2018 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Sam Shields Wants To Resume Career

February 2nd, 2018 at 6:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Packers cornerback Sam Shields would like to resume his NFL career after not appearing in the league in 2017, according to Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Shields, now 30 years old, suffered the fifth concussion of his career in Green Bay’s 2016 season opener and hasn’t played since. He spent the rest of that 2016 campaign on injured reserve, and the Packers subsequently released him once the season concluded. Shields never drew any interest during the 2017 free agent period, but he’s now back to working on practice fields with the intent of playing in 2018.

It’s unclear if any team will take a chance on Shields, especially given the NFL’s continued focus on head injuries. Shields is confident he will be signed this spring, while at least one personnel executive tells Cohen that Shields could land a deal if his health checks out. Despite his obvious talent, it would be a surprise — given both his injury history and his lack of recent play — if Shields inks anything more than a one-year, minimum salary pact.

Shields, who served as Green Bay’s No. 1 corner for a three-year stretch, agreed to forgo free agency in 2014 by agreeing to a four-year, $39MM deal. A former undrafted free agent, Shields spent seven years with the Packers, starting 62 games and racking up 18 interceptions during that span. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2014.

Ravens Considered Firing HC John Harbaugh

February 2nd, 2018 at 5:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti admitted Friday that he considered firing head coach John Harbaugh this offseason, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). “It was a consideration, but it wasn’t one I was inclined to make,” said Bisciotti.

Baltimore, of course, missed out on the postseason after allowing a last-second touchdown to the Bengals in its regular season finale. The loss pushed the Ravens to 9-7, and they missed a Wild Card berth thanks to tie-breakers which favored the Bills and Titans. Since that time, Baltimore has made a change at coordinator, as DC Dean Pees “retired” (perhaps not voluntarily) after leading the Ravens to a No. 3 defensive DVOA finish. Marty Mornhinwheg, the club’s offensive play-caller, is staying on despite Baltimore ranking just 21st in offensive DVOA.

While nearly every team that doesn’t make the playoffs likely “considers” making a head coaching change, Bisciotti’s statement is notable given both Harbaugh’s long run in Baltimore and the team’s recent lack of success. Harbaugh is currently the NFL’s sixth-longest-tenured head coach, as he’s been with the Ravens since 2008. During that time, he’s posted a record of 94-66, but Baltimore hasn’t been to the postseason since 2014. In the past three seasons, the Ravens have managed a paltry 22-26 record.

As Zrebiec notes, Bisciott did not say Harbaugh now has a “playoffs-or-bust” mandate for 2018. But given his acknowledgement that he nearly fired Harbaugh this year, Bisciotti seems unlikely to tolerate another campaign that doesn’t end with a postseason contest.

Cowboys Adjust OL La’el Collins’ Contract

February 2nd, 2018 at 5:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys have adjusted offensive lineman La’el Collins‘ contract in order to create additional cap space, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Collins will see $500K of his salary for the 2018 season converted into a signing bonus, allowing Dallas to spread that amount out over the next two years. It’s a small deal, and one that will only create $250K in extra cap room. But it’s a transaction that makes sense for the Cowboys, who rank in the bottom half of the NFL with about $18.6MM in reserves.

For Dallas, the move doesn’t carry much additional risk, as Collins is a near certainty to be on the team’s roster through 2019. Collins, 24, was projected as a first-round pick in the 2015 draft before his being linked to a murder investigation — one in which he was fully cleared — caused his stock to tumble. He eventually latched with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, and inked an extension last summer that will keep him under contract through 2019.

Collins played guard during his first two seasons in the NFL, but was transferred back to his natural tackle position following Doug Free‘s retirement prior to the 2017 campaign. Last year, Pro Football Focus graded Collins as the No. 56 tackle among 83 qualifiers.

AFC North Notes: Bengals, McCarron, Steelers

February 2nd, 2018 at 2:01pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s imperative that the Bengals gauge the A.J. McCarron market correctly this offseason, Paul Dehner Jr. and Jim Owczarski of the Enquirer write. Unless the quarterback wins his grievance case, he’ll be a restricted free agent, meaning that the team can attach a second-round tender to him and likely collect on a valuable draft pick.

