5 positions impacted the most by free agency
The Broncos are not interested in a rebuild — so they say.
Even though the team released All-pro safety Justin Simmons and elected to absorb a $53 million cap hit on Russell Wilson this season, team leaders insist they’re trying to remain competitive now and into the future.
“You regroup and get ready to play,” head coach Sean Payton said. “We’re still assembling our roster. If you paid attention to that, there are a ton of different seasons — and I’ve been a part of it — that never would have had the success we had relative to the expectations.”
The Broncos have made a handful of cost-saving moves that allowed them to fill areas of need to field a competitive roster in 2024. With that said, here are five positions that have been impacted the most by free agency thus far:
Wide Receiver
Going into the offseason, it appeared likely the Broncos would reshape their wide receiver room to some degree. And they did. After Denver traded Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns for a pair of draft picks, it signed 29-year-old Josh Reynolds to a two-year deal.
Denver doesn’t consider itself in a rebuild mode, and the addition of Reynolds is cost-saving but allows the franchise to remain competitive. Reynolds had the best season of his career in 2023 with the Lions, securing 40 catches for 608 yards and five touchdowns. More importantly, Reynolds’ arrival in Denver shouldn’t prevent Marvin Mims Jr. from having a bigger role in 2024. Payton thought Mims was limited as a rookie with Jeudy playing in front of him.
Reynolds, on the other hand, is a versatile receiver who can line up anywhere on the field. In 2023, he played 396 snaps out wide and 212 in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. Even if Mims is not ready for an expanded role, Reynolds has a chance to be a solid second or third option.
But what does the move mean for Brandon Johnson? Last season, Denver had four wide receivers on the initial 53-man roster. Depending on the health of Tim Patrick, who is returning from a torn Achilles, the Broncos’ top four wideouts would be Patrick, Mims, Reynolds and Courtland Sutton. Each season is different, and Denver could carry more than four wide receivers on its roster. But at the moment, Johnson might have an uphill climb trying to stand out among the rest of the room. Johnson had 284 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 13 games.
Inside linebacker
Cody Barton, who signed a one-year deal with Denver, might not be a longterm answer at inside linebacker. But the move could signify Drew Sanders transitioning to the edge in his second season. When Sanders was selected in the third round of last year’s draft, he was expected to be an inside linebacker and possibly be the successor to Josey Jewell, who is now in Carolina. But near the end of the season, Sanders spent more time working with the outside linebackers — a position he played in college.
During the combine, Paton mentioned that the Broncos have considered switching Sanders to the edge full-time. The addition of Barton will allow that to happen, as the former Utah linebacker could start alongside Alex Singleton. Barton has started in 24 games over the last two seasons with the Seahawks and Commanders, totaling 257 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended.
Safety
Denver is banking on free-agent addition Brandon Jones’ upside to help fill the void left by Simmons. In 2021, the former Texas standout showcased what he could do in an expanded role with Miami, particularly as a pass rusher. Jones blitzed 69 times, totaling five sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 14 pressures in 15 games (13 starts), according to Pro Football Reference.
“I’ve always liked the player,” Broncos general manager George Paton said at the owner’s meeting. “If you watch the 2021 tape, (then-dolphins coach Brian) Flores used him as a blitzer. This guy is a really good blitzer. I thought he was playing at an elite level before he tore the ACL in 2022. I like the range, I like the toughness, and I like his ability to blitz. I think it’s a good piece for (defensive Coordinator) Vance (Joseph).”
Jones should help the Broncos’ pass rush. But he is not a ballhawk like Simmons. Jones has only three interceptions since entering the league in 2020. He had only three picks in four years with the Longhorns, too.
Simmons had a teambest three interceptions and two forced fumbles last season. Simmons’ 30 career interceptions are the most by a player since 2016. It might take a collective effort from Denver’s secondary to replace Simmons’ turnover production.
“There will be some flexibility with (Jones), P.J. Locke, and certainly the other guys competing in that room,” Payton said. “The flexibility of playing right and left may be more so than designated as strong or free, that was important. (He’s) athletic and a guy that was one of our targets.”
Defensive line
Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach might not be a household name. But he could help solve the Broncos’ problem in run defense. Denver finished 30th in rushing yards allowed (137.1 yards per game) last fall. Roach, who played four years with the Saints, including two under Payton, had the 11th-best run defense grade among interior defenders in 2023, according to PFF. He had a runstop percentage of 17.4% and missed only two tackles.
“Roach is just physical and violent at the point of attack,” Paton said. “I talked about that at the (scouting combine) that we need to help our run game. He does that.”
It wouldn’t hurt for the Broncos to add another defensive lineman through the draft to help improve the pass rush up front. Outside of Zach Allen, who had five sacks, the rest of Denver’s defensive linemen combined for four, with two coming from D.J. Jones.
Center
The departure of center Lloyd Cushenberry III is one of the biggest losses this offseason. Denver’s offensive line improved from 2022, and part of the reason was Cushenberry putting together the best season of his career, as he allowed one sack in 647 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. He was rewarded handsomely for his efforts, signing a four-year, $50 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.
It will be interesting to see how the Broncos move forward with the position. Alex Forsyth — last year’s seventh-round pick — is considered a potential starter by Paton. The team also likes Luke Wattenberg.
“There is a grit element to (Forsyth and Wattenberg),”
Payton said. “They’re both athletic and smart. I think both of those guys have that temperament, but they also have that understanding of what we’re doing.”
Forsyth, who was named to the Associated Press All-pac-12 second team in 2022, could be in line for a bigger role in Year 2, or the Broncos could turn to newly-acquired center Sam Mustipher, who signed with the team on Thursday. Unlike Forsyth, Mustipher provides experience at center, having started in 42 career games.
Center will be a position battle to watch closely during training camp, but there’s a chance Denver might find it hard to replace Cushenberry’s production in 2024.