Tag: John Elway

Knock it off with the Tom Brady-to-Broncos predictions 

Will Broncos general manager John Elway sign quarterback Tom Brady during NFL free agency?

After 20 seasons with the Patriots, 42-year-old quarterback Tom Brady is set to become a free agent in March. So what’s next for the six-time Super Bowl champion?

Will he retire? Will he re-sign with the Patriots? Perhaps he’ll land with the Chargers — or maybe with the Browns?

Will the Broncos be among Brady’s potential suitors? Oddsmakers seem to think that’s possible, giving Denver 12-to-1 odds of signing Brady. Former ESPN senior writer John Clayton recently wrote in a Washington Post article that the Broncos and Brady would be a logical match.

Clayton referenced when general manager John Elway signed an aging Peyton Manning in 2012 and Denver went on to reach two Super Bowls, winning one of them. Manning was turning 36 when he signed with the Broncos, though, nearly eight years younger than Brady is now.

So the Manning comparison isn’t really fair.

And Elway signed Manning because he didn’t believe Denver had a quarterback of the future on the roster. Elway has Drew Lock now and it doesn’t sound like he’s going to look for alternative options this offseason.

“We’re excited about where Drew is,” Elway said during his end-of-season press conference on Dec. 31. “[I] don’t like to show our hand, but I think it’s unrealistic to say that we’re going a different direction.”

The Broncos may bring in a veteran this offseason to serve as Lock’s backup but Brady won’t be interested in a backup job. If he leaves New England, Brady will likely join a team in need of a new starter.

Elway tried short-term fixes with Case Keenum and Joe Flacco and neither of them worked out. Brady would be another temporary solution and it’s hard to imagine Elway benching Lock for a QB nearing the end of his career.

With Lock poised to start in 2020, don’t expect Denver to go after Brady.

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Broncos projected to receive 3 compensatory 2020 NFL draft picks

Broncos are projected to receive three compensatory 2020 NFL draft picks.

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is about to have a busy offseason. In addition to likely having nearly $80 million worth of salary cap space, Elway could have 12 picks in the 2020 NFL draft.

Denver currently has nine selections in the draft but the league could award them several more this offseason. Each year, the NFL awards compensatory picks to teams who essentially lost more than they gained during free agency the previous offseason.

Nick Korte of OverTheCap.com has predicted that Denver will receive a fifth-round selection for offensive lineman Billy Turner, a seventh-round pick for offensive lineman Max Garcia and a seventh-round selection for cornerback Tramaine Brock.

If the Broncos do receive three compensatory draft picks as Korte has projected, this is what the team’s 2020 draft order will look like:

Round 1: Own pick (15th overall)
Round 2: Own pick
Round 3: Own pick
Round 3: via Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 3: via San Francisco 49ers
Round 4: Own pick
Round 4: via San Franciso 49ers
Round 5: Compensatory pick
Round 6: via Washington Redskins
Round 7: via New England Patriots
Round 7: Compensatory pick
Round 7 Compensatory pick

With so much draft capital to work with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Elway make several draft day trades.

Last year, Denver traded down in the first round to select tight end Noah Fant before selecting guard Dalton Risner in the second round and then trading up in the second round to also land quarterback Drew Lock. All three of those players were key contributors in 2019.

The 2020 NFL draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25.

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John Elway comments on Broncos possibly bringing back Joe Flacco

Will the Broncos part ways with quarterback Joe Flacco during the 2020 NFL offseason?

When the Broncos traded a mid-round pick to the Ravens in exchange for Joe Flacco last offseason, they didn’t envision the quarterback’s 2019 season ending with a neck injury and losing record.

After Flacco went down with an injury, the team turned to Brandon Allen temporarily while rookie Drew Lock worked his way back from a thumb injury. Lock started the final five games of the season and went 4-1.

There’s little doubt that Lock will remain the starter in 2020 but there is some uncertainty about Flacco’s future. Broncos general manager John Elway was asked during his end-of-season press conference on Dec. 30 if Flacco will return for next season.

“We haven’t gotten into that yet, but we’ll look at that and see what’s best,” Elway said. “Obviously, we’re going to take some time [to make a decision]. This year we’ll do it a little bit different than we’ve done in the past. We’re going to wait for our own team evaluations for a month. We’re going to get away from it.