In theory, the Bengals could use the first-round tender ($4MM+), but that would place him in the upper tier of backup quarterbacks not on rookie contracts. Last year, only three such QBs earned more – Mike Glennon, Nick Foles, and Matt Schaub. Rival clubs would be willing to take on McCarron for that salary, but it’s hard to see a team also sacrificing a first-round pick in that scenario.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was officially released from the rehabilitation clinic two months after having spinal stabilization surgery, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) details. Shazier will now begin outpatient rehabilitation and still has a long road ahead of him, but it’s a very positive step forward for the 25-year-old.
It’s still not clear whether Dean Pees was forced out of his role as the Ravens‘ defensive coordinator, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun writes. Pees, 68, retired at the end of the 2017 season only to accept a job as the Titans’ defensive coordinator four weeks later. It’s possible that Pees painted himself into a corner by making his pending retirement known to members of the organization ahead of time, setting the table for Don “Wink” Martindale to take over as the new DC this year. Regardless of how it went down, Zrebiec argues that change can be a good thing. Pees isn’t necessarily responsible for all of the Ravens’ defensive woes, but the team did have a handful of late-game, late-season meltdowns under his watch.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) expects Eric DeCosta to reach out to Ray Rice to join the team in some capacity when he takes over as Ravens GM in 2019. DeCosta will take over as the Ravens’ GM in 2019 with current GM Ozzie Newsome moving to a consultant role.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Mangold, Patriots

February 2nd, 2018 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Jets center Nick Mangold was out of football in 2017, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to the field next season, as Bob Glauber of Newsday writes.

“I’m kind of not closing the door, but I’m not actively searching for anything right now,” said Mangold on Radio Row in advance of the Super Bowl.

Mangold, 34, stayed at home as he dealt with a foot injury suffered during the 2016 season. He told ESPN Radio (Twitter link) that he was never healthy last season, but during his Radio Row trip, he indicated that he could have played at some point in the late fall.

“Maybe midseason, but by that point, it’s the middle of the season, you’ve missed the whole offseason when you get to know people,” he said. “[The foot] still wasn’t right. It was one of those things where I probably could have gone out there and played, but I wouldn’t be playing up to my standards. I wouldn’t want to go out there stealing checks, so that’s why I didn’t go for it, because I wouldn’t have been playing at my level.”

Here’s more from the AFC East:

The Jay Ajayi trade looks a loss for the Dolphins right now, but the team can learn some valuable lessons from the way things played out, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. The Dolphins are a passing-centric team, which didn’t sit right with Ajayi and meant that a divorce was probably inevitable. However, the Dolphins would have been better served by waiting until the season was over to trade Ajayi, giving them a wider range of suitors to work with, Salguero opines. The Eagles are certainly happy with Miami’s decision to deal the running back for a late fourth-round pick – Ajayi averaged 5.8 yards per carry for Philadelphia in his seven regular season games with the team.
Super Bowl LII doesn’t feel like the end of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era of the Patriots, but they are likely to lose well-respected offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia to retirement, Peter King of The MMQB (video link, on Twitter) says. It sounds like the Patriots will have to recast four of the main players on the coaching staff this season – offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, special teams coach Joe Judge, and Scarnecchia.
On Thursday, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell indicated that he is not interested in joining the Jets in free agency. Of course, it’s unlikely that Bell reaches unrestricted free agency anyway.

Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome To Step Down In 2019, Eric DeCosta To Take Over

February 2nd, 2018 at 12:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens’ front office will have a new chief in 2019. Next year, longtime GM Ozzie Newsome will step down, allowing assistant GM Eric DeCosta to take over, owner Steve Bisciotti announced (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun on Twitter).

DeCosta has been chased by rival teams for years now, but he has rebuffed many of those advances. Recently, DeCosta rejected an opportunity to interview for the Packers’ GM vacancy, yet another indication that a promotion was in his future. In building this succession plan, the Ravens have found a way to retain one of the league’s most sought-after executives while doing right by Newsome.

