Broncos news megathread

[ROYC75]

Discussion: All things Broncos.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by TEX

7 teams now get in, rather than 6, which really helps fringe teams.

Isn’t that something that Carl and the Chiefs org fought for so many years?

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

They cant reap the benefit of a cheap rookie contract...have a lot of pending FAs.

Also the draw of playing in the same division as Mahomes/Reid cant be appealing to anyone other than paycheck collectors.

They will have to over-pay any top FA to come there...that's why the further they drop in the draft, the better. It's their only outlet for improvement...

Yes, FA players will run from the AFCW teams not based in KC.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

I think DEN will probably make the playoffs, but I also think they're probably a one-and-done team; it's just too early, as several have said already.

One of the things that was interesting about last night was that Payton trusted Nix enough to throw deep from his own EZ. And several other times he allowed Nix to test the CLE secondary in spots like 3rd and long, when most HCs would probably have had him either handoff on a draw or throw some kind of screen. Something safe. I think that's telling about where Nix really is in his development. And it's also interesting that Nix has thrown a 14/4 TD-INT ratio over his last 8 games.

Nix has improved and they are more confident with him and the playbook. Nix is a different guy from the first 4 games. Lots to improve upon, but they don’t have a tight leash or restricted playbook with him right now and that’s positive about his maturation.

[RunKC]

This is exactly how I felt about Nix watching him play last night. Had a few good throws but also had a lot of terrible ones. That pass was sick no doubt. Credit to him.

Sean has been scheming him guys open but he can’t scheme Bo’s average-at-best arm. His 2nd INT was a laughable arm punt that hung up in the air forever and made his receiver completely stop bc he couldn’t get enough on it.

He had that same throw the first half that should have been picked but the Browns DB somehow dropped it.

“If you ask me, was I impressed by that throw and that play? 1000%, yes. Was I impressed by the game? No, I wasn’t.”@getnickwright reacts to Bo Nix’s 93-yard throw in win vs. Browns pic.twitter.com/DknDsPPct3

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) December 3, 2024

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Nix has improved and they are more confident with him and the playbook. Nix is a different guy from the first 4 games. Lots to improve upon, but they don’t have a tight leash or restricted playbook with him right now and that’s positive about his maturation.

Yeah, pretty much what I noticed. There were some plays where I thought they'd call it conservative, but they went deep instead, and you know that was Sean's idea, which means he trusts Nix to make a good decision/throw in a big moment. Obviously, Nix still has a long way to go, and I'm still not sure I see a real top-tier QB/franchise QB, but he is trending in the right direction, and Payton's level of trust is an obvious telltale sign of that.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Nix has improved and they are more confident with him and the playbook. Nix is a different guy from the first 4 games. Lots to improve upon, but they don’t have a tight leash or restricted playbook with him right now and that’s positive about his maturation.

Let's see how he fares when he doesn't have the rookie label attached to his every move...the media will give him a blind eye pass this year and praise his positives. The current criteria is contingent on that microcosm....next year he gets compared to NFL QBs...Daniels wont be his sole measuring stick anymore.

The cover of rookie mistakes...goes away.

Donks are just happy he looks like he can be a starter...that's what this season was about. That's a pretty significant rite of passage. Can he be better than an average one is the next hurdle....the Trevor Lawrence, Tua, Mayfield, Herbert test. Will he have a Derrick Carr/Jay Cutler/Andy Dalton career arc?

Does Donko brass stick with a QB capable of an occasional WC birth? That what I mean when I say QB purgatory...just good enough to give his team an eyelash of a chance on a yearly basis.

[manchambo]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

According to Over the Cap, Denver will have about $57 million in cap space next year, but that's with only 37 players under contract on the active roster.

As far as Denver not being able to reap the benefits of a rookie contract like other teams do, I think he's referring to the fact that Denver is still paying Wilson this year and next ($53 mil. this year and $32 mil. next), so in essence, instead of getting to enjoy the 3, 4, & 5 millions dollar salary for a rookie QB the next 3 years, you're still paying a starting QB $56 mil. this year and $36 mil. next year. Year 3 will be your time to strike, but then you'll be talking about an extension/renegotiation after year 3 and a BIG salary bump (assuming you all decide to keep Nix long term).

Again, list the important free agents. There really aren't many.

Bolles tops the list. And it's kind of hilarious for this forum to act like he's a huge issue. But the reality is he's a better than solid LT with a few years left in the tank, so they ought to hold on to him.

And they should extend Bonitto. They don't have to, but they really should.

So they need to commit 30-40 million to those two, though I expect they can do it in a way so some of the hit will come in 26, when the Wilson dead money is finally gone.

Now name the next important free agent.

I can agree that the Broncos won't be able to fully realize the benefit of Bo's rookie deal due to dead money, but it decreases by 20 mil next year.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by manchambo

I can agree that the Broncos won't be able to fully realize the benefit of Bo's rookie deal due to dead money, but it decreases by 20 mil next year.

Well, after you extend those two...where do plan to make up all the players that walk? That's why I'm happy watching your draft position fall..

[manchambo]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Well, after you extend those two...where do plan to make up all the players that walk?

Why won't you tell me who they are? I've asked nicely several times.

And do you really think Bolles and Bonitto are going to get 60 million?

