Flacco deal means an active offseason
The Broncos feel their quarterback issue is solved with Joe Flacco.
But the agreed-upon trade with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday to acquire Flacco is only the start of the Broncos’ 2019 building efforts.
A little more than a week before the scouting combine, here is a status report on several Broncos issues.
More veteran decisions
Our thought until around 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday: The Broncos should consider a semi-dismantling to give young players a chance in 2019 and create spending flexibility for 2020.
But then the Flacco trade agreement was finalized.
It makes no sense to acquire Flacco, 34, and have him shepherd a rebuilding year. His arrival should translate to an active offseason in terms of keeping veterans or pursuing free agents.
Linebacker Brandon Marshall’s impending release and quarterback Case Keenum’s expected departure will create $16 million in cap space. Other notable cap savings if the Broncos went that route: Receiver Emmanuel Sanders ($10.25 million), defensive end Derek Wolfe ($8.55 million), left guard Ron Leary ($7.47 million) and safety Darian Stewart ($3.6 million).
The risk is obvious: In an effort to create space, might the Broncos make themselves worse? That is always a possibility because a coveted free agent may sign elsewhere, a trade may fall through and a returning player counted on to take an upward step in their production instead levels off.
In particular, Flacco’s arrival could mean the return of Sanders.
More quarterbacks?
The Broncos should explore adding two more quarterbacks to back up Flacco: A veteran and a second- or third-round draft pick.
Kevin Hogan and Garrett Grayson remain on the roster. But because of Flacco’s back and hip injuries in his career, it is reasonable for the Broncos to consider a veteran back-up.
The pickings are slim, though. Teddy Bridgewater is 27 and Tyrod Taylor is 30 but after that, old guys. Josh Mccown (40), Matt Schaub (38), Ryan Fitzpatrick (36) and Matt Cassel (37) will hit the market.
The Broncos should pass on a quarterback at No. 10 or at any point in the first round. But drafting West Virginia’s Will Grier, N.C. State’s Ryan Finley or Northwestern’s Clayton Thorson in rounds 2-3 should be well received.
A Flacco-bridgewater-rookie quarterback room would make the Broncos better.
Targeting free agents
The Broncos’ list of needs befits a team that is 11-21 over the last two years.
Depending on what they do with the aforementioned veterans, the Broncos’ salary cap space could swell to more than $70 million.
In-house, center Matt Paradis tops the list. But the lack of chatter can only be seen as a sign the Broncos are unwilling to pay big or that Paradis wants to set the market.
The list of needs that should be considered via outside help:
Cornerback: It should be the Broncos’ top priority because Chris Harris can’t cover three guys at once. Younger than 30 are Chicago’s Bryce Callahan (27 and played for Vic Fangio), Cincinnati’s Darqueze Dennard (27) and the New York Jets’ Morris Claiborne (29).
Offensive line: New England left tackle Trent Brown, who was in San Francisco in 2017 when Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was the quarterbacks coach, should top the list. If Paradis is allowed to walk, the Broncos could wait for the draft or sign a journeyman like Miami’s Travis Swanson or Minnesota’s Nick Eason. At guard, the pickings are almost entirely age 30 or older.
Safety: Ideally, a team wants safeties that are interchangeable and the Broncos should consider one to team with Justin Simmons, even if Will Parks had a strong 2018. The safety market is loaded, led by Earl Thomas (Seattle), Lamarcus Joyner (Rams), Landon Collins (Giants) and Tyrann Mathieu (Houston).
Trading down
The Broncos need more good players. Period. They have a chip (the 10th overall pick) that could have value for quarterback-needy teams like Miami (No. 13) and Washington (No. 15).
By adding Flacco, a trade-down approach should be on the Broncos’ radar. Move south on the board, still get the player they covet and pick up an extra pick in rounds 2-3.
In the last 11 years, the No. 10 pick has been traded three times in a move down … and the team moving up selected quarterbacks: Jacksonville (Blaine Gabbert in 2011), Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes in 2017) and Arizona (Josh Rosen last year).
What the team trading down from No. 10 received: Washington moved down six spots with the Jaguars and picked up a secondrounder. Buffalo moved down 17 spots with the Chiefs and received a third-rounder and a 2018 first-rounder. And Oakland moved down five spots with the Cardinals and gained third- and fifth-rounders.
Moving down 3-5 spots would still allow the Broncos to draft a premium cornerback or offensive tackle.