Category: Broncos Buzz

Broncos will have plenty of salary cap space in 2020

Broncos general manager John Elway will have plenty of salary cap space to use during the 2020 NFL offseason.

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is going to have a busy offseason. In addition to having seven picks in the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL draft, Elway will also have plenty of salary cap space available during NFL free agency.

Denver did not use $14.78 million of its 2019 salary cap space, according to NFL Players Association records accessed Thursday evening. That means the Broncos will be able to roll over that unused 2019 cap into their 2020 total.

The NFL has estimated that it’s 2020 salary cap total will be between $196.8-$201.2 million. Add in Denver’s rollover cap space and the Broncos will have a 2020 cap of between $211.58-$215.98 million.

Denver currently has $150,873,545 worth of contracts counting against its 2020 cap, according to OverTheCap.com. Subtract that the team’s projected cap of $211.58 million and the Broncos have $60,706,455 in salary cap space. Elway could create even more space by cutting a few veterans.

Denver could save $10.05 million by cutting quarterback Joe Flacco and $8.5 million by parting ways with guard Ron Leary. Making those two moves would bring the team’s salary cap space to $79,256,455. It’s safe to say Elway could make some big splashes with nearly $80 million.

The 2020 league year — and free agency — will begin on March 18.

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WATCH: Top five Broncos moments from the past decade

What were the Broncos’ highlights from the 2010s?

In celebration of the start of the 2020 decade, the Denver Broncos’ official media team put together a video looking back on the franchise’s top five moments from the last decade. Check it out:

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To view Broncos Wire’s list of the team’s top 2010s moments, click here.

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Former Broncos safeties Steve Atwater, John Lynch named Hall of Fame finalists

Former Broncos safeties John Lynch and Steve Atwater have been named modern-era finalists for the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Former Denver Broncos safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch have been named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the league announced Thursday. This marks the third time Atwater has been a finalist and the seventh time Lynch has been a finalist.

Atwater and Lynch are among 15 modern-era finalists.

The Broncos also have two Centennial Slate finalists this year — former linebacker Randy Gradishar (senior candidate) and former coach Dan Reeves (coaching candidate). The Hall of Fame will have an expanded class of 20 members this year to celebrate 100 years of the NFL.

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee will meet on the eve of Super Bowl LIV to select five modern-era players for the 2020 class. The 15 Centennial Slate enshrinees will be selected in early January.

The 2020 class will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio in August (modern-era coaches, players and contributors) and September (seniors).

Last year, former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and late owner Pat Bowlen were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Joe Ellis concerned about no-shows at Broncos’ final three home games

More than 38,000 fans bought tickets and then did not attend the Broncos’ final three home games of the season, which is an alarming sign.

The Broncos had 38,095 fans purchase tickets and then not show up to their final three home games of the 2019 season, with a large chunk of that total coming against the Chargers (19,094 no shows).

Given Denver’s long history of sellouts and energetic fan support, such a large number of no-shows is concerning to team president/CEO Joe Ellis.

“On the no shows, I am concerned,” Ellis said during his end-of-season press conference Monday. “People start speaking with their feet, it gets my attention. I think it gets everybody’s attention around here, as it should. When someone doesn’t show up, that means the ticket had no value to them. That’s concerning.”

While Ellis is concerned, he also knows the solution for the problem.

“When you have that many no shows, people are saying something,” he said. “Now, I think generally what they’re saying is one word: win.”

The Broncos have missed the playoffs four years in a row and fans seemingly wanted to make a statement to the front office. The message has been heard.

“They’re sick and tired of losing seasons and I’m sick and tired of them being sick and tired because I understand where they’re coming from,” Ellis said. “It’s something we just have to turn around . . . . We have to win games.”

Denver won four of their last five games of the season with rookie quarterback Drew Lock starting so that should give fans more optimism about the 2020 season and beyond.

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The Internet loves this video of Drew Lock rapping to a Young Jeezy song on the sideline

A video of Broncos QB Drew Lock rapping along to a Young Jeezy song drew more than 15 million views on social media.

During the third quarter of the Broncos’ game against the Raiders in Week 17, quarterback Drew Lock was filmed on the sideline rapping along to Young Jeezy’s song ‘Put On.’ The moment quickly went viral after somebody put the words to the song over the video — Twitter loved it.

His teammates loved it, too:

Even safety Tyrann Mathieu — who plays for the Chiefs, one of Denver’s rivals — gave the video some love on Twitter.

After the video went viral, somebody edited Lock’s Wikipedia page to say the quarterback is also an “amateur rap artist” who “spit bars from Young Jeezy’s song ‘Put On’ in his game against the Oakland Raiders.”

