, the Broncos will likely need to sign another quarterback to get through the remainder of the season.
It’s unclear if Siemian (or any of Denver’s current quarterbacks) will remain in the club’s 2018 plans, but if so, it will likely be as a reserve. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link) reported earlier tonight that the Broncos are likely to explore any and all outlets — including free agency, the draft, and trade — in search of a franchise quarterback this offseason.