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by manchambo

Why won't you tell me who they are? I've asked nicely several times.

And do you really think Bolles and Bonitto are going to get 60 million?

They will get money...depends on the market. Jeudy's public display of revenge wanst exactly a ringing endorsement for potential FA WRs.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by manchambo

Again, list the important free agents. There really aren't many.

Bolles tops the list. And it's kind of hilarious for this forum to act like he's a huge issue. But the reality is he's a better than solid LT with a few years left in the tank, so they ought to hold on to him.

And they should extend Bonitto. They don't have to, but they really should.

So they need to commit 30-40 million to those two, though I expect they can do it in a way so some of the hit will come in 26, when the Wilson dead money is finally gone.

Now name the next important free agent.

I can agree that the Broncos won't be able to fully realize the benefit of Bo's rookie deal due to dead money, but it decreases by 20 mil next year.

You're gonna need to fill out the roster, though, regardless of what Denver decides to do with their own FA's. And that will cost a little money. Bolles isn't a great LT, but he's adequate and like you say, probably your best option out there, so pencil in $20 mil. per year minimum for him. Bonitto is a non-issue at this point.

I wasn't the one originally discussing Denver's pending FA's, but if you want me to be brutally honest, you're the third best team in the AFC West now and will be for a while.

So while you may not need to retain a lot of your own FA's, you're gonna need to add a couple significant pieces (via free agency) to even be able to move into the second spot.

So even though you're looking improved and the team is getting better, without significant expenditures you're going to be looking at BEST case scenario Wild Card road games for a while, assuming you can even make the playoffs.

Just the reality of life in the AFC West with Reid/Mahomes and Harbaugh/Herbert here indefinitely.

[manchambo]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

They will get money...depends on the market. Jeudy's public display of revenge wanst exactly a ringing endorsement for potential FA WRs.

Why do you keep ducking such a simple question? Who are the players Denver will want to resign but not be able to?

Signing free agent WRs who are not currently on the team has absolutely nothing with your contention--so I don't think we need to deal with the insanity of your second sentence.

[manchambo]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

You're gonna need to fill out the roster, though, regardless of what Denver decides to do with their own FA's. And that will cost a little money. Bolles isn't a great LT, but he's adequate and like you say, probably your best option out there, so pencil in $20 mil. per year minimum for him. Bonitto is a non-issue at this point.

I wasn't the one originally discussing Denver's pending FA's, but if you want me to be brutally honest, you're the third best team in the AFC West now and will be for a while.

So while you may not need to retain a lot of your own FA's, you're gonna need to add a couple significant pieces (via free agency) to even be able to move into the second spot.

So even though you're looking improved and the team is getting better, without significant expenditures you're going to be looking at BEST case scenario Wild Card road games for a while, assuming you can even make the playoffs.

Just the reality of life in the AFC West with Reid/Mahomes and Harbaugh/Herbert here indefinitely.

I have to back up and note the irony of this board claiming Denver must commit 20 million dollars to Bolles. I doubt it will be that much, but the left tackle market can get crazy.

As for the rest, I don't see why anyone would advocate Denver signing big name free agents. They need to draft well at receiver positions in the next two years to build a team that has talent around Nix as he continues to develop. Maybe you sign a veteran TE or WR here or there if something solid becomes available. But this is and should be a multi year plan.

Getting to the playoffs in the first year of the plan would just be gravy.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

They will get money...depends on the market. Jeudy's public display of revenge wanst exactly a ringing endorsement for potential FA WRs.

I think you make more out of Jeudy than there really is. He was pretty much a bust and inconsistent. They traded him. It happens. The team was a mess while he was there and fans booed him. He had the game of his life last night against a backup.

I don’t see that changing FA minds, especially when they see what Sutton and the rest are doing right now. WRs are attracted to pass friendly offenses and coaches with a good QB. And they follow the dollar… not the actions of a disgruntled former player of that team.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by manchambo

I have to back up and note the irony of this board claiming Denver must commit 20 million dollars to Bolles. I doubt it will be that much, but the left tackle market can get crazy.

As for the rest, I don't see why anyone would advocate Denver signing big name free agents. They need to draft well at receiver positions in the next two years to build a team that has talent around Nix as he continues to develop. Maybe you sign a veteran TE or WR here or there if something solid becomes available. But this is and should be a multi year plan.

Getting to the playoffs in the first year of the plan would just be gravy.

Umm, the Chiefs just gave $20 mil. per to Jawaan Taylor a year and a half ago, so if you think you're gonna get Bolles for less that that, well, good luck with that. I was being nice at my figure. He will likely cost more than that to re-sign. And, again, acknowledging he's merely middle of the road, you're gonna have to commit to him or face dealing with what the Chiefs have been dealing with this year. You want your rookie/2nd year QB worrying about his blindside constantly (due to rookie LT or lower tier FA tackle) while trying to learn on the job and go through his progressions? Because that's what Mahomes is dealing with right now. Difference is he's a 7 year veteran dealing with it. And it's still a struggle.

I get what you're saying about the draft and all, but you're not gonna 'hit' on all those players, so there's gonna have to be some money spent if your team wants to rise up in the AFC West (or at least have the chance to), but I mean if you all are content with being the 3rd best team in the division moving forward, by all means, don't let me get in the way of that . . . . .