3 Free-Agent Targets to Fill Broncos' Lingering Roster Holes
The 2023 NFL draft is in the books, and despite not having an extensive list of picks to work with, the Denver Broncos got better as a whole. The Broncos notably added speed to the receiver room with Oklahoma's Marvin Mims, Jr., a rangy linebacker in Arkansas's Drew Sanders, and cornerback depth in Iowa's Riley Moss.
But despite the new additions in the draft, the Broncos still have a handful of needs plaguing the roster. Mile High Huddle's Dylan Von Arx broke them down last week, so let's dive into how the Broncos can go about filling them through free agency.
As it stands currently, the Broncos have right around $6.4 million in cap space for their top-51 contracts, with none of the draft picks officially signed to their rookie deals. The Broncos will only lose around $325,000 in space after Mims, Sanders, and Moss sign their deals and knock lower cap hits off of the top-51 spots, meaning Denver will likely have around $6.1 million in available cap room.
With limited cap space to work with, the Broncos are going to have to find value with these new deals in order to save as much space as possible, unless they are able to trade a player or restructure a contract. Who could Denver turn to while meeting this criteria?
Chase Roullier | C | Washington Commanders
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Even though the Broncos added Alex Forsyth out of Oregon with a seventh-round selection, they need to get better at the center position. Lloyd Cushenberry III has been one of the worst centers in the league over the past three seasons, and this is the final year of his rookie deal.
Denver also brought in veteran Kyle Fuller as a competition piece that has familiarity with Russell Wilson in the past. And then there's last year's sixth-round pick Luke Wattenberg as a developmental prospect.
Roullier, who was recently released by the Commanders after they drafted Ricky Stromberg out of Arkansas with a top-100 selection, offers a veteran presence with loads of starting experience. The problem here is that Roullier has only played in 11 total contests over the past two seasons due to suffering a broken fibula in Week 9 in 2021 and a knee injury that required surgery after two games in 2022.
When healthy, Roullier is widely considered one of the best pass protectors at the position in the league, only surrendering five total sacks through the first six seasons of his career. In 2020, he played in 1,089 snaps with a 98.8% pass block win rate, according to Pro Football Focus, only giving up one sack and 17 total pressures. He would be an immediate upgrade to the position and finish the overhaul of the Broncos' offensive line.
With those injury concerns combined with him entering his age-30 season, Roullier could be acquired on a one-year, prove-it deal that the Broncos could fit in their limited cap space.
Markus Golden | OLB | Arizona Cardinals
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The Broncos' edge room is one of the most boom-or-bust position groups on the roster, with several high-upside pass rushers that have injury concerns. The Broncos did add Sanders in the draft as a player that can offer up some pass rush upside from the edge, but he figures to be a part of the inside linebacker group early in his career as he continues to develop.
Outside of Sanders, the Broncos didn't add anybody to the room to offer reliable depth for the 'just in case' scenario where either Randy Gregory or Baron Browning goes down with injury. Denver has last year's second-rounder Nik Bonitto as a developmental player, but he didn't show nearly enough to be trusted as an every-down player. Jonathon Cooper is fine as a depth piece in the rotation, but he can't be relied upon as a full-time player either.
Meanwhile, Golden is a savvy veteran with great technique and has been relatively healthy over the duration of his career. He has experience playing in Vance Joseph's scheme over the past two seasons and offers up much better as a run defender than any of the depth pieces the Broncos have.
Golden posted four sacks and 26 total tackles while playing in over 300 snaps for the Cardinals last year, according to PFF. He would immediately raise the floor of the room and offer a veteran presence to the younger players on the roster, hopefully teaching them how to use proper technique.
Golden's last contract was only a one-year, $6.5 million deal, so he could be had for a discount as his age limits his long-term value moving forward.
Kenyan Drake | RB | Baltimore Ravens
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While the running back position is devalued across the league, the Broncos are heading into the season with Samaje Perine, Tony Jones, Jr., and Damarea Crockett as the most experienced players on the roster. None of them have more than 95 total carries in any single season across their careers.
Javonte Williams is still recovering from three torn ligaments in his knee from last season, and his status heading into 2023 is relatively unknown. Denver needs to add a valuable piece to the room that has experience both as a runner and in the passing game.
Drake may just be that guy. He had over 100 carries for the Ravens last season, averaging over 4.4 yards per carry. He also added 17 receptions for 89 yards as a lower-level rotational piece.
What would make Drake an intriguing add in Denver is his ability to create explosive plays with the ball in his hands, toting the rock for 10-plus yard gains 96 total times through his seven-year career, according to PFF.
Being a rotational player with an elevated age at a devalued position, Drake could potentially be had for a veteran minimum deal.
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