Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Broncos Extend LB Jonas Griffith

February 14th, 2024 at 5:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jonas Griffith missed the entire 2023 campaign due to an ACL tear, but he will receive an opportunity to continue his Broncos tenure next season. The veteran linebacker signed a one-year extension on Wednesday, per an announcement from his agency.

Griffith was once again an exclusive rights free agent this year. Rather than tendering him later in the offseason, Denver has elected to ink him to a new deal prior to the start of free agency. As 9News’ Mike Klis notes, Griffith will earn $985K in 2024, the league minimum for players with two years’ experience but still a slight uptick from his one-year earnings in each of the past two seasons. A notable role could await him if he manages to remain healthy.

The Broncos have one starting LB spot accounted for with Alex Singleton. Fellow first-teamer Josey Jewell is a pending free agent, however. The same is also true of backups Justin Strnad and Ben Niemann, meaning a number of departures could take place at the position in the near future. 2023 third-rounder Drew Sanders, meanwhile, played at his best as an outside linebacker in his rookie year. Griffith has experience on special teams, but he could also push for a return to the workload he had in 2022.

That season, the former UDFA logged a 55% snap share on defense while starting eight of his nine games. His campaign was cut short due to a foot injury, though, something which compounded his absence throughout the 2023 season. Griffith had drawn rave reviews when on the field, leading to high expectations in the build-up to this past year.

The 27-year-old (who was acquired via trade in 2021) has made all 22 of his appearances with the Broncos. In that time, the former 49er and Colt has totaled 92 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. He could be well-positioned to compete for defensive playing time depending on how the team proceeds this offseason with Jewell in particular. In any case, today’s move will pave the way for at least a solid special teams role provided Griffith manages to recover in full from his most recent season-ending injury.

Broncos Hire Jim Leonhard

February 14th, 2024 at 2:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Viewed as the Packers’ preferred defensive coordinator candidate in 2021, Jim Leonhard instead stayed on as DC at Wisconsin. With the Badgers making changes following the 2022 season, Leonhard left his longtime post. He is now expected to try his hand in the NFL.

The former NFL safety is on track to return to Denver. A Broncos backup in 2012, Leonhard is expected to become part of Sean Payton‘s second Broncos staff, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler indicate. While Leonhard played 10 NFL seasons, he has only coached in the college game. Leonhard, 41, is set to replace Christian Parker as the Broncos’ DBs coach, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. The team has since announced the hire with the additional title of pass game coordinator.

As the NIL ruling and transfer portal warp an unsteady college landscape, a few college staffers have made the jump to the pros. Leonhard becomes the latest. While he does not register on the level of Jim Harbaugh or former Boston College HC (and new Packers DC) Jeff Hafley, he was in place as Wisconsin’s DC for six seasons. The Badgers fared well defensively under Leonhard, ranking in the top 25 nationally in all but one of his seasons. Wisconsin deployed four top-10 scoring defenses in that span.

This garnered Leonhard interest from college programs, and ESPN.com indicates he spoke with multiple NFL teams this offseason. Leonhard spent the 2023 season as an analyst at Illinois. The Eagles interviewed Leonhard for their DC job last year.

Leonhard has a past with both the Broncos and Payton. While his career featured better moments, Leonhard signed with the Broncos in 2012 and was part of a 13-3 team. The Broncos used Leonhard as a part-time punt returner, protecting the fumble-prone Trindon Holliday in certain situations, but used the veteran on 260 defensive snaps that year. Also playing for the Bills, Ravens and Browns, Leonhard is best known for his Jets tenure. The 2005 UDFA started 40 games for the Jets during Rex Ryan‘s stay. Leonhard spent the 2013 offseason with Payton in New Orleans but did not make the Saints’ 53-man roster.

The Broncos held Parker in high regard, keeping the Vic Fangio-hired assistant in place on Nathaniel Hackett and Payton’s staffs. Parker interviewed for Denver’s DC job last year and met with the Packers and Patriots about their positions last month. Leonhard was not believed to be in the mix for the Green Bay job this time around, but Matt LaFleur placed him as the top choice in 2021. Parker committed to rejoin Fangio in Philadelphia recently; he will be the Eagles’ defensive pass-game coordinator.

Broncos Moving Toward Russell Wilson Decision; Team Eyeing J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix?

February 13th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers became the first team to go through with post-Super Bowl cuts, moving on from former starters Mitchell Trubisky and Chukwuma Okorafor. A much bigger domino is likely to fall in Denver.

