Denver Broncos: Grading Evan Mathis Signing

Ryan Clady‘s season-ending injury earlier this offseason sent many Denver Broncos fans and pundits into a frenzy, especially after last season’s uncharacteristically poor display from the line, in combination with Peyton Manning‘s poor play at the stretch of the regular season (mostly due to injury, helped contribute to a mildly disappointed season for a team with huge aspirations.

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In a move that nobody saw coming, the Broncos signed Evan Mathis to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with the chance (it was previously reported that the deal was worth $4 million in total) to make $4 million in incentives, as per 9News’s Mike Klis.

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Klis notes that Mathis wanted to make more than $5.5 million from the Philadelphia Eagles, which ultimately led to his much publicized-release, and while we all knew that he wouldn’t make $5.5 million on the open market, it is worth noting that one team, according to FOX Sports’s Mike Garafolo, offered a deal “up to” $5.5 million. Agent Drew Rosenhaus, who most likely leaked the initial $4 million figure and the news of a $5.5 million offer, didn’t tell Garafolo which team offered that amount, but I have a feeling the guard-needy Tennessee Titans may have been that team.

In any case, Mathis clearly wanted to sign with a contender after being released by a playoff team, so the Titans probably weren’t in the running despite their financial ammunition. Instead, Mathis will get to play with offensive stalwarts like Manning, C.J. Anderson, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and promising young skill position players Cody Latimer and Ronnie Hillman (he leads all players in rushing yards this preseason).

The Broncos decision to swoop in and make a massive upgrade at left guard gives the team three potential “plus” starters on the offensive line, and there’s little doubt in my mind that Mathis will be the best of the bunch. If Louis Vazquez returns to his 2013 form, then the Broncos could have one of the NFL’s elite guard duos, and right tackle Chris Clark could also be a bright spot.

There are still questions up front for the Broncos even with Mathis replacing fourth-round Florida Gators rookie Max Garcia, because the Broncos will start rookie Ty Sambrailo at left tackle with the equally unproven Matt Paradis at center.

As far as the financial details go, the deal is a steal for the Broncos, especially if he ends up making $4 million. I mean, the Broncos would love for him to hit those incentives, and elite guard play is worth $4 million no matter the case. There’s no risk in giving him a one-year deal, and the upside is immense.

Last season, the Denver Broncos had bigger issues blocking for Anderson and the running backs than they did blocking for Manning, so while the onus is on the big guys to protect their beaten-up QB, Anderson, Hillman, and Montee Ball will most likely benefit the most from Mathis. After all, the 33-year-old Alabama product is held in higher regard for his run blocking than for his pass blocking, as he helped pave the road for 1,607 and 1,319-yard seasons in the past two years from current Buffalo Bills feature back LeSean McCoy.

Health will be a huge key for the Broncos line with Clady already out for the year again, so we’ll just have to hope that Mathis, who missed seven games last year with an MCL sprain, can stay healthy. If he can, then this deal should be a big win-win for both sides. Evan Mathis gets to play for a Super Bowl contender that can pay actual money to him, unlike the Seattle Seahawks, while the Broncos get a legitimate star at the left guard position who can help both their passing attack and running game.

The offensive line’s play in 2015 will mean more than ever to Manning now that he’s getting older and had to play through a major injury last season, but the running game will mean just as much to his success.

On paper, the Broncos might have one of the best backfields in the NFL if Anderson and Hillman can play up to their potential, and Ball could also be effective if given some carries. Now armed with Mathis, the Broncos have the blocking to make sure that Anderson can get even more yardage out of his insane 44 missed tackles on 179 carries (those were his numbers last year, as per Pro Football Focus).

There isn’t much downside to the deal, because it’s a one-year deal that’s worth just $2.5 million if Mathis proves to be a free-agent bust. He hasn’t disappointed us over the past few seasons, so it’s unlikely he’ll suddenly drop this year after another effective season in 2014. Age is a factor here, but the Broncos needed the upgrade as badly as any team out there.

Grade: A

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