Fansided

2016 NFL offseason: Denver Broncos needs

By Patrick Morgan

Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; General view of a Denver Broncos helmet on the sidelines against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; General view of a Denver Broncos helmet on the sidelines against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos players celebrate during the Super Bowl 50 championship parade at Civic Center Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos players celebrate during the Super Bowl 50 championship parade at Civic Center Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Summary

Life is good in the Mile High City. While Super Bowl 50 might not have been the most exciting edition of the NFL’s championship game, it was important in cementing the legacies of Peyton Manning, John Elway, and the Denver Broncos as a team. All three entities now have reached a rarified air in the annals of professional football history, and nothing can take away from what they’ve accomplished.

Manning’s looming retirement decision will be the major storyline in the coming weeks, but by the time the NFL combine and draft rolls around this spring we should all have more clarity on the future of the Broncos’ quarterback position. If this is indeed the offseason that Osweiler officially becomes the starter moving forward, it will be fascinating to watch how the young signal-caller responds under the added pressure that accompanies such an ascension. As Shakespeare once said: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” and there’s nothing easy about being the leader of the defending world champions.

Denver figures to have a hard time retaining all their pending free agents this summer, especially considering their limited salary cap space to work with. The team will need to figure out what to do with several veterans, including Manning, DeMarcus Ware, Vernon Davis, and Evan Mathis. A number of household names might be shown the door, and some will be more easily replaced than others. Any loss on the defensive front figures to be a particularly tough pill to swallow, as that was the unit that propelled the Broncos to their title.

Some of the major losses in free agency could be mitigated by shopping for bargain replacements elsewhere around the league, but the team doesn’t really have the financial moxie to make upgrades at many key positions. If there’s one place to splurge, it’s along the offensive line, which could use some beefing up. But realistically, finding reinforcements through the draft seems like Denver’s best bet at coping with the free agent fallout that’s sure to come.

Home/Denver Broncos