Broncos Should Talk to Free-Agent Kicker Matt Prater
As NFL free agency heats up, new Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is conducting a deep dive into what triggered the team's frequent on-field breakdowns. Known for his attention to minor details, Payton's triad of offense, defense, and special teams will need to leap forward to get the Broncos back to being competitive.
To get the Broncos organization back to relevance, Payton must prioritize overhauling the porous offensive line (which began in earnest on Monday) and resurrecting a pass rush that fell off the cliff by season’s end.
The veteran NFL coach’s scrutiny will not fail to detect that Denver's special teams last season weren’t that, well, special. In a close contest, Payton is aware that the third phase will make the difference between a glorious victory and an agonizing defeat.
Depending on the metric, the Broncos' special teams ranked anywhere from middle-of-the-pack to dead last in the NFL (28th in field-goal % and 32nd in kick returning) and showed glimpses of improvement during interim head coach Jerry Rosburg’s two-game tenure.
Unfortunately, veteran kicker Brandon McManus’s performance was rather pedestrian, as evidenced by the Broncos' lousy field-goal percentage (77.8%). Being placed in the unenviable position of attempting a 64-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the opening contest against the Seattle Seahawks (which he missed) may have affected his mindset for the rest of the season.
McManus had another opportunity to give the Broncos a much-needed win versus the Baltimore Ravens but missed a 63-yard kick, which, granted, was a long shot, but he's been quite vocal and public in pounding the table for his coaches to trust him from such distances. 60-plus-yard kicks are extremely difficult, but exceptional players show up when the lights shine in key moments.
Last season, McManus made 8-of-13 kicks from 50-plus yards and earned a field-goal rating of 64.7 from Pro Football Focus. His underwhelming performance could encourage the Broncos to add real kicker competition to the roster.
The Broncos would be wise to look to former Bronco Matt Prater from the Arizona Cardinals. Prater has a cannon for a leg, and kicking again at altitude again would be the cherry on top. The seven-year veteran has a PFF field goal rating of 74.0 and made 5-of-6 50-plus yard attempts, and most Broncos fans need no reminder of how clutch he can be when the chips are down.
Although his tenure with the Broncos ended due to a self-inflicted wound, adding Prater would add much-needed firepower. Seeing the Broncos boost their ability to add points on the scoreboard at extended range would be refreshing.
Prater is coming off a two-year contract with the Cardinals worth $6.5 million. Meanwhile, McManus is set to earn a $3.65M base salary in 2023.
If the Broncos were to release McManus before June 1, it would free up $2.58M with $2.46M in a dead-cap charge. Designating him a post-June 1 cut would shave the dead money to $1.23M with $3.5M in created cap space.
The Broncos' punting game also demands attention. In his rookie season, Corliss Waitman was the model of unpredictable performance, receiving a PFF grade of 62.9. He has talent, and with proper coaching, the team could see improvements in his range and accuracy.
New assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, who also presides over the special teams along with coordinator Ben Kotwica, will leverage his 32 years of NFL experience to assess whether Waitman’s upside warrants more time to marinate.
Free agent punter Bradley Pinion would fit the bill if the Broncos determine they should hunt for another option. Pinion performed at a higher level than Waitman during his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons.
The eighth-year veteran earned a PFF grade of 75.7 last season. It would serve the Broncos well to add a veteran like Pinion with more predictability in the punt game.
Pursuing matchups that give his team an edge is a hallmark of coach Payton’s repertoire. Creating competition at kicker and punter would provide the Broncos with the highest probability of success.
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