Four Broncos Make PFF's Top 100 Free Agents List
The Denver Broncos have a large assortment of needs entering the 2023 offseason. Without a lot of draft capital, thanks to the trades for Russell Wilson and Sean Payton over the last two years, the main avenue for Denver to obtain new players in 2023 will be through free agency.
The Broncos are not in a poor situation from a cap perspective, but the team will likely have to get creative and hit on its limited draft picks to improve the roster at a substantial level. Fortunately for the Broncos, this team's most significant additions in 2023 will likely come via vastly improved coaching and a heap of players returning from injury.
Many projected contributors back from injury in 2023 can and will help Denver, but what about the number of players who are set to hit free agency returning to the club?
ESPN recently listed two Broncos in their top 50 free agents of 2023 — defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones and left guard Dalton Risner. With Payton and his assistants likely running new schemes, it remains to be seen whether either will be back next season.
Pro Football Focus recently compiled a list of their top 100 free agents, getting in on the ubiquitous offseason list action. With Jones (ranking 21st) and Risner (ranking 43rd) on the list, Denver had linebacker Alex Singleton come in at No. 77 and offensive tackle Cameron Fleming at No. 81 on PFF's list.
The highest-ranked Bronco on the list, with a projected contract of four years, $58 million, and $37.5 guaranteed, is Jones, and he is Denver's best player hitting free agency this season. While Jones is not a dominant run defender and will never be a great two-gapping interior player, PFF gushes about his pass-rushing prowess, pointing towards his 138 quarterback pressures since entering the NFL (tied 19th among interior defenders over that time period) and owning a "14.5% pass rush win rate ranking 11th best over the span."
Jones will likely want to be shown the money this offseason, and it could be expensive for the Broncos if they pay him a new deal or tag him. Still, if he leaves Denver this offseason, the interior defensive line will become one of the most prominent question marks on the roster.
Risner was projected to earn a contract of three years, $22.5M, with $15M guaranteed. PFF stats, "Risner offered consistency along a Broncos offensive line that had anything but at every other position, logging 1000 snaps before missing the season finale with an elbow injury."
Risner also graded fine for PFF, earning back-to-back years with run-blocking grades above 70.0. While his play did not progress much from his rookie season, his struggles were not all his own, as the play of the quarterback and the center next to him certainly impacted his play on the field. In his own words, Risner may be back if Denver makes him feel "valued."
Perhaps the most surprising player Bronco last year, earning All-Pro votes and being named Denver's 'Unsung Hero,' according to PFF, Singleton is projected to garner a contract of two years, $10M, with $5.25M guaranteed (very similar to the deal Denver gave linebacker Josey Jewell last offseason). It would be a shame to see Singleton play elsewhere in 2023.
According to PFF, "Singleton earned a career-best 82.6 run-defense grade that ranked eight amongst off-ball linebackers, tallying more than 100 tackles for the second year in a row, with his two-year total of 212 ranking sixth amongst his position."
Singleton is not a dynamic athlete with size, length, and power as a pass rusher, nor is he a fluid, twitchy player in space in coverage. Still, he does well enough in both areas to be respectable as a starting linebacker in the NFL. With how he and Jewell played in combination last season, it would be nice to see Singleton back in Denver if the money works out.
Last but not least (or perhaps least to many Broncos fans) is the offensive tackle, Fleming. According to PFF, Fleming is projected to sign a two-year, $5M contract with $2.75M guaranteed. After being picked up at the end of July last offseason in response to injuries at the tackle position for the Broncos, he was thrust into the starting right tackle position when Billy Turner struggled to recover from injury.
When Garett Bolles went down with a broken leg, Fleming flipped to left tackle and performed at an adequate level. With Fleming earning career-best grades and snap count at 76.2 over 976 snaps, PFF states that "the veteran should have a handful of suitors after reminding the league he can be a very reliable swing option."
While not an ideal long-term option for the Broncos at tackle, Fleming was Denver's best option this season following the injury of Bolles, given his play in both the run and pass game. If Denver drafts a tackle, Fleming would be an ideal player to retain to provide depth at the position, versatility at both tackle (and guard) spots, and raise the floor of the room.
Bottom Line
The Broncos could have been better in 2022. However, the team did have talent that will be sought after by other teams around the NFL.
Whether or not Denver will target to retain Jones, Risner, Singleton, and/or Fleming will be an interesting storyline to follow as the team turns the page on an unfortunate 2022 season and moves forward into the Payton era.
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