A lot of the focus during the offseason so far for the Denver Broncos has been on what they will do at the quarterback position. The team has been mentioned as a darkhorse to land one of the top tier quarterbacks that are available this offseason, with Deshaun Watson most likely sitting atop that list. However, they will look to improve other areas of their roster, and Patrick Peterson could be a defensive free agency target.
While the focus has been on the quarterback position, the Broncos have some other big holes to fill on the roster, namely in the defensive backfield. The team is looking at a complete overhaul at the cornerback and safety spots this offseason.
A.J. Bouye has already been released and star safety Justin Simmons has been franchise tagged again. As things currently stand on their roster, the Broncos don’t have a single player that started at least 10 games last season that aren’t returning from injury.
When you play in the AFC West, having some pass defense is imperative. You are playing against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, the up and coming Los Angeles Chargers with Justin Herbert, and the improving offensive arsenal of the Las Vegas Raiders and Derek Carr.
So, adding some defensive backs is imperative for Denver this offseason, and Spotrac expects them to do so. Spotrac predicts that the Broncos will land long-time Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson in free agency.
Spotrac projects that Peterson and the Broncos will settle on a two-year deal worth $25 million. At 31 years of age, Peterson has proven to still be a productive player. He could be looking to latch on with a team closer to contending for a Super Bowl, but even if that is the case, Spotrac believes Peterson should land at least $12 million annually.
To keep him away from contending teams, the Broncos might have to offer a little more money. From their perspective, it would be well worth it. They need an established veteran to help lead a group that currently doesn’t have many answers.
Peterson would also be a great mentor if the team decides to draft a cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft. This seems like a perfect match.