Although the Broncos’ path to upgrade on Russell Wilson is complicated, they still are likely to separate from the pricey passer they benched before Week 17. The team and Wilson had gone through a messy behind-the-scenes chapter pertaining to the decorated QB’s guarantee vesting date, but pushback on that decision being strictly contract-related ensued. The Broncos benched Wilson for Jarrett Stidham, and while the latter is almost definitely not the team’s long-term answer, the Payton-Wilson partnership appears in its final days.

Payton confirmed during an appearance on Up & Adams a decision on Wilson should emerge sooner rather than later (video link). The second-year Broncos HC said the team began its draft meetings Monday. When asked if he was looking to “fall in love” with a QB this offseason, Payton responded, “Yeah,” continuing to point to the Broncos absorbing the record-shattering dead money that would come with a Wilson release. Wilson holds a no-trade clause, though his five-year, $245MM deal is not viewed as tradeable on the surface.

It would cost the Broncos $85MM in dead money to release Wilson; that will be spread over two years due to the expected release set to be classified as a post-June 1 cut. That will slot the 2024 dead money at $35.4MM. That number checks in just $300K north of what the Buccaneers absorbed when Tom Brady retired. Of course, Tampa Bay is no longer restricted by any Brady money this year. The Broncos will be set to deal with $49.6MM in dead cap in 2025. That alone will smash the NFL record, one the Falcons still hold (at $40.5MM) after trading Matt Ryan to the Colts in 2022. A Wilson release will need to occur before March 17; his 2025 base salary ($37MM) becomes fully guaranteed on that day.

The Broncos hold the No. 12 overall pick and cannot enter true negotiations with an outside free agent until March 11. The Bucs and Vikings can respectively talk with Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins now. If one of those players becomes an option in Denver, such a signing would be costly. Considering the dead money coming via the likely Wilson release, the Broncos would be tying up plenty of cash at QB were they to go with a pricey free agent option. Of course, none of this year’s UFA passers beyond Cousins or Mayfield are expected to be especially expensive.

During an appearance on the Jim Rome Show (via 9News’ Mike Klis), Payton mentioned Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees as quick-processing QBs while notably leaving out Wilson when discussing that important skill in his offense. Known more for off-schedule brilliance than pocket mastery, Wilson had moments in Payton’s offense. He still finished in the top 10 in passer rating, while QBR slotted the ex-Seahawks star 21st. A market is likely to form for the 12-year veteran, though he will not be tied to anything close to the $49MM-per-year deal he signed in Denver. Wilson, 35, is unlikely to command anything near his $35MM-AAV Seahawks extension from 2019. The less Wilson makes, however, the more money the Broncos owe due to offset language.

New NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) the Broncos mistreated Wilson when they attempted to move his vesting guarantee date from 2024 to 2025. Wilson’s camp said the team threatened a benching had the QB not gone along; Broncos brass denied the benching threat occurred. The NFLPA had urged Wilson to call the team’s bye-week bluff. Wilson did, and the Broncos stayed with him as their starter until they were realistically eliminated from playoff contention. Despite Denver’s limitations when it comes to securing an upgrade this offseason, a reconciliation here — despite Wilson indicating in January he wanted to stay with the team — should be considered highly unlikely.

At No. 12, the Broncos are not realistic candidates to end up with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. Jayden Daniels‘ rising stock may well ensure the Heisman winner goes off the board well before No. 12. The Broncos have been loosely connected to trading up for one of these passers, but the team — which has not made a first-round pick since 2021, thanks to the Wilson and Payton trades — views the cost as high enough a move into the top three is unlikely.

This would naturally tie the Broncos to this QB class’ second-tier options, and Denver7’s Troy Renck notes that is already happening. Denver is being connected to Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix within scouting circles, per Renck. An ex-Jim Harbaugh pupil who is not yet 21, McCarthy joins Nix in not yet being a first-round lock. Given the supply-and-demand issues at quarterback, however, it would certainly not surprise to see both prospects be chosen on Day 1.

The Broncos selecting a QB at 12, as opposed to trading up, would be optimal given the draft capital the team surrendered for Wilson and then to obtain Payton’s rights. Excepting Jay Cutler‘s intermittent promise, the Broncos have not had much luck drafting QBs. The franchise’s top passers (John Elway, Peyton Manning, Jake Plummer, Craig Morton) all game via trade or free agency. But Denver will likely be connected to this year’s crop. The 2025 group, although it is still quite early on that front, is viewed as a lesser group. That could force some teams’ hands ahead of this draft.

