NFL Rumors: Denver Broncos have interest in Victor Cruz
Victor Cruz was cut from the New York Giants a couple days ago, but the Denver Broncos are interested in taking a meeting.
After missing the entire 2015 season with a calf injury, Victor Cruz played 15 games for the New York Giants in 2016. But a high level of production didn’t follow — he totaled 39 receptions for 586 yards and one touchdown, as Tavarres King and Roger Lewis took away snaps.
Due to make a total of $7.5 million this year, with a cap hit of $9.4 million, the Giants made the decision to cut Cruz on Monday. Even with his severe decline in production since suffering a torn patella tendon in October of 2014, Cruz could be an interesting option for multiple teams. One team has put themselves at the front of the line already.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, the Denver Broncos were already working on Monday to meet with Cruz. With the potential of around $40 million in salary cap space by the time free agency starts, Broncos general manager John Elway may supplement the roster with some shrewd signings.
Any quarterback shortcomings aside, Denver has one of the better wide receiver duos in the league. But after Demaryius Thomas (90 receptions for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns) and Emmanuel Sanders (79 catches for 1,032 yards and five touchdowns), running back Devontae Booker was the team’s next most productive pass catcher with 31 catches for 265 yards. No other Broncos’ wide receiver had more than 21 receptions (Jordan Norwood).
It’s a stretch to say Cruz is completely done, as a scout apparently told ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky earlier this week, but he will not require much of a commitment from a new team either. That should put him right in the Broncos’ wheelhouse, as they search for anything resembling a viable third option in the passing game, so their initial interest is not a huge surprise.
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Cruz’s ability to pass a physical, and the way that threshold can fluctuate between teams, may determine when he signs and where he lands. His highly productive, salsa-dancing form is in the rearview mirror, but Cruz can still be a useful player in the right role.