“The coaches will look at it. The personnel side will look at it, get together early February and really get a good objective view of what our team’s going to look like next year and what we need to do. I think that’s why we’ll take the time and evaluate everything. Obviously, Joe will be one of those that we’ll look at and we’ll see his situation.”

Denver could save more than $10 million by parting ways with Flacco, bringing its 2020 salary cap space close to $80 million. Given that Lock looks like the team’s QB of the future, Flacco’s time with the Broncos might be coming to an end soon.

Flacco was uncertain but optimistic about his future on Dec. 30.

“I have no idea [what will happen],” Flacco said. “Over the next little bit of time, I’ll have conversations with people within the organization to see what the plan is. Obviously, [I’m] not happy with the way the season went for me — just how unfortunate it was. I’m really just optimistic about the future and we’ll see what it holds.”

Flacco completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns against five interceptions in eight games this offseason. The veteran quarterback will turn 35 years old on Jan. 16.

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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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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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Broncos’ updated picks for 2020 NFL draft

The Broncos currently have nine selections in the 2020 NFL draft, including seven picks in the first four rounds.

After finishing the 2019 season with a 7-9 record, the Denver Broncos are scheduled to select 15th overall in the 2020 NFL draft. Because the league has not yet announced compensatory selections, we don’t know the exact order of the team’s remaining picks, but we do know the rounds.

Here’s when Denver is scheduled to select in April’s draft:

Round 1: Own pick (15th overall)
Round 2: Own pick
Round 3: Own pick
Round 3: via Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 3: via San Francisco 49ers
Round 4: own pick
Round 4: via San Franciso 49ers
Round 6: via Washington Redskins
Round 7: via New England Patriots

The Broncos have nine picks — including seven in the first four rounds — and that number could increase after the league hands out compensatory selections later this offseason. Denver might receive a late-round comp pick for losing offensive lineman Billy Turner during 2019 free agency.

Broncos general manager John Elway will also have plenty of 2020 salary cap space so the looming offseason could be an exciting time in Denver.

The 2020 NFL draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25.

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Broncos poised to stick with QB Drew Lock in 2020

It sounds like the Broncos plan to have Drew Lock remain the starting quarterback next year.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock went 4-1 as a starter this season, throwing seven touchdown passes against three interceptions. Going into the 2020 offseason, is Lock the penciled in starter for next year?

“I don’t see any [other] options right now,” general manager John Elway said during his end-of-season press conference Monday. “Obviously, he finished and did a heck of a job and won four out of five games and played well, but he still has a long way to go. He has a lot of work to do.

“We’re excited about where Drew is. [I] don’t like to show our hand, but I think it’s unrealistic to say that we’re going a different direction.”

The Broncos have found their man and his teammates know it. Star running back Phillip Lindsay knew it from the moment Lock was drafted.

“We all knew that he was special,” Lindsay said on Dec. 22. “Mr. Elway and them went out and drafted him, and had the belief that the kid could do the job and later on possibly be a franchise quarterback.”

Now Lock will have an entire offseason of being “the guy,” which will help the offense develop chemistry going into the 2020 season.

“[I’m] extremely happy that I can come in here and just put my face on it, put my stamp on it, be the guy, talk to everybody like I’m the guy, walk around this facility like I’m the guy to where people can really start feeling me and who I am as a person, who I am as a leader for this team,” Lock said Monday.

“It’s just going to be really fun — not worry about all the other outside . . . when I got here, Joe [Flacco]’s the guy — let him do his thing. Now, hopefully when I come back, I can just be that face for everybody that they can come to and talk to.”

With Lock under center, perhaps Denver can snap a four-year playoff drought. The Broncos haven’t reached the postseason since Peyton Manning retired following a 2016 Super Bowl win over the Carolina Panthers.

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Broncos would like to give Justin Simmons a contract extension

Broncos general manager John Elway hopes to sign safety Justin Simmons to a long-term contract extension this offseason.

After earning $4,710,139 over the first four years of his career, Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Denver could place a one-year franchise tag on the defensive back but general manager John Elway would prefer to give him a long-term extension.

“We want him back,” Elway said during his end-of-season press conference Monday. “You know the option’s there. Before we came down, I talked to Justin and said, ‘You know what, we want you back.’ He’s a great football player, but he’s a better man.

