Stokley: Broncos can’t afford to be ‘ultra-aggressive’ in free agency

Mar 6, 2019, 6:45 PM Updated: Mar 7, 2019, 8:48 am

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Kicking off the 2019 offseason with moves like agreeing to trade for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, the Denver Broncos appear to be in a “win-now mode” heading into next season.

And with that mentality, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said he believed the team would be “ultra-aggressive” in free agency to at least stave off “another losing season.”

“They’re going Joe Flacco. There are holes to fill. I mean, they are going to go all out. I still think that to a certain degree,” Stokley said on Wednesday. “But when you take a step back and you look at their situation, their situation prevents them from being able to do that.”

Stokley said the Broncos would love to have a free agency haul like a few seasons ago when they pulled in Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, and DeMarcus Ware, but the team can’t afford that in its current state.

“… They would like to make those types of moves again. But, unfortunately, they can’t,” Stokley said.

Not to mention, Stokley said, the Broncos no longer have the allure of future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

“So, those top-tier guys will look at you and be like, eh, I don’t know about that. What kind of money are we talking about? Because I’ve got the Jets over there that are also a bad team. They’re going to pay me more money,” Stokley said. “Well, these players are now going to go to the Jets.”

The comments follow those from “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Mike Pritchard, who said on Tuesday that while the Broncos may covet linebacker C.J. Mosley in free agency, it’s not as if they’re going to acquire him without pay a premium.

“The free agent market is about you, finding out what value you have, what a team is willing to pay for you,” Pritchard said. “So, if Luke Kuechly has the highest number, then as a player I’m going after the highest number, especially if I’m coveted or I’m sought after at that position.”

And with Denver’s salary cap limitations this offseason, Stokley question Tuesday whether the Broncos could compete with the likes of the Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

“How can you compete with the Colts, with the Browns, with the 49ers, all these teams that have a ton of money to spend? You can’t compete,” Stokley said. “They’re all going to want these guys also, and that’s a problem. So, you can’t just go all-in with one guy and then not doing anything else.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.