Where will Denver, Payton turn to add more help?
Q>> What positions are the remaining needs and how do you see them filled (free agency/ draft)? Maybe drop some possible names to keep our eyes on?
—Judy, Lahti, Finland
PARKER>> The Broncos have collected quite a haul in free agency so far, from big-ticket purchases on the offensive line to a fullback, punter and the pre-bonanza addition of Lil’jordan Humphrey. That has drawn down Denver’s salary cap position to where it’s currently pretty tight, though we’ve outlined in the past how they could go about clearing more space — and what the future ramifications of that are.
They could certainly continue to add depth on the offensive and defensive lines. The longer a veteran like defensive lineman Calais Campbell stays on the market, the more you wonder about a potential return to his hometown. The 36-year-old Denver South graduate would be a mentor to young guys like Matt Henningsen and Eyioma Uwazurike and still seems to have some gas left in the tank, though he’s reportedly visiting Atlanta this week.
They could also stand to add more on the edge, tight end, in the secondary or perhaps at running back. Don’t rule out movement at receiver, either. Denver’s been in on some free agents who have gone elsewhere and the buzz around the league continues to suggest teams are asking about the price on the Broncos’ current set of pass-catchers.
One interesting spot at the moment is center. Perhaps Sean Payton loves what he sees in Lloyd Cushenberry or maybe they’re interested in seeing Quinn Meinerz in the middle. They’ve also got second-year man Luke Wattenberg, a fifthround pick last spring. Perhaps they’ll try to draft one. Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz and Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann will probably be gone by the top of the third round, but the Big Ten is the land of centers.
Payton’s always put a premium on being good up front and has helped find mid- and late-round diamonds on the offensive line in the past. The Saints also managed to find guys like running back Alvin Kamara in the third round and figure to be looking for more running back help in late April. There are almost always productive pros available on Day 3.
Q>> Congrats to the Broncos for re-signing Alex Singleton, who has been great for Philadelphia and Denver the last two years. Why is his new contract amount so low, relatively speaking, when compared to the $10 million-$20 million per-year deals signed by other highly productive free agents? — Greg, Broomfield
PARKER>> The answer to your question is largely about how NFL teams value different positions in the game currently. There are a few examples of franchises breaking the bank for inside linebackers, but not very many.
Singleton, as a starting point, signed a three-year deal worth up to $18 million that comes with $9 million guaranteed over the next two seasons.
Roquan Smith got five years and $100 million with $45 million guaranteed from Baltimore before free agency. The team that traded Smith to the East Coast, Chicago, gave Tremaine Edmunds up to $72 million over four years at the outset of free agency.
Those deals, plus Matt Milano going back to Buffalo and Bobby Okereke moving from Indianapolis to the Giants, represent the top four deals for linebackers so far this offseason.
Singleton is obviously well off the top of the market, but he’s solidly in the midrange. His $9 million guaranteed checks in
No. 23 among NFL linebackers, according to Over the Cap Data, and his $6 million average per year is slightly above what Josey Jewell got from Denver this time last year.