Fansided

NFL free agency 2019: Grades for every team

By Kevin Parvizi

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Joe Flacco, Redskins, Broncos
BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos

Key Additions: QB Joe Flacco (trade), DB Kareem Jackson, CB Bryce Callahan, RT Ja’Wuan James

Key Losses: QB Case Keenum, CB Bradley Roby, EDGE Shaquil Barrett, OL Billy Turner, C Matt Paradis

Grade: B

The controversial move made by John Elway was acquiring Joe Flacco from the Baltimore Ravens, because it wasn’t necessarily the most inspiring move at quarterback. But Flacco is an upgrade over Case Keenum, even if his deep passing hasn’t been what it was, and it seems like Denver wouldn’t have the opportunity to draft a future franchise quarterback this year. Flacco may have been their safest option, in the same way the Jacksonville Jaguars went after Nick Foles.

Denver should be praised for replacing starting cornerback Bradley Roby with two starting-caliber players in Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan. Jackson can be an upgrade at either corner or safety, while Callahan is legitimately one of the top corners in this league and should have received far more love than he did in free agency, even if he was coming into the market with a foot injury.

Changing pieces on the offensive line will make that a situation worth monitoring in 2019, but the Broncos did get a true star at the offensive tackle position in Ja’Wuan James, who might be the team’s best offensive lineman right now.

There’s no doubt that the AFC West is a competitive division, especially after the upgrades made by the Oakland Raiders, and the Broncos success in 2019 hinges on Flacco’s ability to bounce back in a new change of scenery. Bringing on a field-stretching wideout could help Flacco accomplish just that.

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