Giants Attempted To Bring Back QB Davis Webb Following Daniel Jones’ Injury

February 13th, 2024 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Daniel Jones‘ ACL tear derailed the Giants’ 2023 quarterback plans. New York finished the campaign with a combination of Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito under center, but the team also eyed a reunion with a familiar face.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton revealed during a recent appearance on the Up & Adams show that the Giants attempted to bring back Davis Webb after Jones’ injury (h/t Dan Duggan of The Athletic). 2023 marked the beginning of Webb’s coaching career, taking over as Denver’s QBs coach, so a move sending him back to the playing field certainly would have been noteworthy.

Webb was a Giants third-rounder in 2017, but his regular season playing debut came in 2021 with the Bills. His time in Buffalo allowed him to work with then-OC Brian Daboll, who took on the Giants’ head coaching position the following offseason. Webb followed Daboll to New York in 2022, and he started the regular season finale amidst questions regarding his playing future.

The 29-year-old made it clear during the waning days of his playing tenure that he would be transitioning to the coaching ranks. The Bills were eyeing him as their QBs coach in 2022, before Webb elected to remain a player for one more season. He came highly recommended to Payton while he was assembling his first Broncos staff, and it came as little surprise he found an NFL coaching opportunity immediately after hanging up his cleats.

Before and after Jones’ injury, the Giants’ play at the QB spot was generally underwhelming. The position is again a source of speculation even though Jones is attached to the four-year, $160MM contract he inked last offseason. Bringing in Webb as a late-season stop-gap would have been an unusual course of action, though his familiarity with Daboll’s system likely would have allowed him to step into a starter’s role somewhat smoothly. In any case, he will move forward with his coaching responsibilities while New York seeks clarity on the QB depth chart in 2024 and beyond.

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

February 12th, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

With Super Bowl LVIII in the books, the 2023 campaign has come to a close. Teams outside Kansas City and San Francisco had already turned their attention to the offseason well before Sunday’s game, of course.

Regular season standings determine the order for the top 18 picks, so they have been known since the conclusion of Week 18. For the second straight year, the Bears face the question of dealing away the top selection and starting over at quarterback or re-committing to Justin Fields. Expectations still point toward Caleb Williams heading to Chicago, although the Bears will not move the No. 1 pick at a discounted price.

With the Commanders also in position to add a signal-caller second overall, the Patriots and Cardinals will be worth watching closely. New England will be in the market for a QB, but it may not come via the team’s top selection. Arizona’s position could also be a trade-up target for teams seeking a quarterback addition. This year’s class is expected to be dominated by blue-chip prospects under center, as well as at wide receiver and offensive tackle.

The final 14 spots in the draft order are filled by postseason results. The Chiefs find themselves in familiar territory picking at or near the end of the first-round order for the fourth time in the past five years following another Super Bowl appearance. The team has a mixed track record with its selections in that regard, but another impact rookie would of course help its bid to sustain its impressive run.

While a number of selections will no doubt be swapped between now and draft day, here is the full 2024 first-round order:

Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
Washington Commanders: 4-13
New England Patriots: 4-13
Arizona Cardinals: 4-13
Los Angeles Chargers: 5-12
New York Giants: 6-11
Tennessee Titans: 6-11
Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
Chicago Bears: 7-10
New York Jets: 7-10
Minnesota Vikings: 7-10
Denver Broncos: 8-9
Las Vegas Raiders: 8-9
New Orleans Saints: 9-8
Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
Seattle Seahawks: 9-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8
Los Angeles Rams: 10-7
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7
Miami Dolphins: 11-6
Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
Houston Texans (via Browns)
Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
Green Bay Packers: 9-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-8
Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
Buffalo Bills: 11-6
Detroit Lions: 12-5
Baltimore Ravens: 13-4
San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
Kansas City Chiefs: 11-6

2024 Hall Of Fame Class Unveiled

February 8th, 2024 at 9:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

As part of tonight’s NFL Honors program, the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been revealed. It consists of modern-era standouts and two players chosen by the senior committee. Here is the full breakdown of this year’s honorees:

Dwight Freeney, defensive end (2002-17)

In his second year as a finalist, Freeney received enough support to be voted into the Hall. One of the quickest edge rushers in NFL history, Freeney will reach Canton with 125.5 career sacks. That total ranks 18th in NFL history. The Colts made Freeney their pass-rushing anchor during Peyton Manning‘s extended run as their franchise centerpiece. While the team eventually found a bookend in Robert Mathis, it chose Freeney 11th overall in the 2002 draft with a hope of building a pass defense around the Syracuse alum. Freeney delivered and will book a Hall of Fame nod on his second try.