“What he does outside of this building and what’s done in Denver has been tremendous. Just the type of guys he is. These are the type of guys that we want on this football team. Obviously, we have the franchise option there, but we’d like to get something done with Justin for the long term.”

Simmons, 26, had a brilliant year this season, totaling 93 tackles and a career-high four interceptions. He also broke up 15 passes.

“I love the defense,” Simmons said Monday. “It works for me; I think I make it work just as well. I think it’s a good relationship. With that being said, it just has to work out. There’s no hiding that I want it to work out. I just hope it does.

“It’ll be exciting regardless. Whatever happens, I know it’s all on the Lord’s will. If it does happen, I’ll just further his kingdom, so it’ll be good.”

Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes that Simmons could show even more improvement in 2020 if he stays in Denver.

“I think he’ll still at the stage of his career where he can still improve more, especially within the inner workings of our defense and mastering some of the things we do even better, which will only come through reps — it won’t come through meetings,” Fangio said.

“Really good football player, a really good person and a really good teammate. He’s everything we want in a player.”

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Will the Broncos re-sign cornerback Chris Harris?

Will the Broncos re-sign cornerback Chris Harris this offseason? The two sides seem to be sending mixed messages.

After the Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 16-15 in Week 17, veteran cornerback Chris Harris tweeted a “thank you” to fans. That prompted the question, ‘Why would he thank fans if he wasn’t on his way out the door?’

“Thank You Broncos Country for everything,” Harris tweeted on Sunday evening. “It’s incredible what we’ve accomplished. Undrafted and 9 years later…Love y’all !!!!! 🙏🏾🙌🏾”

Does that mean Harris isn’t coming back?

Not necessarily.

Denver made Harris a three-year, $36 million contract offer earlier this season so the team clearly is open to giving him an extension. The 30-year-old cornerback is open to returning, too.

“I’d love to,” Harris said Monday. “We’re getting the right pieces back — definitely need some more pieces around me to just do what I do. That’s one thing I’m looking at in the offseason.

“My family loves it here. Of course, my kids growing up here — I grew up here. It’s definitely my first home for sure.”

Given that the Broncos are open to an extension and that Harris is open to returning, the only holdup would be contract terms. Denver general manager John Elway was non-commital during his Monday press conference when asked if the team will increase their offer to Harris this offseason.

“We have to go back and look at the money that we have available,” Elway said. “We will go through and make a plan before we get to that. We will budget it out and see what our plan is and put that plan together. I can’t answer that question right now.”

The Broncos are expected to have well over $70 million in salary cap space next year so there should be enough to re-sign Harris. The question is, how much of that cap will Denver be willing to use on Harris? Elway will have to make a decision on that this spring.

“We’re going to look at our budget, see how the pie fits, see how everybody fits in the pie and do the best job of using our money in the best ways that we can but also find the players that we hope can get us back to the playoffs and compete for a World Championship,” Elway said. 

Broncos QBs John Elway, Peyton Manning named to NFL 100 All-Time Team

Former Broncos quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning were named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team on Friday evening.

Former Broncos quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning were among 10 quarterbacks named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team on Friday evening, joining Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, Sammy Baugh, Roger Staubach and Dan Marino.

Elway was originally drafted by the Colts in 1983 but after being traded to Denver, he went on to spend his entire 16-year career with the Broncos. Elway helped Denver reach five Super Bowls, winning two of them in the late 1990s before retiring.

Elway earned nine Pro Bowl nods, a league MVP award and a Super Bowl MVP award during his time with the Broncos. A member of the 1990s All-Decade Team and the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, Elway was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He now serves as the team’s GM.

Manning was also drafted by Indianapolis. After spending the first 14 years of his career with the Colts, Manning signed with Denver as a free agent in 2012. He went on to help the Broncos win the AFC West four-straight times and appeared in two Super Bowls with Denver, winning one of them.

A 14-time Pro Bowler, one-time Super Bowl MVP and five-time league MVP, Manning is a member of the NFL’s 2000’s All-Decade Team and the Colts’ Ring of Honor. He will be eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He retired in 2016 as the game’s all-time leader in passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539).

Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Champ Bailey and tight end Shannon Sharpe were among the franchise’s snubs on the league’s all-time team. Elway and Manning are the only players on the list who spent notable parts of their careers in Denver.

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