Tag: Broncos Free Agency

Broncos sign CB Levi Wallace to 1-year contract

The Broncos are signing Levi Wallace to a one-year contract, giving the team veteran depth at cornerback.

Story update: The Broncos have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Levi Wallace, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. See our original post below. 

The Denver Broncos are expected to sign cornerback Levi Wallace to a one-year contract, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Wallace (6-0, 179 pounds) won two national championships at Alabama before entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Buffalo Bills in 2018. He spent four years in Buffalo, starting 52 games, before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022.

Wallace, 28, started 18 games for the Steelers over the last two years, breaking up 24 passes and recording six interceptions. He has totaled 54 pass breakups and 12 interceptions in 83 career games (70 starts).

Wallace gives the Broncos veteran insurance at cornerback in case Riley Moss doesn’t step up as a reliable starter across from Pat Surtain in 2024.

The Wallace signing also makes cornerback a less pressing need for Denver ahead of the draft this week. While it’s still possible, the Broncos now seem less likely to draft a cornerback at No. 12 overall.

Quinyon Mitchell, Terrion Arnold, Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Nate Wiggins are among the top cornerbacks in this year’s class. The Broncos hold eight picks going into Thursday’s draft. We are tracking all of Denver’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos sign defensive lineman Angelo Blackson to 1-year deal

The Broncos have shored up their defensive line depth by signing veteran Angelo Blackson.

The Denver Broncos are signing veteran defensive lineman Angelo Blackson to a one-year contract, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. The team confirmed the signing on Monday afternoon.

Blackson (6-4, 318 pounds) entered the league as a fourth-round pick out of Auburn with the Tennessee Titans in 2015. He’s been a journeyman defensive lineman since then, spending time with seven teams over the last nine seasons.

Blackson, 31, spent one season playing for current Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph when they overlapped with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. Blackson dressed for all 16 games that year, earning nine starts. He totaled 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks that season.

Blackson has appeared in 128 games in his career with 42 starts. He has 179 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, four fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and one interception on his resume.

After signing Blackson, Denver has shored up the defensive line depth chart ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. The Broncos now have a rotation that will include Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Blackson, Matt Henningsen and Elijah Garcia.

We are tracking all of Denver’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos sign center Sam Mustipher to 1-year contract

After losing Lloyd Cushenberry, the Broncos are bringing in Sam Mustipher. He has 42 career starts on his resume.

The Denver Broncos may have just found their Lloyd Cushenberry replacement.

The Broncos are signing veteran center Sam Mustipher to a one-year deal, according to a report from the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel. The team officially announced the signing shortly after Gabriel’s report.

Sam Mustipher is the brother of defensive lineman P.J. Mustipher, who spent part of last season on Denver’s practice squad before leavning to join the New Orleans Saints. P.J. now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mustipher (6-2, 332 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame with the Chicago Bears in 2019. After spending his rookie season on Chicago’s practice squad, Mustipher started seven games in 2020 followed by 17 starts in 2021 and 16 starts in 2022.

The Bears let Mustipher walk in free agency last year and he signed with the Baltimore Ravens. The 27-year-old lineman dressed for nine games in 2023, earning two starts.

In 2022 — his last year as a full-time starter — Mustipher was penalized four times and allowed two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Denver will need a new center in 2024 after losing Cushenberry to the Tennessee Titans during free agency. Mustipher will likely compete with Alex Forsyth and Luke Wattenberg for the center job this summer.

Forsyth was inactive for all 17 games as a rookie last season and Wattenberg has just one career start (at guard). Given that he has 42 starts on his resume, Mustipher might be the early favorite to start in Week 1.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos signing WR Josh Reynolds to 2-year contract

The Broncos are signing wide receiver Josh Reynolds to a two-year contract worth up to $14 million.

The Denver Broncos are signing wide receiver Josh Reynolds to a two-year contract, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo first reported Wednesday.

The two-year deal will be worth “up to” $14 million, according to various reports, but the receiver’s base salary is not yet known.

Reynolds (6-3, 194 pounds) entered the league as a fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. After four years in L.A., Reynolds had a half-year stint with the Tennessee Titans followed by a three-and-a-half-year run with the Detroit Lions.

The 29-year-old receiver totaled 40 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns last season. He has hauled in 220 receptions for 2,933 yards and 19 touchdowns in 107 career games (53 starts). Reynolds is now entering his eighth season in the NFL.

