Veteran Broncos guard Chris Kuper will retire, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Kuper, 31, was a fifth-round-pick in 2006, and has spent all eight of his NFL seasons in Denver. He became a full-time starter in 2007, and remained a mainstay on the offensive line until he dislocated his ankle late in 2011. He would have been entering the final season of a five-year, $25.5MM deal he signed in June 2010.
Although Louis Vasquez is now firmly entrenched at right guard, Kuper’s announcement adds more intrigue to a Broncos offseason that is already in flux. Left guard Zane Beadles is a free agent, and left tackle Ryan Clady will be returning from a torn ACL. The Broncos offense also faces a decision on running back Knowshon Moreno, and the likely defection of receiver Eric Decker.
Kuper didn’t play in a single game last year. L. Vazquez is our RG, so we only have to replace Beadles at LG
You’re right. I edited the post to reflect that.