Freeney finished second to fellow 2024 inductee Julius Peppers in 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, but the spin-move maven showed what was ahead by forcing nine forced fumbles as a rookie. The 11-year Colt earned four All-Pro honors, joining Mathis as one of the era’s defining pass-rushing duos. Freeney led the NFL with 16 sacks in 2004 and helped the Colts vanquish their Patriots hurdle en route to a Super Bowl XLI win two years later. The Colts gave Freeney a six-year, $72MM extension in 2007.

The enduring sack artist managed to play five seasons following his Colts career, spending time with the Chargers, Falcons, Cardinals, Seahawks and Lions. Serving as a designated rusher near the end of his career, Freeney helped the Cardinals reach the 2015 NFC championship game, after an eight-sack season, and played in Super Bowl LI with the Falcons.

Randy Gradishar, linebacker (1974-83)**

Widely viewed as one of the best linebackers of his era and one of the game’s best tacklers of any period, Gradishar moves into the Hall via the senior committee route. Gradishar’s selection makes him the first member of the Broncos’ “Orange Crush” defense to be enshrined in Canton. That defensive nucleus powered Denver to its first playoff berth, a 1977 season that included postseason wins over 1970s superpowers Pittsburgh and Oakland en route to Super Bowl XII. The Broncos allowed just 10.6 points per game in 1977. Despite multiple rule changes designed to increase offensive productivity in 1978, the Broncos yielded just 12.4 points per contest that year.

A first-round pick out of Ohio State, Gradishar played his entire career in Denver and earned five All-Pro honors. The above-referenced 1978 season featured perhaps the best team in Steelers history, but Gradishar outflanked “Steel Curtain” cogs by being voted as Defensive Player of the Year after helping the 10-6 Broncos back to the playoffs. The off-ball linebacker added 20 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns in his career.

Devin Hester, return specialist (2006-16)

Almost definitely the greatest return man in NFL history, Hester becomes one of the few true specialists in the Hall of Fame. Dabbling at cornerback and wide receiver, Hester provided the Bears tremendous value as a return specialist. Elite in both the kick- and punt-return capacities, Hester set an NFL record with 20 return touchdowns. Famously adding a kick-return score in the playoffs — to begin Super Bowl XLI — Hester delivered one of the great rookie seasons in NFL history. The Bears second-round pick notched six return TDs in the regular season — one coming on a blocked field goal sprint against the Giants — and added No. 7 against the Colts in the Super Bowl.

Hester’s 2007 season dismissed any fluke notions; he posted six more return scores (four on punts) during his NFL sophomore slate. While producing 17 more TDs on offense over the course of his career, Hester never caught on as a pure wideout in Chicago. But he landed on two All-Decade teams for his return work. Eighteen of Hester’s 19 return TDs came in Chicago. Hester’s 14 punt-return TDs are four more than second place all time (Eric Metcalf); he broke the record for combined kick- and punt-return TDs in only his sixth season (2011).

The Falcons gave Hester a three-year, $9MM contract in 2014; he finished his career splitting time with the Ravens and Seahawks in 2016. Seattle signed Hester just before the 2016 playoffs, using him in both its postseason contests that year.

Andre Johnson, wide receiver (2003-16)

Not collecting a Super Bowl ring like the other two pure wide receiver finalists in this year’s class (Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne), Johnson became well known for putting up monster numbers despite not being gifted a top-tier quarterback. But Johnson operated as one of the most physically imposing receivers in NFL history. The ex-Miami Hurricanes star’s numbers, largely compiled with David Carr and Matt Schaub targeting him, reflect that. Of Johnson’s seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons, four included 1,400-plus. Only Jerry Rice (six) and Julio Jones (five) produced more such seasons. Johnson’s 14,185 career yards rank 11th all time.

The Texans chose Johnson third overall in 2003, the second draft in their history. The 229-pound pass catcher led the NFL in receptions twice and receiving yards in back-to-back years (2008, 2009). Neither of those seasons lifted the Texans to a playoff berth, but Johnson remained in place as the team’s No. 1 wideout when the team finally booked its first two postseason cameos in 2011 and 2012. Johnson amassed 201 yards in two playoff games in 2011, doing so despite Schaub’s injury leaving rookie T.J. Yates at the controls.

