The five moves the Broncos need to make during free agency
Mar 11, 2020, 7:02 AM | Updated: Mar 12, 2020, 7:23 am
During the past few weeks, 1043TheFan.com has provided a position-by-position breakdown of the NFL’s 2020 free agent class. This process not only outlined the best prospects on the open market, but it also offered a look at which players would be a good fit in Denver.
That analysis looked at the Broncos positions of need, as well as the financial commitment for each player. John Elway currently has $53 million to spend in free agency, a number that should balloon to at least $66 million once some players (Joe Flacco) are released.
Based on this tour of the market, a few names have risen to the top. These are the five players who should be atop Elway’s shopping list when free agency opens on Mar. 18:
1. Arik Armstead – Anybody who saw the 49ers practice against the Broncos last year during training camp couldn’t help but be impressed with the way San Francisco’s defensive line got after quarterbacks, running backs and everyone else in sight. They were a dominant group. Among them was Armstread, who had a breakout season heading into free agency. Was the 10.0-sack campaign in 2019 a sign of things to come? Or is he the player who posted 9.0 sacks combined during his first four seasons? That’s the gamble.
2. Justin Simmons – Pro Football Focus gave Simmons a grade of 90.8 during the 2019 seasons, putting him among the best in the league at his position; the web site also named him to their first-team All-Pro roster for the year. Those are the accolades the Broncos safety will be touting as he seeks a multi-year deal worth $14 or $15 million per season. Simmons is a smart, reliable player who has gotten better and better during each of his four years in the league.
3. Connor McGovern – According to most rankings, the Broncos starter in 2019 is the best center in this year’s free-agent class. Denver invested a fourth-round pick in him in 2016, spending the last four years developing him as a player, both at guard and center. It seems counterproductive to move on a from a player who has started 31 games in the past two seasons, especially when the other options available are less than dazzling. The Broncos would be wise to retain McGovern.
4. Nick Kwiatkowski – During his four seasons with the Bears, Kwiatkowski has primarily been a backup. In 2019, however, he was able to step in and start during the second half of the year, filling in for Danny Trevathan. That stint allowed him to show what he could do, as he posted 76 tackles, 3.0 sacks and an interception. That combination of numbers shows that he’s capable of playing all over the field, against the run and pass. And given his lack of playing time, he’s probably going to be a value option on the open market.
5. Breshad Perriman – The former first-round pick of the Ravens has bounced around during his four-year career. Two seasons in Baltimore were followed by one in Cleveland and another in Tampa Bay. In his most-recent stop, Perriman finally found his sea legs, so to speak. Playing for Bruce Arians, Perriman was consistently productive for the first time in his career, catching 36 passes for 645 yards and six touchdowns. The gamble is whether 2019 was an aberration of the talented receiver has finally figured out how to be a pro.
