RB Gordon agrees to terms on one-year contract, source says
Days before the Broncos were expected to draft a running back to replace him, Melvin Gordon and the club agreed to terms on a one-year contract Tuesday night, a source said.
Gordon, who turned 29 earlier this month, had been on the market since mid-march and connected to only one team (Baltimore). Last week, Broncos general manager George Paton said the door was “definitely” still open to re-signing Gordon.
The decision to keep Gordon is confusing because Javonte Williams is entering his second season with the Broncos after a 903yard debut in 2021 and the team has nine draft picks this weekend to find a younger and more affordable back-up.
Unclear is if the Broncos have told Gordon he will have a supporting role to Williams. Gordon started all 16 of his games last year.
During a two-year, $16 million contract by then-general manager John Elway in March 2020, Gordon has rushed 418 times for 1,904 yards and 17 touchdowns in 31 games, but has also lost seven fumbles.
ILB to finish 2021, Browning an
edge rusher now. The Broncos’ Plan A for Baron Browning after he was selected in the third round of last year’s draft was to focus his training at outside linebacker.
That plan was derailed first by Browning’s lower leg injury that kept him out of the entire offseason program, followed by myriad injuries at inside linebacker that forced him to play that position.
But as the Broncos continued minicamp Tuesday, Browning said he is only learning the edge rusher spot … and he’s fine with that.
“I feel pretty comfortable at it,” he told The Denver Post. “I thought I was going to get the opportunity last year, but we had injuries. I’m excited to improve my game and learn from the guys in the unit.”
Browning learned on the job last year. He started nine games, played 528 snaps and made 57 tackles, 42 of which came in his final six games. He was booked for only two missed tackles.
Can the knowledge he gained at inside linebacker help him outside?
“I had to know a lot inside and (former) Coach Vic (Fangio) gave me a lot (of information) and we might not even use everything he gave us, but I had to make sure I had all my I’s dotted and T’s crossed,” Browning said. “I feel like I have a general awareness. I know the guys at both spots work together like chess pieces.”
As a junior for Ohio State in 2019, Browning had five sacks and he is trying to pick up tips from veterans Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory and has also watched video of Robert Quinn and Von Miller.
“They’ve been in the league a lot longer than me and being around guys they’ve learned from so I’m trying to be a sponge and add all of those things to my toolbox,” Browning said.
Getting involved. Coach Nathaniel Hackett took play-action fakes and played safety Monday and threw blocking pads at his quarterbacks Tuesday.
Against Russell Wilson, Josh Johnson and Brett Rypien, Hackett simulated pressure by tossing the pad at them, forcing them to throw quickly or move laterally.
Attendance report. Not participating in Tuesday’s voluntary practice were Gregory, receiver Seth Williams, defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Mike Purcell and offensive linemen Billy Turner, Tom Compton and Ben Braden. Gregory (shoulder), Jones and Williams (wrap around his left knee) watched practice. Gregory’s arm remains in a sling.
Footnotes. The Broncos’ schedule release video from last spring was named a 2022 “Webby Award” winner for sports social (video) category. The video, which starred former quarterback Peyton Manning as an “intern,” doing odd jobs around the facility, has been viewed more than 2 million times.