Broncos 2022 Free Agency Preview: Is an upgrade from Risner needed?
Feb 17, 2022, 7:12 AM
When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 16, the Broncos figure to be one of the most-active teams in the league. On the heels of a fifth-straight losing season, they have plenty of holes to fill. And with a new head coach coming in, they’ll need to tweak the roster to fit what Nathaniel Hackett wants to do.
Currently, the Broncos are roughly $40 million under the 2022 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what George Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Mike Purcell, Daesean Hamilton and Sam Martin are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces, with more than $50 million potentially available.
How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.
It continues today with a position where the Broncos don’t seem to need an upgrade – guard. On the left side, most people assume Dalton Risner’s starting position is set in stone. But as he enters the final year of his contract, the hometown hero is somewhat on shaky ground. After playing really well as a rookie, he’s plateaued. Despite having Mike Munchak as his position coach, Risner has failed to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber player. On the other side, it’s a trio of options for Denver. Graham Glasgow returns on a reworked deal, while Quinn Meinerz and Netane Muti are young players with potential. All are interchangeable, with Glasgow and Meinerz being able to play center, as well. Options abound for the Broncos.
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Top Five Available
1. Brandon Scherff – One of the biggest prizes on the free-agent market this year, regardless of position, Scherff will draw a lot of interest. He’ll also ink a big-money deal. The five-time Pro Bowl selection is still in his prime, as he won’t turn 31 until late December. And the former No. 5 overall pick don’t show any signs of his play dropping off. The only concern is injuries, as Scherff has missed 22 games over the last four seasons.
2. Laken Tomlinson – A former first-round pick of the Lions, Tomlinson has blossomed in San Francisco. In 2021, the guard earned his first Pro Bowl invite. Big and athletic, he’s the perfect fit in the West Coast offense, as he has the ability to move along the line of scrimmage. Perhaps his best attribute, however, is his durability. In the past five seasons, Tomlinson has appeared in 80 out of 81 possible games, starting all 80 for the 49ers.
3. Connor Williams – He went to high school (Coppell) in Texas. He played college football at UT. And he was a second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2018. So it’s hard to imagine Williams moving on and calling another state home. But he’ll get plenty of interest and have a ton of options. One of the big things he has working in his favor is age. Williams turns 25 in May, meaning he probably hasn’t even his his prime. He’s already playing good football, with potential great play on the horizon.
4. James Daniels – James is another great option for a team looking for a long-term answer. He won’t turn 25 until September. The past three seasons, he’s been a full-time starter for the Bears, although injury did derail a big chunk of his 2020 season. This past year, however, he played 100 percent of the team’s snap at right guard. And he performed very well, despite the fact that Chicago’s offense was a bit of a mess with quarterback rotations and other issues.
5. Austin Corbett – Since landing in Los Angeles midway through the 2019 season, Corbett has been a mainstay on the Rams offensive line. This past season, he was a fixture for the Super Bowl champs, starting every game. A versatile player, Corbett can play either side, having started at both left and right guard in L.A. That makes him valuable, especially on a team that might need to juggle things in the trenches. Corbett turns 27 in September, making him a prime prospect.
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Realistic Options for the Broncos
1. Quinton Spain – At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, Spain is a presence in the trenches. He’s also familiar with the West Coast offense, having started 16 games this season for the Bengals. He’s bounced around a bit, having played in Tennessee and Buffalo before landing in Cincinnati midway through the 2020 season. But he seems to have found a home in the zone-heavy run scheme.
2. Michael Schofield III – Plenty of people in Broncos Country will shiver at the prospect, as they’lll remember Denver’s attempt to make Schofield a tackle after drafting him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Clearly, it didn’t work, as Schofield didn’t have the athleticism to thrive on the outside. Along the interior, however, he’s been much better, having found a home with the Chargers.
3. Oday Aboushi – Aboushi would be more about adding depth. And options. He’s a marginal starter in the NFL, evidenced by the fact that he’s bounced around during his eight years in the league. Stops in New York (Jets), Houston, Seattle, Arizona, Detroit and Los Angeles (Chargers) show that he’s good enough to earn a roster spot, but not quite ready to become a fixture.
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OTHER FREE AGENCY PREVIEWS
Quarterbacks – Read
Running Backs – Read
Wide Receivers – Read
Tight Ends – Read
Centers – Read
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