Broncos general manager John Elway will have plenty of salary cap space and up to a dozen draft picks to work with this offseason. That’s good because Denver has plenty of positions that could use an upgrade.
Here’s a quick look at 11 positions the Broncos should target this offseason, starting with the offensive line.
1. Offensive tackle: Even if Denver plans to enter 2020 with Ja’Wuan James and Garett Bolles as starters, the Broncos need more depth at tackle. James has not proven he can stay healthy and Bolles has failed to live up to his first-round draft status.
2. Offensive guard: Dalton Risner is a gem but Denver needs a potential Ron Leary replacement at right guard. The Broncos could move on from Leary and save about $8.4 million in salary cap space this spring.
3. Cornerback: Chris Harris might be on his way out of Denver and even if the Broncos do re-sign Harris, the secondary will need more depth at cornerback. If healthy, Bryce Callahan could be one of the team’s top two cornerbacks but Vic Fangio’s defense will need at least one more.
4. Nose tackle: Shelby Harris is about to become a free agent and he’s best-suited to play defensive end, not nose tackle. One option for Denver would be to bring back true nose tackle Mike Purcell, who is about to become a restricted free agent.
5. Wide receiver: Courtland Sutton looked great this year but DaeSean Hamilton is yet to step up and prove he can be a No. 2 WR. Even if Hamilton does take a big leap in 2020, the Broncos will need more depth.
6. Defensive end: Harris and Derek Wolfe — the team’s two starters at DE — are about to become free agents and it’s unclear if even of them will be re-signed. Both the offensive line and defensive line should be addressed this offseason.
7. Punter: Colby Wadman averaged 44.4 yards per punt in the NFL this season, which was the 26th-worst average in the league. Denver needs an upgrade and the team signed a punter to a reserve/future contract last a month, a sign that Wadman will have competition this summer.
8. Inside linebacker: This isn’t a huge position of need for the Broncos because Todd Davis has been serviceable in his role but the team could benefit from moving Alexander Johnson to Davis’ role and bringing in a defender who excels in coverage to fill Johnson’s old spot.
9. Tight end: Denver appears to have found a gem in Noah Fant but there’s not much behind him on the depth chart. Jeff Heuerman is serviceable but the Broncos could use another pass-catcher at the position.
10. Backup quarterback: Drew Lock is Denver’s QB1 but the Broncos could use a veteran backup. There’s a chance that Joe Flacco could be brought back as a backup but that’s still up in the air. Brandon Allen seems unlikely to serve as the team’s QB2 in 2020.
11. Running back: Denver has two talented RBs in Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman but the team’s third RB — Devonte Booker — is about to become a free agent. One option for the Broncos would be to re-sign Theo Riddick, who missed all of 2019 with an injury.
NFL free agency will begin March 18. The draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25. View all of the NFL’s important offseason dates here.