Young Jeezy himself clearly appreciated the video and re-shared it on his official Instagram page.

After the game, Lock didn’t even remember what song he was rapping along to but he did quip that he was “spittin’ though.” Juding from the responses on Twitter, most fans seem to agree with that assesment.

The video has over 13 million views on Twitter and more than 1 million views on Instagram. It’s safe to say Lock’s rapping is a hit.

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Drew Lock tied John Elway for most wins by a rookie Broncos QB in 2019

Drew Lock and John Elway are the only rookie quarterbacks who have won four games in Broncos history.

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock won four games as a starter in 2019, tying the team’s franchise record for the most wins by a rookie quarterback. Broncos general manager John Elway also won four games during his rookie season.

What’s most impressive about that stat is how short it took Lock to secure those wins. In 1983, Elway needed 10 games to reach four wins. In 2019, Lock won four of the five contests he played in.

Elway played in an era that was not as pass-friendly as the modern era so it’s not really fair to compare his numbers to Lock’s. But we’ll do it anyway.

Elway completed 47.5 percent of his passes for 1,663 yards with 7 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. Lock completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,020 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions, in half as many games as Elway played.

Again, it’s not really fair to compare ears, but there’s no question that Lock’s career is off to a good start. Lock has the potential to break a lot of Elway’s records if he stays healthy and spend his entire career in Denver.

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Drew Lock says Peyton Manning led him through first five NFL starts

NFL legend Peyton Manning has been helping Broncos quarterback Drew Lock adjust to playing in the league.

Broncos quarterback Drew Lock started Denver’s final five games of the 2019 season and went 4-1, throwing seven touchdown passes against three interceptions. Lock said Monday that he was led by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, who gave him advice over the phone.

Lock plans to continue learning from Manning and Broncos general manager John Elway during the 2020 offseason.

“[I will] talk to John Elway and Peyton Manning,” Lock said. “One’s in our building and one’s been talking to me and leading me through these five games, and I appreciate him doing that for me.”

Lock said Manning was the biggest help before the Texans game — he gave the rookie advance about how to handle playing in a tough road environment. Lock went on to throw three touchdown passes in a 38-24 win.

“It’s stuff that you’ve heard as a quarterback before but to be able to hear it from a different voice with a different twist, it’s nice to have that guy in your corner who can maybe talk you through some scenarios that might pop up in that game,” Lock said. “I reached out to him hoping that we could talk, and he was really quick about responding and we got on the phone.”

Broncos fans must be pleased to know that even four years after his retirement, Manning is still helping the team win games.

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Broncos move up two spots in final NFL power rankings of 2019

The Broncos ended the 2019 NFL season on a high note.

After defeating the Oakland Raiders 16-15 in Week 17, the Denver Broncos moved up two spots in Nate Davis’ final 2019 NFL power rankings for USA TODAY Sports. Denver ends the season ranked No. 20 out of 32 teams.

Here is Davis’ commentary with the Broncos’ ranking:

They’re 27-37 with nary a playoff berth since Peyton Manning rode into sunset. Can Vic Fangio and Drew Lock really change that trend?

Denver has failed to reach the playoffs since Manning retired in 2016 but the arrival of Lock has inspired hope about the team’s future. Lock went 4-1 as a starter in the team’s final five games of the season.

The Broncos end the year ranked No. 2 in the AFC West, behind the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 4) and above the Oakland Raiders (No. 22) and Los Angeles Chargers (No. 26). The Baltimore Ravens are ranked No. 1 and the Carolina Panthers are ranked No. 32. To view the complete end-of-season NFL power rankings, click here.

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Broncos might play Falcons in London in 2020

Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis wants his team to play the Falcons in London during the 2020 NFL season.

If Denver Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis has his way, the team will face the Atlanta Falcons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England during the 2020 NFL season.

The Falcons are scheduled to have a “home” international game and Denver is scheduled to play an away game against Atlanta next season. Ellis, who has been campaigning for an international game for years, wants that game to be played in England.

“I haven’t heard anything from the league other than I’ve pestered and begged them,” Ellis said Monday. “I think it’d be really good for us to go there. I put in a personal request to [Falcons owner] Arthur Blank and he came up to me in the last league meeting and was supportive.”

The Broncos last played in London in 2010 against the San Francisco 49ers. Denver lost that game 24-16 but it was good exposure for the team.

“The league has to do what’s best for them in terms of their international strategy,” Ellis said, “but I think it would be good for the franchise, good for the organization . . . . I’m basically begging to get it because I think it’d be very good for us to play there.”

Last year, the NFL announced its international games for the 2019 season in late January. The league will likely announce its 2020 international games at a similar time this year, so Ellis should have an answer in the coming weeks.

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