“I get a chance to work with my friends,” DeCosta said in 2015 when asked why he has stayed with the Ravens despite overtures from other teams (via Zrebiec). “Every day, I come in and work with my friends. I think it’s a relationship business. In the end, personal ambitions aside, all you have is really your reputation and your friends and your enjoyment in life. And I love Baltimore, the community…My wife is from Baltimore. I’ve been here 20 years, my kids go to school here. It’s great. I sit with these guys every day and give everybody a hard time, get a chance to play jokes on everybody every day, and it’s just fun. I enjoy work. I enjoy coming in here. We have a great owner, awesome stadium and best fan base in the country. So, what more do you want?”

Finally, DeCosta will have the chance to run his own show. Meanwhile, Bisciotti says Newsome – who constructed two Super Bowl winning teams in Baltimore – will remain with the team as a consultant.

NFC East Notes: Giants, Manning, Eagles

February 2nd, 2018 at 12:31pm CST by Zachary Links

If the Giants use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback, that’s just fine with Eli Manning.

“Obviously knowing I will be a New York Giant, that helped. Been told that, so that’s a starting point,” Manning said (via Art Stapleton of the Bergen Record). “Now just keep going about my job an learn this offense, obviously got to wait for spring and start back practicing with the team and get everybody up to speed.”

Manning also says that he is willing to help the Giants to mold a rookie quarterback, though he does not view that as his primary task:

“Yes, in a sense. I wouldn’t look at it as that role. I would look at it as my job to prepare and compete and be ready to play each and every game and in that process you’re always talking football,” Manning said. “You’re always helping out the guys in the room. With Davis Webb this year, with Geno [Smith], you’re always helping them out. Nothing changes. It’s about doing your job but also helping the other guys around you and having great communication in the quarterback room.”

Here’s more from the NFC East:

It sounds like the Eagles will have the services of defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan in the Super Bowl, even though he’s missed the last two days with an illness. “Because of the position and he’s one of our veteran guys, I do feel comfortable that he’ll be ready,” Pederson told a pool reporter (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). This season, Jernigan ranked as the No. 33 ranked interior defender in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, making him a quality partner for Fletcher Cox (ranked No. 2) in the middle of the line.
Howie Roseman was asked about the Eagles’ decision to block vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas from interviewing for the Texans’ GM job this offseason and offered up a vague explanation. “We were during the season,” Roseman said (via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com). “I think that the way the league rules are, that during the season, it’s not expected that you’d allow people to interview with other teams. That’s the way the rules are written. We’re going to abide by the rules that are written. Joe’s a valuable part of our organization. We love having him in Philadelphia. But, again, during the season we’re going to focus on playing.” Going forward, the Eagles will probably have to give Douglas an elevation in salary and title in order to keep him in the organization.
The Cowboys should prioritize a long-term deal for Zack Martin over pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News opines. The Cowboys need a great edge defender more than another Pro Bowl offensive lineman, but Lawrence’s history of back injuries and struggles prior to 2017 give Sherrington pause about the idea of committing to him for years to come. His suggestion is for the Cowboys to tag him for 2018 and take it from there. Meanwhile, Martin has already shown that he’s among the best in the league at his position across multiple seasons.

Panthers To Interview Martin Mayhew

February 2nd, 2018 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have added Martin Mayhew to their list of candidates for their GM vacancy, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The former Lions GM may be the third outside candidate to sit for an interview after Texans exec Jimmy Raye III (interviewed on Thursday) and Bills exec Lake Dawson (Friday).

Despite interviewing these three candidates, the Panthers are still widely expected to remove the “interim” tag from GM Marty Hurney. It’s possible that the decision has already been made at the ownership level, but the Panthers are still required to satisfy the Rooney Rule. By interviewing a minority candidate (or, in this case, three), the Panthers can give the job to Hurney without facing league sanctions,

Mayhew, 52, spent 15 years with the Lions as an executive, including eight years as the team’s GM. After he was canned in 2015, Mayhew hooked on moved on to the Giants for a year before accepting a job with the 49ers’ front office. He remains in SF, but he’ll have the greenlight to interview for the Panthers’ GM job since it is a higher title.

