Mixed Returns


The free agency period has begun. For Denver, this has meant some mixed results through the first week, or so. Today, I thought I would look at the good, the bad, and the unknown of this first flurry of activity.

The Good:
* Signing Wes Welker (2 years, $12 million). Not only is Welker a good receiver, this is a signing that weakens the New England Patriots, a rival. The Pats may have signed Danny Amendola, which could be good, but he will be new and Tom Brady loves Wes Welker. This will hurt the Patriots chemistry. But on the flip side, it will greatly improve the situation for the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have two great outside receivers — Demariyus Thomas and Eric Decker. But during last year's playoffs, it became painfully obvious we needed more of a threat over the middle. When Thomas and Decker were walled off by the Baltimore Ravens, Peyton Manning struggled to help the Broncos move the ball. With Welker and the two tight ends — Joel Driessen and Jacob Tamme — that will be much more difficult to do. This will give the Broncos a more dynamic pass offense.

* Signing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (1 year, $5 million). I think this is a potentially great signing. It's short money and time, allowing the Broncos' young corners to develop and adding quality veteran depth opposite Champ Bailey. Rodgers-Cromartie's stock fell after last year's disaster in Philadelphia, but prior to that he was great for Arizona. And, as a bonus, he has Super Bowl experience. That is a low risk, high reward option.

The Bad:
* Elvis Dumervil was cut yesterday thanks to a comedy of errors. The team asked him to take a pay cut to give salary cap relief. He agreed, but the paperwork was late, so he was cut. Now the team took a cap hit and may not be able to resign him. Dumervil's numbers have fallen, but he is still a great pass rushing threat. Denver needed to keep him AND get another strong rushing end to help get pressure on the passer. Now they may or may not get to keep Dumervil, and it greatly hurts the strategy. After a lot of great moves, this was a HUGE stumble by John Elway and company.

* Signing defensive tackles Terrance Knighton and Kevin Vickerson. Knighton is a cast off from Jacksonville, while Vickerson was a free agent from the Broncos. Denver had middling to poor middle defensive line play last year, and targeted that area for an upgrade. This doesn't seem to be that. I found both signings sort of curious, but at least they weren't big money deals.

The Uncertain:
* Ryan Clady received the Franchise Tag but hasn't signed. Denver signed San Diego guard Louis Vasquez, but it's hard to say how that greatly improves the team. In my opinion the solidity of the offensive line is still a question. And that is very important. This remains a work in progress moving forward.

* The Broncos are targeting Manti Te'o, the linebacker from Notre Dame, in the April draft. With him, that could give Denver a dynamic linebacking core. But as of now, that is also a question mark. We have Von Miller on one side and Wesley Woodyard on the other, but what about the middle? D.J. Williams was cut and Keith Brooking is a free agent. We signed Stewart Bradley, but he is rated more as a depth player and a back up. Last year linebacker was a strength. This year, it feels like it's still a work in progress.

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