Broncos' 12-Point Offseason Checklist In Wake Of 0-4 Start
About a month ago, I put together a 12-point Denver Broncos offseason checklist for when the 2020 NFL calendar year begins.
I have promised to update this checklist after every four games — and a few things have changed, while others have remained the same.
Keep in mind that these updates are solely based on what we know after four games — not what could happen in the coming weeks, whether it's the Broncos trading a player away, somebody claiming a starting job from a veteran or a current player improving to the point that he demands an extension from the Broncos.
As I wrote the last time, updating this checklist gives fans an idea about how plans may change as the team knows more about where it stands.
Let's go over what's new on the checklist — and what isn't.
1. Extend C Connor McGovern.
Much has changed regarding the players who have risen to the top of the list to bring back. McGovern hasn't been elite, by any means, but he's been effective for the most part.
He hasn't had issues with his snaps (fingers crossed that doesn't become an issue this season) and he's been good in run blocking. His pass blocking could improve, but there's hope he can get better at that.
McGovern shouldn't cost a lot of money to retain. Extending him means he and Dalton Risner become two of the anchors for the offensive line for at least a couple more seasons.
2. Consider extending FB Andy Janovich.
I'm not one who thinks that fullbacks are a priority to extend. However, the Jaguars game, which saw Janovich in his first regular-season action, showed how valuable he can be to Rick Scangarello's offense.
Janovich isn't a player you want to overpay, but get him at a reasonable price on a three-year deal and you have somebody who can help with the run game through mostly his blocking, but can handle short-yardage duties if need be.
Though it's just one game, it's a sign that Janovich does play an important role. He should at least warrant consideration for an extension.
3. Decide whether to extend DL Shelby Harris, DL Adam Gotsis and S Justin Simmons.
Shelby Harris hasn't broken out like fans have hoped, and much of that goes back to him playing nose tackle full time, which doesn't play to his strengths. If the Broncos aren't going to utilize him as a 3-tech who can play 1-tech on passing downs, there's no point to keeping him.
The Broncos could change things by playing Harris where he does his best work, but the staff seems to prefer using Adam Gotsis and Derek Wolfe there. So that brings us to Gotsis — if Harris doesn't stay, Gotsis might, but only at the right price. It needs to be a deal that recognizes that, while he's a good run defender, he is average at best as a pass rusher. That means he isn't going to get a high-tier contract.
Justin Simmons has had his moments, but not enough of them to warrant an extension at this point. Things could change during the course of the season, so I wouldn't rule him out yet. But if he can't find consistency, the Broncos need to move on.
4. Let all other free agents depart.
I understand that there may be a player or two who wants to stay in Denver. But there's no time for sentimentality -- the Broncos can't focus on keeping players who are finishing their second NFL contracts and need to let them seek fortunes elsewhere.
Be prepared to say goodbye to Chris Harris, Emmanuel Sanders and Derek Wolfe. Thank them for what they've done for the Broncos, but the time has come to get younger.
And there are some younger players who aren't coming back. Will Parks was bad when he started in place of Kareem Jackson against the Jaguars. Devontae Booker barely sees the field. Theo Riddick may come off IR soon, but he's not a priority to extend. And Corey Nelson is simply here for the year and no more than that.
5. Don't tender any restricted free agents, but bring a couple back on one-year deals.
Nothing has changed here — QB Brandon Allen, ILB Joseph Jones, DL Mike Purcell and OT Elijah Wilkinson will all be restricted free agents, but the right-of-first-refusal tender may be more than $2 million, which is too much for any of these players.
But you can always bring them back on one-year, low-cost deals that have little, if any, guaranteed money. In other words, the type of deals in which you can cut the player after the preseason with little or no cap penalty.
Each player does bring something to the table, though, which is why you don't want to rule them out entirely. You just don't want to overpay.
6. Tender all exclusive rights free agents.
On the other hand, exclusive rights free agents are cheap, their salaries aren't guaranteed and they come with no risk (you can cut them any time you want and not own them money) and much potential for rewards.
