20 candidates for NFL franchise or transition tags

Dak Prescott heads a list of 20 candidates for the NFL’s franchise and tags.

When all else failed in negotiations in past years, NFL teams had the option of using either the franchise tag or transition tag to keep a player they didn’t want walking away as a free agent. This year is a little different. In the final year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are allowed to use both the franchise and transition tags.

The tags can be designated between Feb. 25 and March 10. There are two types of franchise tags, exclusive and non-exclusive. A player with the non-exclusive franchise tag can negotiate with other teams. If an offer is received from outside, the current team has the option to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. The franchise tag is calculated by the average of the top five salaries at a given position or 120 percent of the player’s salary from last year (whichever number is greater).

The transition tag is valued at an average of the top 10 salaries at the player’s position or 120 percent of his salary from the previous year. There’s one big difference between the franchise and transition tags. With the transition tag, the current team receives no compensation if it elects to not match an offer from another team.

Some players, such as New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, New England quarterback Tom Brady and Seattle defensive end Jadeveon Clowney have language in their contracts that forbids the use of franchise and transition tags.

Let’s take a look at the top candidates for franchise or transition tags in 2020:

20. James Bradberry, CB, Carolina Panthers

General manager Marty Hurney has told Bradberry the team wants to keep him. That makes sense because Bradberry is Carolina’s best cornerback in a division that features receivers Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. But there’s a potential problem on the horizon. Former Carolina coach Ron Rivera is now in Washington and Bradberry was one of his favorites. The best way to box out Rivera may be to franchise Bradberry.

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6 pending free agents Broncos should re-sign this offseason

The Denver Broncos should strongly consider re-signing these six players during the NFL offseason.

The Denver Broncos, coming off a disappointing 7-9 2019 season, have a lot of work to do this offseason in order to get back to being the regular contenders many fans have come to expect.

But like with any team looking to rebound from a poor season, the first questions that have to be asked are those concerning the players already on the roster.

The Broncos have several key players set to become unrestricted free agents. Recently, we discussed a handful of those players the team should allow to move on, but here, the focus will be on the players to sign.

Each of the players listed below is a player that the team should recognize as one that is integral to the team’s future success.

1. Connor McGovern, center

The last time the Broncos had their center hit free agency, Matt Paradis signed with a new team.

The offensive line needs to have continuity and having a long-term starter at the center position is important to any offensive line. In addition, if the Broncos are going to add pieces along the offensive line, the team should concentrate on depth at the tackle and guard spots rather than having to look around for a new center.

McGovern should be brought back.

2. Theo Riddick, running back

Bringing Riddick back into the fold has been talked about before, but it must be reiterated. The Broncos saw something in the shifty running back and signed him after he was released by the Detroit Lions last year but a preseason injury forced him out the entire regular season.

The Broncos can move forward with Phillip Lindsay as the feature back and Royce Freeman as the guy to spell him. But Riddick, who is a fantastic receiver out of the backfield, can add a dimension to Denver’s offense that no one has had a chance to see yet.

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3 Broncos defenders make list of top 50 NFL free agents

The Broncos have three defenders on PFF’s list of top NFL free agents.

Pro Football Focus, a website that tracks advanced NFL stats, has released a list of the top 50 players who will become unrestricted free agents in March. Three Denver Broncos defenders made the list.

Denver defensive end Shelby Harris has been productive over the last three years, totaling 122 tackles, 13 sacks and one interception. He has also broken up 16 passes. Harris is ranked No. 42 and he “represents a valuable addition to some teams and likely won’t cost a fortune,” PFF wrote.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons is ranked No. 12 after earning second-team AP All-Pro honors in 2019. “Even if he can’t duplicate his All-Pro season, Simmons still brings a solid all-around safety who can line up all over the field,” PFF wrote. Expect Denver to make Simmons a high priority on their offseason to-do list.

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris is the team’s highest-ranked defender on the list (No. 5). Harris is coming off a down season but PFF attributed that to him being played out of position as an outside cornerback.

“Harris is an intriguing candidate for teams looking to put him back in the slot, where he excels in both man and zone coverage,” PFF wrote.

To view Pro Football Focus’ complete list of top free agents, click here.