Johnson is the Texans’ first Hall of Famer. This is fitting, as he retired with the most games played in Texans history. The longtime WR1 spent 12 years with the team. Johnson signed two Houston extensions spanning at least seven years in length, earning more than $108MM throughout his NFL run. He finished a 14-year career with one season apiece in Indianapolis and Tennessee.

Steve McMichael, defensive tackle (1980-94)**

Part of the storied 1985 Bears’ defense, McMichael played 13 of his 15 NFL seasons in Chicago. A Patriots third-round draftee, McMichael found himself in the Windy City ahead of his second season. The Patriots waived the future D-line mainstay during the 1981 offseason. Teaming with fellow Hall of Famers Dan Hampton and Richard Dent (along with William “The Refrigerator” Perry) on Chicago’s D-line, McMichael earned four All-Pro honors while helping a Bears team — one that saw Jim McMahon injuries impede paths to Super Bowls — become a perennial contender.

The Bears did, of course, break through as champions in 1985. That 18-1 team is on a short list of those in the running for the best ever, allowing only 12.4 points per game and outscoring its playoff opposition 91-10. McMichael started 16 games for the ’85 team and suited up every week for an ’86 Bears defense that statistically outflanked its famed predecessor. Better known by some as part of WCW’s Four Horsemen faction during his wrestling career, “Mongo” finished his gridiron run with 95 sacks (three of them safeties). McMichael closed out his NFL stay with the Packers in 1994. His 92.5 sacks with the Bears are second in franchise history.

Julius Peppers, defensive end (2002-18)*

Five years after retiring, Peppers remains fourth on the NFL’s all-time sack list (159.5). The former Panthers, Bears and Packers pass rusher finished a half-sack shy of Kevin Greene for third. While Greene needed to wait a bit before enshrinement, voters will send Peppers to Canton on his first try. The former North Carolina two-sport standout came into the league with high expectations, going off the 2002 draft board second overall. He justified those, remaining a productive pass rusher into his late 30s. No active sack artist is within 35 of Peppers’ career total. He is among the rare players to land on two All-Decade teams.

Peppers collected six All-Pro honors, three as a first-teamer, and did quite well on the contract front. Peppers’ rookie contract spanned seven years (and $46MM, before the 2011 CBA introduced the slot system), and the Panthers kept him off the market with a franchise tag ahead of Year 8. During the uncapped 2010, Peppers landed a then-record-setting DE pact from the Bears (six years, $84MM). He played four seasons on that deal, and after the Bears made the 6-foot-6 rusher a cap casualty in 2014, Peppers made an impact for three playoff-bound Packers teams in the mid-2010s.

While this can be considered a big night for the Bears — due to the enshrinements of three former players — Peppers played 10 years with the Panthers, returning home to close out his 17-season run. Fifteen years after he won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in Charlotte, the North Carolina native re-signed with his hometown team. Peppers’ penultimate season brought a 10th double-digit sack showing; he totaled 11 at age 37 to help the Panthers to their most recent playoff berth.

Patrick Willis, linebacker (2007-14)

Willis did not overstay his welcome in the NFL, retiring after his age-29 season. The dominant inside linebacker did not lack for accolades in his eight-year career, racking up six All-Pro honors — including five first-team distinctions. The 49ers nabbed Willis in the 2007 first round and turned him loose. Although San Francisco did not form the Jim Harbaugh–Vic Fangio pairing until Willis’ fifth season, he flashed frequently as a young player and was regarded by many as the NFL’s best off-ball linebacker for an extended period.

The Ole Miss alum picked up Defensive Rookie of the Year acclaim and became the rare player to win that award while earning first-team All-Pro honors. Willis tallied a career-high 174 tackles — including a staggering 136 solo — as a rookie to provide an indication of his capabilities. Willis remained in his prime when Harbaugh and Fangio arrived in 2011. While Harbaugh’s arrival elevated Alex Smith and then Colin Kaepernick, Willis’ presence represented a key part of a defense-geared 49ers blueprint that produced three straight NFC championship games and a berth in Super Bowl XLVII.

Willis teamed with NaVorro Bowman to form one of the great linebacking pairs in modern NFL history. Seeing each soar to the first-team All-Pro perch, the 49ers went second-second-third in scoring defense from 2011-13. After suffering a foot injury midway through the 2014 season, Willis opted to call it quits.

* = denotes first year of eligibility
** = denotes senior candidate

Vikings, Broncos On Radar To Trade Up For First-Round QB?

