This is a team that is not too far off getting back into the playoff picture in a real way, in our opinion. We were not huge fans of Vance Joseph, but did not necessarily think he earned a firing either. It's hard to succeed with the quarterbacks he had. How much input did he have in choosing Case Keenum? We don't know, maybe someone can help us out. Despite what Keenum did in Minnesota, we tend to believe he's actually the quarterback we saw prior to 2017. This defense is good, and there is a lot to like on the offense. Just waiting for the right quarterback to come along.
There are some names up for free agency who matter to the Broncos, so let's dive in.
Special Teams
- Casey Kreiter (LS) - Kreiter has been snapping the long ball for Denver since 2016. He was handpicked by rival AFC coach Anthony Lynn of the Los Diego San Angeles Chargers to the Pro Bowl. Kreiter is a restricted free agent so Denver will have every opportunity to bring him back, and they're probably planning on it, him being a Pro Bowler and all. It might cost 'em though!
- Tramaine Brock (CB) - After trading Aqib Talib to the Rams, Denver moved on Brock. He had been a reliable piece of San Francisco's secondary for seven year before stopping in Minnesota. Brock then proceeded to look completely lost and the Vikings only let him on the field for 51 defensive snaps. Perhaps Elway found a value veteran to fill the void Talib left? No, unfortunately not. We don't think he'll be back in 2019.
- Bradley Roby (CB) - Elway took a chance on Roby's abilities when handing over the starting spot opposite Chris Harris to Bradley. It did not work out. According to ProFootballFocus, Roby allowed a 117.3 passer rating on throws to his coverage. With new head coach Vic Fangio and new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell (also from the Bears) in charge of the defense, it's tough to say what will happen here. Donatell is a DBs coach, if he likes what he sees in Roby, a return is possible.
- Jamar Taylor (CB) - If there is one thing you do not want, it is a reject from the worst team in the league. Jamar Taylor was brought in late by Denver after Arizona released him in November. Granted, the Broncos' secondary was toast, Brock and Harris were both hurt. Taylor is a desperation player and we doubt Denver facilitates a return.
- Dymonte Thomas (S) - Second-year undrafted free agent Thomas is primarily a special teams player who managed to see some extra defensive duty with the casualty rate in the secondary this season. He picked off Baker Mayfield, which is something not a lot of people can say. We admit to not knowing who this is, so we do not know whether he'll return in 2019.
- Shaquil Barrett (LB) - The Broncos found a gem five years ago when they plucked Barrett post-draft and plugged him into the lineup. The problem is, now he's stuck behind Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. He could be content to rotate in when one needs a breather. Or he could look for a starting job and some money elsewhere. Our money is on Barrett finding a home outside of Mile High. He's too good to play fewer than 300 snaps.
- Shane Ray (LB) - Ray is in a simliar situation to Barrett in that he's stuck behind two, dare we say, future Hall-of-Famers. The difference is that Ray is not good enough to warrant a large snap share. Like we said before with Roby, this may depend more on the coaching staff's perceived fit than anything else. Ray would be a fine rotational backup for the right price.
- Deiontrez Mount (LB) - A torn ACL and a torn Achilles tendon adds up to 12 games played for Deiontrez since 2015. He missed all of 2018 and hit IR over the summer with the Achilles injury. Fun Fact: Mount picked off Jameis Winston in his first game with the Titans in 2015.
- Jerrol Garcia-Williams (LB) - The former Rainbow Warrior out of Hawaii University made the Broncos roster in 2017 as an undrafted free agent and contributed on special teams. Garcia-Williams suffered an ACL tear last August and missed all of 2018. Good luck to him on finding an NFL job as he works his way back.
- Joseph Jones (LB) - Yet another special teamer, Jones made a ton of plays for the Broncos this year. Playing in all sixteen, he finished with 15 total tackles, a nice number given about 8 chances per game. He's got a good shot to stick around and we think is one of the better special teams players out there.
- Zach Kerr (DE) - Kerr was brought in two years ago after a failed stint in Indianapolis. The Colts opted to let Zach walk rather than tender the restricted free agent in 2017, so Denver gave him a shot. It actually worked out fairly well, the deep rotational end logging nearly 400 snaps and grading out average compared to his peers. Though he'll probably never become a true force in the league, he could have a role with Fangio's defense.
- Domata Peko (DT) - The Big Man in the Middle for Denver over the past two seasons after spending his first 11 with Cincinnati, Peko is not long for the league. We think the veteran still has some left in the tank, and would be a valuable piece in the defense as Fangio begins to build his unit for (hopefully) years to come. There is some good defensive tackle talent in this year's draft, but Peko would be a great mentor for a rookie. A one- or two-year contract for Denver is how we expect Domata to finish his career.