After trading Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns earlier this month, the Broncos now have Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Tim Patrick, Reynolds, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Jalen Virgil and Brandon Johnson as their top receivers going into the 2024 NFL draft.

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Bill Barnwell lists Broncos as the best fit for WR Michael Thomas

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell lists the Broncos as the best fit for free agent WR Michael Thomas. Would a reunion with Sean Payton pay dividends?

Bill Barnwell recently published a list on ESPN of the best fits for some of the top NFL free agents still available. He has the Denver Broncos listed as the best fit for former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.

New Orleans recently cut Thomas, who has played in just 20 games in the last four seasons due to various injuries. Before that, he played in 63 out of 64 possible games in his first four seasons under then-Saints coach Sean Payton.

Could the receiver now reunite with Payton in Denver?

“Denver’s roster is in flux as it rebuilds post-Russell Wilson, but after trading Jerry Jeudy, it looks like it will run with Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims as its top two wideouts,” Barnwell wrote on ESPN.com. “Tim Patrick took a pay cut to return, but he has missed each of the last two seasons with injuries. Thomas could reunite with former coach Sean Payton and compete with Patrick for that third wideout role.”

Thomas’s first four seasons had him on track for a sure-fire Hall of Fame career. However, as stated previously, injuries have depleted him in the last four seasons. A chance to reunite with Payton could be the jump start his career needs.

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Broncos tried to sign CB Kristian Fulton before he joined Chargers

The Broncos made an offer to CB Kristian Fulton, but he decided to join the Chargers instead.

Before agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, free agent cornerback Kristian Fulton drew serious interest from three other teams.

Fulton “turned down offers” from the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals, according to a report from ESPN’s Turron Davenport. He’s now set to play against the Broncos twice in 2024 before hitting free agency again in 2025.

Fulton, 25, entered the league as a second-round pick out of LSU in 2020. He totaled 25 pass breakups and four interceptions in 42 games (37 starts) with the Tennessee Titans from 2020-2023.

Denver’s offer to Fulton confirms the team’s interest in adding a starting-caliber cornerback to the roster. The Broncos need a CB2 to pair with Pat Surtain in 2024 after Damarri Mathis struggled last season (Fabian Moreau remains an unsigned free agent). Ja’Quan McMillian emerged as a promising slot defender in 2023, but Denver still needs another outside CB.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos Wire podcast: What’s the plan at quarterback?

What is Denver’s quarterback plan in 2024? Ryan O’Leary and Jon Heath discussed that and much more on the latest Broncos Wire podcast.

What a whirlwind of an offseason it’s been for the Denver Broncos!

To catch up on all the latest news and rumors since our last episode, I joined Broncos Wire host Ryan O’Leary on this week’s podcast. We discussed — among many other topics — Russell Wilson’s release and what comes next at quarterback for Denver.

You can listen to episode No. 106 below:

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You can view our notes from this week’s episode below.

Russell Wilson era officially ends 
  • The Broncos cut Wilson and he signed a one-year, league-minimum deal with the Steelers that leaves Denver on the hook to pay his remaining $37.79 million salary in 2024. Broncos will eat $53 million this season.
  • Wilson is expected to start for Pittsburgh this year and the Broncos are scheduled to host the Steelers in 2024 🍿
So what’s the plan at quarterback? 
  • Some of the free agents who signed elsewhere: Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Jameis Winston. Several QBs were also traded, including Justin Fields and Sam Howell.
  • So who’s left for Denver? The most notable free agent is Ryan Tannehill and the most notable trade candidate is Zach Wilson. No thanks to both.
  • Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels might be picked 1-2-3 in April and now the Vikings are positioned to trade up for a QB. Denver won’t be able to land one of Williams, Maye, Daniels or J.J. McCarthy without a trade.
  • Speaking of McCarthy, there’s been a lot of smoke connecting him to the Broncos, but will the Vikings beat them to him?
Russell Wilson wasn’t the only notable exit 
  • LB Josey Jewell left in free agency to sign a big deal with the Panthers. The Broncos signed Cody Barton as a replacement and they also have Alex Singleton and Jonas Griffith returning.
Two other notes since we last recorded
  • DBs coach Christian Parker left the team to join the Eagles, reuniting with Vic Fangio. Vance Joseph remains Denver’s DC, but the new DBs coach is Jim Leonhard, who previously interviewed for DC jobs with the Packers and Eagles in the past (Green Bay even offered him the job). I wouldn’t be shocked if Leonhard ends up as the Broncos’ DC at some point.
  • Broncos legendary linebacker Randy Gradishar, the anchor of the famous “Orange Crush” defense, was elected to the Hall of Fame as a senior candidate. He’ll be enshrined in August and we should have an announcement any day now for Hall of Fame Game teams. Denver could be a 2024 candidate, but they did recently feature in the game in 2019.
What’s next? 