February 5th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

This year’s draft could begin with three quarterbacks, and the teams currently holding the top choices have been steadily linked to taking a first-round passer. Teams in need of signal-callers who do not carry friendly draft real estate will, of course, be monitoring the buzz circulating around the Bears, Commanders and Patriots’ draft blueprints.

Two clubs who appear to be among those watching top QB prospects look to be those positioned just outside the top 10. Holding the Nos. 11 and 12 overall picks, the Vikings and Broncos are believed to be interested in drafting a quarterback high. While it will take considerable draft capital to climb into the top three, neither of these two are in good shape at the position. Minnesota, however, may still have the inside track on Kirk Cousins, who has expressed his fondness for his Twin Cities situation on a number of occasions.

Some around the league are keeping an eye on the Vikings’ interest in moving up for a passer, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler offers, noting the team did extensive work on the QB front last year. The Vikes were the team most closely tied to showing Trey Lance interest — before the Cowboys completed a trade for the former 49ers No. 3 overall pick — and they did not come to an agreement on another extension with Cousins.

Guaranteed money into the deal’s third year provided a sticking point, and the Vikings merely restructured Cousins’ contract. The latter transaction has put Minnesota in a time crunch, and the team could face the prospect of losing its starting QB — who has mentioned testing free agency — and being hit with a $28.5MM dead-money bill brought on by void years. If the Vikings do not re-sign Cousins by the start of the 2024 league year (March 13), that $28.5MM accelerates onto their 2024 cap sheet. Not quite the Tom Brady void years-driven cap charge the Buccaneers just faced ($35.1MM), but that is a high dead-cap number devoted to one player.

Cousins, 35, will undoubtedly factor in a potential Vikings desire to trade up for a quarterback into his latest free agency decision. Cousins is the longest-tenured Vikings QB1 since Tommy Kramer, narrowly edging Daunte Culpepper as the third-longest-tenured QB1 in team history. Like Culpepper in 2005, Cousins is coming off a major injury. The Vikings and other teams will be factoring Cousins’ Achilles tear into prospective offers.

The Broncos are almost definitely moving on from Russell Wilson, preparing to enter dead-money infamy in the process. The forthcoming dead-cap hit will cost the Broncos $84.6MM, which will be spread over two offseasons due to the expected post-June 1 designation. This stands to limit the Broncos’ interest in pursuing a pricey veteran — should any starter-caliber arms be available by the time the legal tampering period begins March 11 — and would naturally make Sean Payton‘s team more interested in a draft investment. The Wilson-fronted five-game win streak midway through this season, however, moved the Broncos down to the No. 12 slot. That will complicate a move into high-end QB real estate.

A rumor at the East-West Shrine Game involved Payton being interested in the Broncos moving up to draft Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline writes. Of course, the cost of doing business here would be steep — and the team would need a willing seller. The prospect of Denver trading up may already be drowning in cold water, too, with Pauline adding the team should not be considered likely to move in this direction because of the draft capital — and/or established players — that would need to be included.

The Broncos gave up their first-round picks in 2022 and ’23 in the Wilson trade, and while they obtained a 2023 first-rounder from the Dolphins in the Bradley Chubb swap, it was subsequently thrown in to acquire Payton’s rights last year. This stands to be the Broncos’ first chance to use a Round 1 pick since they nabbed Patrick Surtain ninth overall in 2021. Surtain has become one of the NFL’s top young corners, and GM George Paton — who is still with the team despite being the point man behind the Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett calls — said Surtain is viewed as a cornerstone piece. Denver’s actions at last year’s trade deadline, which featured at least two first-rounders to even warrant a Surtain discussion, back that up. Pauline adds the Broncos do not want to part with Surtain and would only do so as a last resort in an effort to trade up for a QB.

Wilson’s 2023 rebound notwithstanding, the Broncos have obviously struggled to fill this spot since Peyton Manning‘s 2016 retirement. They were in the Cousins mix in 2018 but bowed out — as the Vikings emerged in pole position — en route to Case Keenum. The Broncos would seemingly have another shot at Cousins now, though QB demand would still make the veteran starter costly — even after the Achilles tear. As of early February, the Vikings are projected to hold more than $24MM in cap space; the Broncos are nearly $24MM over the projected salary ceiling.

Most around the NFL view the Broncos reconciling with Wilson as unlikely, Fowler adds. If Wilson were to remain on Denver’s roster past the fifth day of the 2024 league year, his 2025 base salary ($37MM) locks in. That would balloon Denver’s 2025 dead money for a Wilson release past $85MM. Hence, the team’s controversial maneuvering in an attempt to move the date on which Wilson’s injury guarantee vests.