Eagles Tried To Trade For LeSean McCoy

February 2nd, 2018 at 10:32am CST by Zachary Links

Under Chip Kelly‘s watch, the Eagles shipped star LeSean McCoy to the Bills. After Kelly was canned, top exec Howie Roseman tried to bring him back to the nest. Roseman tried to reacquire McCoy in a trade with Buffalo after Kelly was fired “through back-channel intermediaries,” according to sources who spoke with Manish Mehta of the Daily News.

The Eagles pitched one package including wide receiver Jordan Matthews, according to Mehta. Of course, Matthews later wound up in Buffalo in a different deal last summer that brought cornerback Ronald Darby to the Eagles.

A McCoy return would have delighted the Philadelphia faithful, but things worked out just fine for the Eagles in the long run. During the season, Roseman swung a surprising pre-deadline deal for Dolphins runner Jay Ajayi, who has provided the Eagles with some much-needed athleticism out of the backfield. On Sunday, the Eagles will have the opportunity to win their first ever Super Bowl, thanks in part to his presence.

McCoy didn’t have the best season in 2014, but he was still productive for Philadelphia at the time of the trade with 1,319 rushing yards and a 4.2 YPC average in that season. In 2013, McCoy was rated as the very best tailback in football according to Pro Football Focus. In his three seasons with Buffalo, McCoy has averaged 4.6 yards per carry and has averaged 1,200+ yards per 16 games. Kelly anticipated that McCoy would fall off by now, but he remains one of the league’s most lethal running backs.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Denver Broncos

February 1st, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

In advance of March 14, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Denver Broncos, who slunk out of the playoff picture midway through the 2017 season en route to a 5-11 campaign.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Zaire Anderson, LB (ERFA)
Allen Barbre, G
Shaquil Barrett, LB (RFA)
Jamaal Charles, RB
Jared Crick, DE
Todd Davis, LB
Bennie Fowler, WR (RFA)
Jerrol Garcia-Williams, LB (ERFA)
Virgil Green, TE
Shelby Harris, DE (ERFA)
Joseph Jones, LB (ERFA)
Casey Kreiter, LS (ERFA)
Cody Latimer, WR
Corey Nelson, LB
Brock Osweiler, QB
Matt Paradis, C (RFA)
Donald Stephenson, T
Jordan Taylor, WR (ERFA)
Billy Turner, G
Elijah Wilkinson, T (ERFA)
Billy Winn, DE

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2018:

Von Miller, LB: $22,500,000
Demaryius Thomas, WR: $12,033,333
Aqib Talib, CB: $12,000,000
Emmanuel Sanders, WR: $10,937,500
Derek Wolfe, DE: $10,925,000
Chris Harris, CB: $10,366,666
Ronald Leary, G: $8,796,875
Bradley Roby, CB: $8,526,000
Menelik Watson, T: $7,458,333
Brandon Marshall, LB: $7,000,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $26,965,120
Fifth pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2019 fifth-year option for LB Shane Ray

Three Needs:

1) Decide which path they’ll take to quarterback upgrade: The 2016 Broncos did not display much in the way of rushing offense, rushing defense, or pass offense. They rode a historically dominant pass defense to a 9-7 record. A year later, Denver managed to fix its ground problems, rising from 28th to fifth in run defense and 27th to 12th in rush offense, but it ended up mattering little thanks to what took place under center. Often abysmal quarterback play doomed the Broncos, and their offseason will be centered around addressing that.

However, the Broncos have two disparate routes they could take to upgrade here. Their situation dictates they will have to make a decision earlier than most quarterback-needy teams have in recent memory.

Thanks to a quarterback market that dwarfs just about anything the NFL’s seen since Peyton Manning‘s 2012 free agency tour, the Broncos don’t figure to have the luxury of prospects’ pro days or pre-draft visits to judge incoming rookies. Since the legal tampering period begins March 12, the Broncos — if they are to explore adding a veteran to align with their experienced defense and wideout duo — may have to choose their avenue after the Combine.

Now that historic circumstances will send Kirk Cousins to the market, landing him will probably be Denver’s primary goal. Shifting focus to the rookie circuit will presumably only come as a result of Cousins deciding to sign elsewhere.

While it’s a good year to need a quarterback, with starter-level veterans available and a rookie class that could see four passers go off the board in the top 10, whatever direction the Broncos choose will have critical ramifications for themselves and some other teams in this complex quarterback market.