- Shelby Harris (DT) - So, um... Oakland drafted this guy in the seventh round in 2014, waived him in September of his rookie season, shuffled him on and off of their practice squad for two seasons, and then gave up. Then the Jets and Cowboys gave him a look before Denver swooped in January of 2017 and turned him into one of the best interior men in the league. A monster run-stopper who plays pass-rush just fine, Harris finished 2018 with 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and an interception on Ben Roethlisberger in the end zone that sealed the victory over Pittsburgh. He should be back.
Offense
- Jordan Taylor (WR) - Jordan has some of the best hair in the league. It's right up there with Alex Anzalone and Clay Matthews. If Denver wants to remain in the hunt for Best Coiffed Team, they'll need to re-sign Taylor. He's recovering from surgery on both hips though, so his return is dependent on health.
- Tim Patrick (WR) - As usual, the Ravens whiffed on wide receiver scouting. They signed Patrick as an undrafted free agent two summers ago and then waived him to make room for Larry Donnell (???). The Broncos eventually gave Tim a shot, and he made his first NFL appearance this season. Fighting his way into the rotation behind Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and rookies Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton, Patrick emerged as a favorite target of Keenum's by the end of the season and looks like a promising talent out wide. He earned significant playing time the final four games of the season in Thomas' (trade) and Sanders' (Achilles) absences, and made the most of it, finishing with 19 receptions and 242 yards. We think Patrick will be a handy 3rd/4th option for the quarterback.
- Jeff Heuerman (TE) - The first of a gaggle of Broncos Tight Ends up for free agency. Heuerman flashed some receiving ability this season with halfway decent quarterback play. Unfortunately broken ribs and a bruised lung cut his season short, but he played well enough to have shown he belongs in an offense. He might get some attention from other teams around the league in search of a breakout offensive tight end, and with the options Elway has at the position, Heuerman might end up elsewhere. Whoever gets him will have a nice piece.
- Brian Parker (TE) - If you were anything like us, you also wondered who Brian Parker was. Turns out he's a bubble guy who was on Denver's practice squad before being called upon to help out this year. This isn't the tight end you're looking for. *waves hand*
- Matt LaCosse (TE) - LaCosse is another tight end the Broncos had correctly identified as good, but didn't appear as such due to horrendous quarterback play. Even with Case Keenum, LaCosse showed he has what it takes to contribute on offense. Not a superstar by any means, but a reliable target with a solid set of hands. He'll most likely be back with Denver next year since he's an exclusive rights free agent.
- Jared Veldheer (RT) - We are torn on Veldheer returning to Mile High. On the one hand, he was just fine. On the other hand, he was just fine. Denver will need to be looking for more out of their RT and perhaps it depends on where the draft goes. There's certainly nothing tragic about Jared returning, but we'd like to see them make a move to really solidify the position.
- Elijah Wilkinson (RG) - Wilkinson found his way into the starting lineup after regular RG Connor McGovern had to move to center, filling in for Matt Paradis (fractured fibula). Wilkinson was a replacement-level player who showed he can sustain in fill-in situations. A natural tackle, Wilkinson has a great shot to return with the flexibility he affords the offensive line.
- Matt Paradis (C) - One of the best centers in the league, Paradis suffered a fractured fibula in the week 9 game versus Houston. These were the first snaps he missed in his professional career. The Broncos were looking to extend him last summer after giving him his RFA tender. No doubt, they'll want to bring him back, and with new offensive line guru and coach Mike Munchak now on board, we think Paradis will view a return as desirable.
- Gino Gradkowski (C) - Gino has floated on the periphery for many an NFL team. He's the guy you turn to when things get bad. He probably won't begin 2019 on an active roster, but he sure as hell will finish on one.
- Billy Turner (LG) - After all the injuries the offensive line sustained this year, it's a good thing the Broncos had Turner to turn to. He logged the third-most offensive line snaps, and played decently across the season too. Turner even turned in a team-of-the-week performance against the Chargers week 11. He'd be a nice depth/emergency guy and if they need him as a starter it wouldn't be a disaster.
- Max Garcia (LG) - The Broncos drafted Garcia in the fourth-round of 2015 and he's been protecting quarterbacks and opening running lanes since. Unfortunately, an ACL tear this season limited him to only 242 snaps just four games after he'd moved into the starting lineup. We think he moves on and finds a starting job somewhere else.
- Kevin Hogan (QB) - There are worse clipboard holders out there. Not many teams survive a backup quarterback entry, so unless Denver looks at a QB in the draft, there's a decent shot Hogan is back.
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