Although Wilson was fond of Payton prior to the parties’ partnership, Fowler adds Payton let it be known behind the scenes he was not big on the ex-Seahawks star. Wilson’s penchant for creating plays out of structure ran counter to how Payton prefers his offense to run, being part of the reason — along with the injury guarantee — the Broncos benched him for Jarrett Stidham in Week 17. Fowler mentions Minnesota as a destination Wilson would likely pursue, given Kevin O’Connell‘s presence, in the event Cousins leaves after six years. O’Connell worked alongside ex-Seahawks OC Shane Waldron under Sean McVay. The Vikings also roster Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.

If/once Wilson departs Denver, his next team will not need to pay him nearly what the Broncos and Seahawks have. Wilson’s 2023 rebound still probably places him as a mid-tier starter, but Fowler adds his next team could build around him more effectively due to the offset language in the Broncos’ five-year, $245MM extension. Wilson signing at a low rate would be punitive for the Broncos, as their two-year starter’s next deal helps determine how much dead money will be on tap.

Cousins and Wilson join Baker Mayfield and Ryan Tannehill as experienced starter options set to hit the market. But Denver and Minnesota will need to weigh their chances of trading up in Round 1 against spending on a veteran. There will be plenty of moving parts at QB for certain teams this offseason, with the Bears’ upcoming Williams-or-Justin Fields decision a rather important domino as well.

Eagles To Add Doug Nussmeier To Staff; Team Expected To Hire Broncos’ Christian Parker

February 5th, 2024 at 6:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio are bringing some familiar staffers to Philadelphia. One of those will be Doug Nussmeier, who has worked with Moore in Dallas and Los Angeles.

Nussmeier will join the Eagles as quarterbacks coach, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Additionally, the Eagles are expected to hire Christian Parker from the Broncos’ staff, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets. Parker loomed as a DC candidate during this year’s cycle. The young assistant will rejoin Fangio, who hired him in Denver.

Moore and Nussmeier coached together in Dallas from 2018-22, with the latter moving from tight ends coach to QBs coach during that span. Moore brought Nussmeier with him to Los Angeles when he took over as Chargers OC last year. That stint did not go especially well, but the Eagles will give Moore leeway to bring his longtime coworker with him to coach Jalen Hurts.

Seeing as both staffers were tied to the Cowboys for years, the Eagles certainly have a degree of familiarity with Moore and Nussmeier. The latter also served as an offensive coordinator for five college programs — including Alabama, Michigan and Florida — from 2008-17. This will be the second former Gators OC the Eagles will have hired as QBs coach under Nick Sirianni. The Eagles brought Brian Johnson from Gainesville to coach Hurts, whom the assistant had known for years, in 2021. The Eagles have since fired Johnson after one season as OC; no team has hired the young staffer yet.

Johnson and Nussmeier did not coach together at Florida; the latter was in Dallas by the time Johnson got to Gainesville. The Ravens interviewed Nussmeier, 53, for their OC job in 2023 but hired Todd Monken. Philly will now entrust additional Hurts development to two former Cowboys staffers. With Jim Harbaugh now running the Chargers, Nussmeier needed to make new plans.

Parker, 32, interviewed for the Patriots and Packers’ DC jobs this offseason. He has been valued in Denver, working as the team’s DBs coach under Fangio, Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton. Residing as the last Fangio assistant coach left this past season, Parker has overseen the likes of Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain. Parker has coached the latter, now a two-time Pro Bowler, throughout his career. He also mentored rookie UDFA slot cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian in 2023. Parker was under contract, per Denver7’s Troy Renck, who notes the team gave the Eagles permission to make this hire.

Additionally, the Eagles are hiring Dolphins assistant Joe Kasper to be their safeties coach, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe tweets. Fangio targeted Kasper, per Wolfe, and the Eagles sent him an interview slip last week. Despite Fangio’s Dolphins fit not proving ideal, the veteran defensive coach’s time in Miami will lead at least one staffer to follow him. This is a return trip for Kasper, who was a quality control assistant with the Eagles from 2021-22. Fangio’s consulting season helped lead Kasper to Miami, where he served as safeties coach.

One of the staffers who worked under Jonathan Gannon and Sean Desai in Philly, DBs coach D.K. McDonald, is departing to become the co-defensive coordinator at Kansas, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. This proves interesting due to he and Fangio overlapping in 2022; McDonald was on Sirianni’s staff from 2021-23. The ex-Gannon assistant began his Philly tenure as assistant DBs coach, moving up to secondary coach in 2023.

