Has defense upgraded enough to be strength?
Q: I hear a lot about how great our defense is based on stats from last year. However, all was not perfect. In the meantime, we lost Vic Fangio (a top defensive mind), who was replaced by a question mark to call defensive plays (no disrespect to Ejiro Evero), we lost several players and we lack depth, especially in the secondary. Do you think we can count on the defense to still be a strength?
Yoann, Beine-nauroy, France
Ryan: Well, general manager George Paton’s activity last month showed he wasn’t overly thrilled with the play of the Broncos’ defense last year.
Since the start of free agency, Denver has signed edge rusher Randy Gregory, defensive end/nose tackle D.J. Jones, nickel cornerback K’wuan Williams and inside linebacker Alex Singleton. Reinforcements were required and Paton isn’t done yet.
Evero will be calling the plays for the first time and there should be a transition expected. It just needs to happen quickly. Helping Evero will be his 14 years of NFL experience and working for Fangio, Monte Kiffin, Dom Capers, Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris.
Q: Are the Broncos done signing free agents or will they bring back safety Kareem Jackson or cornerback Bryce Callahan and maybe re-sign running back Melvin Gordon to back up Javonte Williams?
Michael Gower, Ansonia, Ohio
Ryan: The door likely closed on Callahan when the Broncos signed nickel cornerback K’wuan Williams from San Francisco last month. At the league’s annual meeting last week, Paton said the door remained open to re-signing Gordon and Jackson. Gordon’s role would likely be different (back up to Williams), but Jackson’s starting spot remains vacant.
Q: Are the Broncos going to re-structure more contracts to free up cap space?
Should the Broncos sign safety Tyrann Mathieu?
Jude, Lahti, Finland
Ryan: As of Monday, the Broncos had $17,767,914 in salary cap space according to the union, so they don’t need to move any money around via re-structured contracts.
I am more in favor of adding a safety through the draft or leaning on Caden Sterns to play Kareem Jackson’s spot alongside Justin Simmons.
There are still some veteran edge rushers
on the market, led by Trey Flowers, Jason Pierre-paul and Melvin Ingram if the Broncos feel they want to spend money on that position instead of a draft pick.
Q: Ryan, what happened to Kenny Young and Stephen Weatherly? I thought both were good additions last year. What do you think the odds will be for keeping Melvin Gordon? Being part of a running back tandem again would almost certainly extend his career.
Arty Smith, Steamboat Springs
Ryan: Young and Weatherly remain free agents after both were acquired in midseason trades last year.
Young played in six games and had 29 tackles, but sustained a concussion against Detroit and missed the final four games. At inside linebacker, the Broncos return Baron Browning and Josey Jewell and signed Alex Singleton.
Weatherly provided edge-rushing depth and had 2K sacks and 14 tackles in nine games (one start). The Broncos still need outside linebacker depth after signing Randy Gregory.
Because Gordon remains on the market, I would say it’s less than 50-50 he returns to the Broncos or else they would have signed him already, right?