Miles
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- Mar 18, 2019
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With the franchise tag window officially open and just a few weeks before free agency, we're diving into a look at how the Broncos' roster could change in the coming days.
In today's edition of "Ask Aric," we'll take a look at Justin Simmons, Von Miller, free-agent cornerbacks and — yes — the quarterback position. There's lots of uncertainty this time of year in the NFL world, but that's what makes the guessing and prognosticating fun.
To ask a question for a future mailbag, click here — or tweet at me at @AricDiLalla.
If the Broncos get a deal done with Justin Simmons before placing the tag on him, is there anyone else you would expect them to franchise? - Tim M.
Tim, the window to apply the franchise tag began Tuesday, and the Broncos have until March 9 to decide if they'd like to use it. I could certainly see them placing it on Simmons if they're unable to get a deal done before then — it would buy them another four months of negotiating time — but there's probably not another logical candidate. Sometimes, teams have several options — the Cowboys with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper come to mind — but the Broncos don't have another player whose contract is up that it would make sense to use the tag on. The franchise tag averages the salaries at the top players at a given position, which makes it an expensive proposition. The Broncos could certainly miss a player like Shelby Harris, but it doesn't seem like they'd want to pay the exorbitant price the franchise tag would require. This could become a more interesting question in future years. In 2023, for example, the Broncos could see contracts expire for both Bradley Chubb and Dalton Risner. In that situation, it may be more likely that more than one player on the roster are options for the tag. Of course, General Manager George Paton has made it clear he hopes to re-sign young talent, so it's quite possible the Broncos could extend players like Courtland Sutton, Chubb, Risner and several others before they're pressed up against the deadline.
What are the realistic chances Von Miller restructures to a team-friendly deal, and would signing Bud Dupree be any cheaper than Von? - Corey B.
Well, for starters, there's been no official indication the Broncos have asked Miller to restructure. It's possible that happens, but there's several options to move forward. They could pick up the option, they could restructure the deal for one year, they could extend Miller or they could decline the option and let him enter free agency. I would say it's at least a possibility that Miller has played his last snap in Denver.
Dupree certainly doesn't have the proven output that Miller had when he was eligible for a new deal, but the market has also gone up in the last five years. Pro Football Focus estimates Dupree will sign a one-year, $10 million "prove-it" deal, so he could be a cheaper choice in the short term. Sportrac.com, meanwhile, estimates his market value is $18 million per year, which is in line with Miller's reported salary. Dupree is a younger option, but Miller is more proven — so it's difficult to say which is preferable. I do think it's fair to assume that if the Broncos and Miller part ways, the Broncos will need to make some sort of addition at outside linebacker.
Could we see Paton making moves for [Richard] Sherman, [Patrick] Peterson or someone along the quality of those two guys? Or will they look younger to see what we could get in the draft?
The short answers are yes and yes. After releasing A.J. Bouye, the Broncos may need to add multiple cornerbacks. Depending on Paton's evaluation of Bryce Callahan — who played really well in 2020 but has yet to play all 16 games in a season in his career — and Michael Ojemudia, Denver could be looking for two outside cornerbacks or an outside corner and a nickel corner. I'd imagine they'll look for some help in free agency. It remains to be seen whether that's a top name like Sherman or William Jackson III or a Shaquill Griffin, Chidobe Awuzie, Quinton Dunabar. I think they'll also add at least one player in the draft, perhaps with the ninth-overall pick. Both Alabama's Patrick Surtain and Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley have been linked to the Broncos in mock drafts. In today's NFL, you need three very capable cornerbacks — especially in a division that features Patrick Mahomes.
Who are some names you expect the Broncos to pursue in free agency? -@thedadpocalypse
We've already talked about cornerback, so I'll skip that here. The other two positions that make a lot of sense to me are inside linebacker and backup quarterback. Tampa Bay's Lavonte David is the top option at inside 'backer, but I suspect the Bucs won't let a player of his caliber leave Tampa. There's kind of a drop off after David, but Buffalo's Matt Milano is considered the next best option. According to Pro Football Focus, he has the 11th best coverage grade among linebackers since 2018 and can cover running backs and some slot receivers. He isn't the best run defender — which could cause Vic Fangio to think twice — but it's clear the Broncos need someone to match up with tight ends like Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. Tennessee's Jayon Brown and Seattle's K.J. Wright could also be options. At quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andy Dalton could be good options if the Broncos are looking for a true backup quarterback. Perhaps a player like Mitchell Trubisky or Jacoby Brissett is a good option if the Broncos want to hold a training camp competition for the starting role. Depending on the Broncos' other moves, outside linebacker and defensive line will also be areas to watch.