One of those players is De'Vante Bausby, who has shown promise at cornerback this season. Diontae Spencer has looked solid as a return man, too.
Trey Marshall and Tim Patrick are the other ERFAs. Marshall hasn't stood out and Patrick is injured, but because there's no risk to tendering them, it's okay to do so.
7. Decline the team option for OG Ronald Leary.
Nothing has changed here. Though Ronald Leary was solid against the Jaguars, he's nowhere near at the level he was in his first season with the Broncos.
Declining the team option for 2020 frees $8.5M in cap space with just $875,000 in dead money. Even though the Broncos could have $60M or more in cap space before releasing veteran players, that doesn't mean Leary is safe.
Best to decline the option and allow Leary to seek his fortunes elsewhere.
8. Cut TE Jeff Heuerman.
Again, the Broncos don't need to cut Jeff Heuerman because of cap trouble. But it doesn't make sense to keep him after the season.
The Broncos are better off seeing if Austin Fort can come back from his injury, or even Jake Butt, because both would be on much cheaper salaries than the $4M Heuerman would receive in 2020.
Perhaps the Broncos are lucky enough to find a trading partner before the 2020 NFL calendar year begins. But I'm not counting on that. So be prepared to cut him.
9. "Wait and see" on QB Joe Flacco's status.
We know the Broncos restructured Joe Flacco's contract. However, that doesn't mean the Broncos are locked into him for 2020 — though it doesn't mean the Broncos absolutely will move on, either.
On one hand, it would be good to see what the Broncos have in Drew Lock later this season. On the other hand, we don't know yet if Lock will prove to be the QB the Broncos can build around.
Therefore, until we get our questions about Drew Lock answered, don't focus too much on what to do with Flacco. But do keep in mind that the Broncos will have lots of cap space even with Flacco on the roster — and that they can still go the post-June 1 route to move on from him.
After all, Flacco has not one penny of his 2020 base salary guaranteed -- which means the Broncos still hold the cards regarding his fate.
10. Prioritize ILB and CB in free agency, but don't go overboard.
I've given a preliminary look at the potential free agents for 2020 and there are some off-ball linebackers and cornerbacks who are worth considering — provided they aren't extended by their current teams, of course.
However, the Broncos don't want to trip over themselves to get players, even with a lot of cap space. They need to make sure the player fits the defensive scheme, comes at a reasonable price and, most of all, wants to play for the Broncos more than anything else.
There are always players who are willing to join teams who are coming off down seasons because they like coaches, want to play with certain players or simply respect the organization's tradition — and want to raise it back up. Focus on those players and you'll get better value.
11. Look for value at LT, WR and DL among street free agents and in the second wave of free agency.
On the other hand, offensive tackle is a weak overall group and the best players are likely gettting extensions or the franchise tag. So it's not a good year to be exploring that market.
I can understand the appeal of impact defensive linemen, but prices are likely to get too high, so the Broncos should stay out of bidding wars. Ditto for wide receiver, a position at which the top names often get big contracts.
Looking at street free agents is a good place to find value. Players cut by other teams are more likely to take deals for fewer years at a lower cost.
If that doesn't work as expected, let the market settle down, then find out who makes sense in the second wave of free agency. Again, focus on shorter contracts at lower salaries. And keep in mind such players are likely to be a bridge to a player who is drafted and developed to be a future starter.
12. Decline the fifth-year option for LT Garett Bolles.
It's good to see Bolles bounce back from a terrible Week 2 showing against Chicago. His performance against the Jaguars this past Sunday was his best yet.
However, he remains unproven as a long-term solution, so nothing has changed with my plan to decline the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.
Unless Bolles really takes leaps and bounds in his play this season, I doubt this changes. That doesn't mean he can't be part of the long term — it simply means that, if he keeps improving this year, you need to see that improvement continue in 2020.
Then, and only then, can you think about a possible extension.
Follow Bob on Twitter @BobMorrisSports and @MileHighHuddle.
