Denver Broncos: Are the Champs Coming Apart?
The Denver Broncos parlayed a great defense into the franchise’s third Super Bowl title. But it’s evident that this will be a much different team in 2016.
When you’re the defending Super Bowl champions and you have more than a few issues to resolve in terms of bring back players, you do your best to minimize the losses.
But the departures are starting to pile up for the Denver Broncos. And it’s safe to say that and both general manager John Elway as well as head coach Gary Kubiak may be starting to become a little concerned.
Related Story: Detroit Lions: 5 Questions That Are Worth Asking
Yes, on Tuesday the team managed to retain running back C.J. Anderson as the team decided to match the Miami Dolphins’ offer sheet for the restricted free agent. The former undrafted free agent told ESPN’s Trey Wingo that he was “surprised” that the club matched the contract.
“Being low-tendered from the beginning, you just never know what is going on,” said Anderson. “If it was about the money, I would have went to Chicago because they actually offered more. It was more about me putting myself in the best situation system-wise. I know I can do it with (Denver head coach Gary) Kubiak and I knew I could do it over there with [new Miami head coach Adam) Gase.”
But the good news was tempered later in the day (via Spotrac) as the club lost swing tackle Ryan Harris to the Pittsburgh Steelers and backup safety David Bruton to the Washington Redskins.
Denver entered the beginning of the NFL’s new fiscal year on March 9 with 15 unrestricted free agents to make decisions on. All told, five of those players (Harris, Bruton, defensive end Malik Jackson, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan and quarterback Brock Osweiler) have moved on.
Now add on the fact that quarterback Peyton Manning has retired while right guard Louis Vasquez and tight end Owen Daniels were released.
Get the picture?
The cupboard isn’t totally bare but there are certainly a few canned goods and non-perishables missing from the team that stifled the Carolina Panthers in Santa Clara a little over a month ago.
From that game, the Broncos are down six starters either due to retirement, free-agent departures and salary-cap related releases. There’s also the matter of left guard Evan Mathis and tight end Vernon Davis, unsigned at the moments and two more offensive starters from Super Bowl 50. Key performers such as running back Ronnie Hillman (team-high 863 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns) and wideout/punt returner Jordan Norwood (record 61-yard punt return in Super Bowl 50) and receiver Andre Caldwell are also unrestricted free agents as well.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
As we have seen, Elway has done some work this offseason to minimize the damage such as the decision to retain Anderson. The Broncos gave up a 2017 conditional seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Mark Sanchez. This offseason, the team added former Cleveland Browns first-round pick Phil Taylor (out of football in 2015) to the defensive front.
Denver also added free-agent tackle Donald Stephenson, late of the Kansas City Chiefs, and hopefully four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady returns after missing the entire 2015 season with a knee injury. Even so, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the organization has approached Clady about taking a pay cut. So far it hasn’t happened.
More nfl spin zone: NFL: 5 Losers In Free Agency
We all know how difficult it is to repeat as a champion no matter the sport. In the NFL, we haven’t seen a team hoist the Lombardi Trophy in back-to-back seasons since the New England Patriots in 2003 and ’04.
The task is made even hard when you lose substantial talent and that’s slowly but surely happening to these Broncos.
It’s mid-March and all is hardly loss. But Elway better have more than a rabbit up his sleeve if he is to stop the bleeding in the Mile High City.