Given that NFL free agency is set to kick off shortly, one can surmise that newly-minted Denver Broncos’ general manager George Paton is thinking intently about how to improve the roster. The Broncos finished the 2020 campaign with a paltry 5-11 record and would certainly like to right the ship for the coming autumn.
Although the Broncos plan to add reinforcements via the NFL Draft, they may also want to examine the free agency market. Denver is projected to have a little over $30 million at their disposal as far as cap space is concerned.
Undoubtedly, the Mile High City’s two biggest holes are at the quarterback and cornerback positions. Moreover, because the team happens to be in the same division as QB’s like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, it sheds light on why relying on the draft alone is not practical.
On that note, it is fair to conjecture that the orange and blue will use a good bit of the $30 plus million to bolster their team’s chances. The following are a couple pieces the Broncos should seriously consider pursuing this offseason.
Desmond King, Cornerback
As of now, one could easily make the argument that cornerback is the Broncos’ biggest weakness. When the team released A.J. Bouye last month, it left a major dent in terms of their cornerback corps.
Granted, Bryce Callahan and Michael Ojemudia remain in the mix, but the Broncos could still use a boost in this department. Possessing a player who can keep top receivers in check is imperative for the AFC West squad.
That being said, one player that would help shore up Denver’s defense is cornerback Desmond King. The 26-year-old represented both the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans this past campaign.
Albeit King has regressed to some degree since his All-Pro season in 2018, his physicality and versatility are core strengths of his. King is effective in the slot and on the boundary, accompanied by a nose for the football. He posted two sacks in 2020 to go along with two tackles for loss.
Additionally, King is a piece who could be of aid in the return game. He has had a couple gigantic punt returns in his career, and thus has the potential to bring that asset to Denver as well.
Notwithstanding the contrary, Denver’s greater need is at the secondary. King would definitely fill that role nicely for the three-time world champs.
Mitchell Trubisky, Quarterback
Drew Lock appears to by no means be a lock to be the team’s starting QB in 2021. Simply put, he did not have the most impressive campaign in 2020.
Over the span of 13 starts, Lock registered 16 touchdowns, but also threw 15 interceptions in the process. That is not exactly the greatest ratio. Furthermore, Lock only completed 57.3 percent of his passes, nearly seven percent less than the mark he posted as a rookie.
As a result, the orange and blue could either use a backup QB or someone who could potentially take over Lock’s duties. One quarterback the Broncos should consider adding in free agency is Mitchell Trubisky.
Granted, Trubisky may not be everyone’s first choice here, but it is worth noting the four-year player has two playoff appearances under his belt. The same cannot be said about Lock.
With regard to Trubisky, he also happened to post slightly better numbers than Lock in 2020. The former completed 67.0 percent of his passes while tossing 16 touchdowns. He only had eight interceptions, yet he did play in fewer games than Lock.
If the team took a chance on Trubisky, he and head coach Vic Fangio would be reunited as well. Fangio was part of Chicago’s coaching staff during Trubisky’s first two seasons in the NFL, and obviously has some familiarity with the QB’s game.
Certainly, the Broncos’ faithful would like to see Lock have a better year this time around. Nevertheless, it is crucial for the team to have a backup plan in case Lock does not show signs of improvement.