It would make financial sense if the Broncos targeted a rookie. Before any Aqib Talib action is taken, Denver is in the middle of the cap-space pack. Shedding only Talib’s deal (and saving $11MM) might not be sufficient in a Cousins pursuit. They may need to consider removing at least one more veteran contract from the payroll. C.J. Anderson, Derek Wolfe, Emmanuel Sanders or even Demaryius Thomas qualify here.

That said, their QB sales pitch is a veteran-heavy roster filled with championship experience. Cutting into it too much would defeat the purpose of adding a passer.

However, the Broncos’ past decision to go in the amateur direction burned them. Paxton Lynch‘s lack of development placed them in this predicament.

While a rookie would be a better financial fit, it might behoove the Broncos to go for experience this time considering the ages of said championship nucleus. Von Miller (29 in March), Chris Harris (29 in June), Brandon Marshall (29 in September) and Wolfe (28 in February) will all be in their 20s next season, but it will be the last season the bulk of the remaining Super Bowl 50 core will be south of 30. Sanders will turn 31 in March, and Thomas recently turned 30.

The best players currently on the Broncos are not ascending talents, and they have seen poor quarterback play drain some of their primes. A veteran would make more sense for this group’s contention window.

Cousins’ price could well be north of Matthew Stafford‘s $27MM-AAV pact and thus nearly $10MM more per year than the Broncos have ever paid a quarterback. Manning cost $19MM annually. Operating without a franchise-quarterback salary allowed the Broncos to extend role cogs like Marshall, Wolfe, Sanders and Darian Stewart. That math changes if Cousins or a lesser veteran option is acquired.

But the Broncos have seen the results when a proven player is not taking snaps for them and may be ready to stomach the price. Cousins agreeing to a Denver pact could reopen the Broncos’ contention window in 2018. It’s uncertain if any other veteran or rookie passer would be capable of that, illustrating the stakes of what promises to be a momentous competition for the soon-to-be-available passer.

A top-tier contract will be required for Cousins — a good, not great, passer. But an argument could be made the Broncos would be the AFC West favorites and one of the conference’s best teams with a good, not great, passer. The soon-to-be 30-year-old will have other suitors — like the Jets, Cardinals, Bills, or Jaguars, if they reverse course and move on from Blake Bortles — driving up his price. That would eat into Denver’s funds for other positions of need.

With Cousins detailing how critical a winning situation is to his decision, the Broncos may have a leg up on most of the competition. The Browns and Jets will hold far more cap space, but would Cousins — who’s banked $44MM-plus the past two seasons — take a slight discount if it meant latching on with a team in a better position to compete?

If it’s not Cousins the Broncos are realistically chasing, the offseason slows down to some degree. None of the other UFA QBs (this is assuming Drew Brees, as he’s said he intends to, re-signs with the Saints) will require this kind of urgency. Mike Klis of 9News notes the Broncos would seek a stopgap passer to pair with a rookie if Cousins spurns them, and there are plenty of options for that role.

The Gary Kubiak coaching staff examined Tyrod Taylor three years ago, but he wouldn’t seem to fit as well in the current scheme. Taylor (if available, as he’s expected to be) also won’t be nearly as costly as Cousins, and the Bills’ turnover-averse passer could play into the Denver defense’s hands. A game-managerial style would protect a unit that saw turnovers (Denver was minus-17, 31st in the NFL) create wild disparity in 2017: third in total defense (290 yards per game) and 22nd in points (23.9 per game).

The Vikings will likely send two of their passers to the market, but neither Teddy Bridgewater nor Sam Bradford is a franchise-changing player at this point. Case Keenum‘s status is up in the air; he could be an option as well if not franchise-tagged. Klis even speculates about a Jay Cutler reunion, which would certainly be a strange occurrence.

None move the needle like Cousins would, but most would be upgrades in Denver. The half-measures would also allow for less cap space-clearing roster reconstruction.Read more

If the Broncos go with a veteran, Lynch could merely be shifted back to the developmental circuit. If they entrust a QB with their No. 5 overall pick, the Lynch experiment is probably over. A veteran backup would make more sense behind the rookie than Lynch, who has not inspired confidence yet (but also has only played eight halves of football).