Perhaps some budget free agent signings here and there followed by pro days and pre-draft visits and the NFL draft at the end of April. Stay tuned for mock drafts and prospect visit updates!

***

Ryan and I will return with new episodes when news pops up during the offseason.

If you enjoy this podcast, you can check out previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your podcast service of choice. Please consider giving the podcast a positive rating and review!

You can listen to every past episode below or at this link.

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Broncos sign OT Matt Peart to 1-year contract

The Broncos are signing Matt Peart, a backup swing tackle who can provide cover on the offensive line.

The Denver Broncos are signing offensive tackle Matt Peart to a one-year contract, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Terms of the deal are not yet known.

Peart (6-7, 318 pounds) entered the league as a third-round pick out of UConn with the New York Giants in 2020. He dressed for 43 games over the last four years, earning seven starts.

Peart (26) started five games for the Giants in 2021. He was credited with allowing four sacks and was penalized three times in 421 snaps that season, according to Pro Football Focus. Peart served mostly as a backup from 2022-23.

Peart seems like a backup swing tackle candidate for the Broncos this year behind left tackle Garett Bolles and right tackle Mike McGlinchey. It remains to be seen if this means Denver won’t be re-signing backup swing tackle Cam Fleming, who remains a free agent.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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After nearly signing with Panthers, LB Justin Strnad returns to Broncos instead

After nearing signing with the Panthers, LB Justin Strnad decided to return to the Broncos instead.

Denver Broncos free agent linebacker Justin Strnad agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, according to a report from The Athletic‘s Joe Person.

That deal would have seen Strnad reunited with former teammate Josey Jewell and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, but after initially making a verbal agreement to join the Panthers, Strnad changed his mind.

Strnad had “a change of heart” and returned to the Broncos on a one-year deal on Tuesday night, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Interestingly, this is not the first time this has happened this offseason.

Last week, kicker Wil Lutz initially agreed to a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the first day of the NFL’s free agency negotiating window. Before making anything official with Jacksonville, Lutz changed his mind and returned to Denver on a two-year deal instead.

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman was also close to joining another team before Denver got him back on a two-year contract, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Broncos coach Sean Payton doesn’t seem to mind letting things go right down to the wire.

Strnad, 27, entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2020. Now entering his fifth season in Denver, Strnad has emerged as a key special teams player for the Broncos. He played 86% of the team’s special teams snaps last season.

We are tracking all of Denver’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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New Broncos safety takes Kareem Jackson’s old jersey number

New Broncos safety Brandon Jones will wear jersey No. 22, formerly worn by Kareem Jackson in Denver.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Two days after the Denver Broncos gave quarterback Russell Wilson’s old jersey number to kicker Wil Lutz, new safety Brandon Jones is now taking Kareem Jackson’s old number.

After officially signing with the Broncos on Thursday, Jones took to Twitter/X with a Photoshopped image of him in a Denver uniform wearing No. 22. His caption: “New beginnings.. DEUCE DEUCE #BroncosCountry”

Jones, 25, signed a three-year, $20 million contract. He will help the team replace veteran Justin Simmons, who was released last week.

Jackson, 35, is facing an uncertain future in the NFL. He was fined four times for unnecessary roughness, ejected from two games and suspended twice (for six games total) last season. After meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during his second suspension, Jackson questioned his future in the league.

“I’m not really sure how I protect myself, make plays and protect [the opponent] as well, but that’s what I was told,” Jackson said in December. “I’m not really sure what I do moving forward, as far as playing this game. So, hopefully, I’ll figure it out.”

It’s unclear if Jackson will play in the NFL again, but if he does, it’s almost certain he won’t return to Denver.

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