Broncos To Hire Pete Carmichael

January 30th, 2024 at 10:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Pete Carmichael‘s run with the Saints came to a close at the end of the 2023 season. The longtime New Orleans offensive coordinator has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity, however.

Carmichael is set to join the Broncos in an as-yet undetermined offensive role, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan reports. That comes as little surprise, as the move will allow Carmichael to once again work alongside Denver head coach Sean Payton. The agreement is expected to be formally announced down the road, Duncan adds.

Since taking over as Broncos head coach last offseason, Payton has brought in a number of staffers and players with whom he shares a history from his time in New Orleans, including current offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Carmichael will now become the latest to make the New Orleans-to-Denver trek as the Broncos look to take a step forward on offense. The central storyline in that effort, of course, will be the future of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Denver showed signs of improvement under Payton in 2023, but the team as a whole and Wilson in particular did not meet expectations. The Broncos finished 26th in total offense and 19th in scoring, and Wilson was benched once a postseason berth was essentially out of reach. Jarrett Stidham finished the campaign as a starter, and the quarterback spot is marked by uncertainty as things currently stand with Wilson still on the books through 2028.

Carmichael became the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2009, and he held the post through the 2023 campaign. Notably, Payton served as the team’s play-caller during his time there, although Carmichael took over in that regard after Payton’s departure in 2022. Over the past two seasons, the Saints have put up middling numbers in several categories, but the team did rank ninth in scoring in 2023 amidst an uptick in passing efficiency with Derek Carr under center.

Denver’s offense will be a unit worth watching closely after the Payton-Wilson partnership did not yield the desired results. Payton will no doubt remain the team’s play-caller, but Carmichael’s experience with the Saints should make him a key figure on the Broncos’ staff moving forward.

Coaching/Front Office Notes: Eagles, Bears, Jets, Browns

January 29th, 2024 at 9:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Clint Hurtt is heading to Philadelphia. After having spent the past two seasons as the Seahawks defensive coordinator, the veteran coach is joining the Eagles as their new defensive line coach, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Hurtt worked with defensive linemen and linebackers in Chicago before joining the Seahawks as their assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2017. He earned a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2022 and spent two seasons in that role. Seattle’s defense didn’t fare all that well with Hurtt at the helm, as the defense never finished better than 26th in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed.

Still, Hurtt has earned a reputation as a reliable DL coach. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Hurtt had multiple offers to coach defensive linemen, but he ended up opting for the Eagles opportunity.

Pelissero notes that the Eagles are also expected to hire one of Hurtt’s assistants from Seattle. Karl Scott is joining the Eagles as their new DBs coach. Scott spent the past two seasons as Seattle’s secondary coach/passing game coordinator.

More coaching and front office notes from around the NFL…

The Bears will interview Chargers wide receivers coach Chris Beatty for the same role, according to Pelissero. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that veteran coach Ike Hilliard will also interview for the Chargers job. After a long college coaching career, Beatty took his first NFL job with the Chargers in 2021 as their WRs coach. Over the past few years, he’s helped guide the likes of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to 1,000-yard seasons. Hilliard has spent time as the WRs coach with Washington, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh, and he was most recently on the coaching staff at Auburn. Hilliard worked alongside offensive coordinator Shane Waldron when the two were in Washington.
The Jets are hiring Tony Dews as their running backs coach, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Dews was Derrick Henry‘s coach in Tennessee between 2018 and 2022, and he spent the 2023 campaign as the Titans tight ends coach. He’ll be replacing Taylor Embree, who was let go after the season. Meanwhile, Connor Hughes of SNYtv reports that the Jets interviewed Rob Moore for their WRs coach job. Moore also recently worked for the Titans, spending the past six years as their receivers coach.
The Browns have hired Jacques Cesaire as their defensive line coach, per Pelissero. After playing his entire career with the Chargers, Cesaire broke into the NFL coaching ranks as the Bills assistant defensive line coach in 2020. He spent the past two seasons with the Texans, serving as the team’s defensive line coach. He’ll be replacing Ben Bloom, although Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that the coach could still stick in Cleveland in a different role for the 2024 campaign.
Saints college scouting director Cody Rager is heading to the Broncos, according to Nick Underhill of NOF Network. Neil Stratton passes along that Rager will be Denver’s new vice president of player personnel. Rager spent the past nine seasons in New Orleans, including the past three as the assistant college scouting director. Rager got his NFL start with the Dolphins back in 2012.

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