The Broncos having a younger roster may have allowed them to stay the course with their 2016 first-rounder for another season, but their veteran core has induced a vast manhunt.

The draft route would be interesting. Denver’s only held two top-five picks in the past 26 years, the other bringing Miller in 2011, and choosing a quarterback would deprive the Broncos of a surefire starter elsewhere. Players like Quenton Nelson (Lance Zierlein of NFL.com’s Broncos mock pick), Roquan Smith or Minkah Fitzpatrick would either be instant starters or Day 1 contributors and strengthen the Broncos’ playoff chances.

However, as the Giants are also experiencing, a rare pick this high coming in a year where a quarterback is needed would be a difficult proposition to pass up. A Cousins acquisition would make the Broncos forget about rookie QBs, but are the other UFAs good enough to bypass a chance at picking a cost-controlled player like Josh Allen or Sam Darnold (or even Baker Mayfield) at 5?

If Cousins signs elsewhere, the Broncos may well wait for the draft, and Denver’s March choice will help shape the draft.

John Elway took a high-ceiling, low-floor player like Allen — whose bowl game he trekked to in December — before in Lynch, only the Wyoming talent’s ceiling has been labeled higher. Elway having probably missed on Lynch also plays into this decision, since another misstep could play a role in defining his GM legacy. And what happens if a player most don’t expect to make it to No. 5 — like Darnold or Josh Rosen, whom the Broncos would reportedly take at 5 if he were expected to be there — ends up available after the Broncos chose the free agency route?

The Broncos’ decision come March will be a seminal moment, but whether it’s addressed in March or April, Denver will have a new quarterback expected to start in 2018.

2) Figure out their pass-catcher situation: There are some moving parts here. If the Broncos are keen on attracting a UFA QB, they probably shouldn’t be too eager to move on from their Pro Bowl wideouts. But it’s not out of the question given the stakes of this offseason and what it could cost to acquire Cousins.

When healthy, Thomas and Sanders have been two of the team’s best players since this duo formed in 2014. And both are under contract, should the Broncos pick up Thomas’ $4MM option that buys back the next two years of his deal, through 2019. They would seemingly pair well with a free agent quarterback.

However, Sanders (47 receptions, 555 yards, two TDs) did not live up to his $9.5MM price tag this season, largely because of an ankle injury. He’s due $10.9MM in 2018. A Sanders cut would cost $5MM-plus in dead money. There are some possible replacements on the wideout market, should the Broncos seek a younger alternative for their No. 2 receiver.

However, a key issue for the Broncos since Julius Thomas and Wes Welker‘s 2014 injuries has been auxiliary support for their standout receivers. That’s forced Thomas and Sanders to shoulder a heavy load the past three seasons, and it’s limited the offense schematically.

Denver has tried to fill these spots with draft picks (Cody Latimer and Carlos Henderson), low-level UFAs (Jordan Norwood) and UDFAs (Bennie Fowler and Jordan Taylor) and has continually received little from this group. Now that their starters are on the back ends of their primes, it’s time for the franchise to get serious about development here.

And aside from some sporadic Owen Daniels production, most notably the 2015 AFC title game, Denver’s tight ends have not shown much over the past three seasons.

Virgil Green has been useful as a blocker, but he’s now a free agent. Jeff Heuerman has not yet lived up to the promise once associated with him, and Jake Butt is still recovering from his injury while at Michigan. The latter will be given another chance, since he was viewed as a possible first-round talent pre-injury, but the Broncos need to come away at least one reliable pass-catcher this offseason. Because as of now, the top weapons that would appeal to Cousins are each entering their ninth season.

If the Broncos keep Thomas and Sanders, they probably should be ready to draft a wideout on Day 2 at the latest. Elway tried to address this with Latimer in the 2014 second round, but the raw talent never blossomed beyond his special teams-gunning work in Denver. If they’re to move on from Sanders, players like Marqise Lee, John Brown, Donte Moncrief or Jordan Matthews are some of the younger WR2 hopefuls available. None appears to have a WR1 ceiling and would thus represent a supplemental stopgap.

