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We’re continuing the long march towards free agency by surveying players who could be available from every team in the NFL, with a slant towards potential targets for the New Orleans Saints. The latest entry in this series focuses on the Denver Broncos, who have even more players on track to hit the market (30) than the Saints themselves (27), though many of those players are under consideration for club options or exclusive-rights free agent tenders. Here’s the total list, with four of our picks for names the Saints should circle below;
- CB Chris Harris
- DE Derek Wolfe
- DT Shelby Harris
- RB Theo Riddick
- LS Casey Kreiter
- DE Adam Gotsis
- CB Cyrus Jones
- OLB Jeremiah Attaochu
- ILB Corey Nelson
- FS Justin Simmons
- RB Devontae Booker
- C Connor McGovern
- S Dymonte Thomas
- S Will Parks
- OLB Von Miller (Club Option)
- G Ron Leary (Club Option)
- ILB Todd Davis (Club Option)
- K Brandon McManus (Club Option)
- CB Davontae Harris (ERFA)
- S Trey Marshall (ERFA)
- WR Diontae Spencer (ERFA)
- T Jake Rodgers (ERFA)
- CB DeVante Bausby (RFA)
- RT Elijah Wilkinson (RFA)
- OLB Joe Jones (RFA)
- DE Mike Purcell (RFA)
- QB Brandon Allen (RFA)
- WR Tim Patrick (RFA)
- OLB Dadi Nicolas (RFA)
- DT Joel Heath (RFA)
The name to watch here is Ron Leary, who has started games at both left and right guard for the Broncos since signing with them back in 2018. Before that, he was a versatile backup for the Dallas Cowboys, and was a popular pick to land with the Saints in free agency; instead, they picked up Andrus Peat’s fifth-year option, and now he’s headed for the open market. The Broncos have a few weeks to decide whether to pick up Leary’s club option for the 2020 season (worth $9.3 million against the salary cap, but only $875,000 of which is guaranteed). If they choose to not keep him around, the Saints would be a logical fit should Peat also not return.
Denver has a similar decision to make on inside linebacker Todd Davis, who was once stashed on the Saints practice squad before he was poached by the Broncos. Davis finished the 2019 season ranked third in defensive snaps played for the Broncos (900) but he’s due $6 million next season, with the same March 18 deadline as the other Broncos players with club options written into their contracts. If he is allowed to hit the open market, it would be a great opportunity for the Saints to correct a past mistake by adding a durable linebacker who can hold things down while Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso work their way back from season-ending injuries.
One other player we’ll highlight isn’t one for the Saints to consider signing, but whose contract situation will mean big ramifications for Saints free safety Marcus Williams. Justin Simmons is his counterpart for the Broncos, and compares well statistically: through four years, Simmons has recorded 11 interceptions (28 total passes defensed) with 4.9 combined tackles per game (3.6 solo). Pro Football Reference has also credited him with 17 missed tackles the last two years. That matches up closely against Williams, who has bagged 10 interceptions (23 total passes defensed) through his first three years, along with 4.0 combined tackles per game (3.2 solo) and 13 missed tackles over the last two seasons. Simmons is likely to rest the market for starting free safeties, and Williams will be a big beneficiary of that. The Saints would be wise to extend him sooner rather than later, when his asking price rises.
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