If Sanders and Thomas are both back, money here would be tight and the draft would seem the logical avenue. That said, cheaper options like Dontrelle Inman, Kamar Aiken or Albert Wilson are available as No. 3 targets in case the team felt it necessary to add a younger veteran to this core.

The Vance Joseph regime still obviously hopes Henderson can develop after a lost year, but if the team wanted to restock in Round 2 or 3, recent wideouts have obviously shown plug-and-play talent exists in these rounds.

As for this year’s crop, Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk (three years of 70-plus catches and 900-plus receiving yards) could be there at No. 37. As could James Washington (Oklahoma State) or Dante Pettis (Washington). Another Clemson talent in Deon Cain profiles as a Day 2 choice. Washington was a statistical monster the past two years, totaling 145 receptions, 2,929 yards and 23 air scores — both years averaging north of 19 yards per catch — in that span.

The Broncos probably won’t use a high pick on a tight end after selecting Butt last year, but they could well target a player in free agency as more of a placeholder or as Butt insurance. Heuerman is under contract for one more season but has just 18 career catches for 283 yards to show for Denver’s third-round investment in 2015. Green could be brought back, but that doesn’t solve any receiving issues.

Tyler Eifert represents a boom-or-bust player here, and considering the Broncos already have one of those at tight end, they may opt for a safer (and cheaper) pick. Eifert’s upside is tantalizing, however, despite his rampant injury troubles. The Jets want to bring back Austin Seferian-Jenkins, but he could be a UFA option. Eagles backup Trey Burton‘s generated some buzz as well.

Either way, the Broncos need another player to take pressure off their starting wideouts. That hurt Trevor Siemian‘s development and made Denver’s offense easier to prepare for in recent years.

3) Fix latest right tackle mistake: Having made the playoffs five times in the 2010s, winning two AFC titles and one Super Bowl championship, the Broncos have accomplished more than most teams in recent years. But they’ve made frequent mistakes at this particular position.

After moving Orlando Franklin to guard to start the 2014 season, the franchise has trotted out a slew of unproductive right tackles. Louis Vasquez‘s emergency pilgrimage from right guard in 2014 qualifies as the best work any of the cogs delivered during this span. Denver’s tried free agency (Donald Stephenson and Menelik Watson) and the draft (Michael Schofield and Ty Sambrailo) and failed at every turn.

While left guard Max Garcia could be replaced as well, that’s not as big of an issue as what Denver’s kept creating at right tackle. As a whole, Denver’s O-line is in better shape than it’s been in recent offseasons. But right tackle will be addressed again.

Watson’s ill-advised contract will cost the Broncos to shed. Injury-prone with the Raiders, the British blocker spent the second half of this season on IR but allowed the third-most sacks in the league (eight) despite playing in just seven games. Prorated through 2019, Watson’s $4MM signing bonus will cost the Broncos $2.66MM to jettison. They will save $4.5MM in doing so, so it can be expected the team will cut its losses.

Will the Broncos dive into free agency once again or try their hand in the draft (again)? Zero-for-2 on each front during this problem period, the team’s ineffectiveness here has caused periodic trouble.

The Broncos addressing their quarterback need in free agency could lend to taking the best player available at No. 5, or the team could trade the pick to a QB-seeking team. This would allow Denver to stockpile extra picks, and it could put the Broncos in range to select a tackle to pair with Garett Bolles. Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey, Texas’ Connor Williams and Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown are each probably going to be first-round selections.

Each would also double as the biggest right tackle investment the team has made in many years. However, barring a trade-down scenario, it doesn’t appear likely the Broncos will use their first-rounder to address this area.

If the Broncos opt to again dive into free agency, there are options.

Chris Hubbard subbed in well during Marcus Gilbert‘s four-game suspension this season. The Patriots already locked up Marcus Cannon, so Cameron Fleming looks set to test the market. Nate Solder would make for an interesting solution. Solder is a Colorado native and played for the Buffaloes prior to going to the Pats in the 2011 first round. He will turn 30 in April and has missed just one game over the past two years. New England may not be keen on re-signing Solder but doesn’t have a successor lined up yet.

Of course, like there was with Denver native Calais Campbell last year, there could be a big market for Solder. But with this being a greater need than Campbell’s position was at that juncture, might the Broncos close the deal this time?

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