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2 Broncos named to PFWA’s All-Rookie Team

Broncos guard Dalton Risner and tight end Noah Fant made PFWA’s 2019 All-Rookie Team.

Denver Broncos offensive lineman Dalton Risner and tight end Noah Fant both made the Pro Football Writers of America’s 2019 All-Rookie Team, it was announced Tuesday. Risner allowed 2.5 sacks in 16 starts this season. Risner was also named to Pro Football Focus’ All-Rookie Team.

Fant led all rookie tight ends in receptions (40), yards (562) and yards per catch (14) this season. Fant was selected by the Broncos in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. Risner was selected by Denver in the second round.

No team in the league has more PFWA All-Rookie selections over the last two years than Denver (four). Last season, running back Phillip Lindsay and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb made PFWA’s All-Rookie Team. Lindsay was voted to the Pro Bowl and Chubb was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2018.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons did not make the PFWA’s All-NFL Team or All-AFC Team but he did take home second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press. Simmons is set to become a free agent in March and Denver is expected to make him a high priority this offseason.

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Broncos awards: End of season edition

Despite a 7-9 finish, the Denver Broncos had some great plays and performances in 2019. Here are the team’s highlights from last season.

The Denver Broncos finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 record, missing out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

But it wasn’t all bad, particularly for a team that started the season 0-4. The Broncos began to learn how to win tough games as the season went on and with a new, confident quarterback in Drew Lock leading the show, there is plenty to be excited about.

The focus now will turn to the 2020 season with the start of free agency and the draft, where the Broncos can begin to find the pieces to becoming a force next season.

But first, here is one final look at the 2019 season with some awards for the team.

Best offensive player: Courtland Sutton

It was great to see Phillip Lindsay become the first undrafted running back in league history to eclipse 1,000 yards in each of their first two seasons, but the offensive player that really stepped up for the team this season was Sutton.

Sutton stamped himself as a true No. 1 receiver for the team following the trade of Emmanuel Sanders and routinely made big plays for his quarterback.

Sutton finished the season with 72 catches for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns. As a rookie last year, he caught 42 passes for 704 yards and four touchdowns — his numbers ballooned in a big way in Year 2.

His star is bright and it seems the team has definitely found its top pass catcher for years to come.

Defensive player of the year: Justin Simmons

This was a tough category to make a definitive call, because Shelby Harris absolutely deserves some votes after having an incredible year. But the year Simmons had could not be ignored either.

Simmons led the team with four interceptions and 15 pass deflections. He also tied for second on the team with 93 tackles while also adding 2.5 tackles for losses.

When the defense needed a big play, Simmons was there to make one more often than not and now, he’s put his name on the board with the best young safeties in the league.

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Eddie Jackson’s contract with Bears could be good news for Justin Simmons

The Bears will pay safety Eddie Jackson an average of $14.6 million per year. Justin Simmons will likely ask the Broncos for more than that.

The Bears have signed safety Eddie Jackson to a four-year contract extension worth $58.4 million with $33 million guaranteed, according to Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire. That could be good news for Broncos safety Justin Simmons.

Jackson is now the league’s highest-paid safety, earning an average of $14.6 million per season. Simmons is about to become a free agent in March and his agent will likely ask for more than what Jackson was paid.

Jackson — a free safety like Simmons — totaled 60 tackles, one sack, five pass breakouts and two interceptions this year. Simmons totaled 93 tackles, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions. Jackson earned AP All-Pro honors last season and Simmons was named a second-team All-Pro this year.

Simmons will likely aim to top — or at least match — Jackson’s new contract. Simmons earned just over $4.7 million in the first four years of his career. The safety will likely earn three times that total in 2020 alone.

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Broncos safety Justin Simmons named second-team AP All-Pro

Broncos safety Justin Simmons made the AP’s second-team All-Pro roster.

Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons made the Associated Press second-team All-Pro squad for the 2019 NFL season. Jets safety Jamal Adams and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made the first team. Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu also made the first team, listed as a “defensive back.”

Former Broncos outside linebacker Shaq Barrett made the second-team defense as an edge rusher and Denver linebacker Von Miller and defensive back Chris Harris each received one vote at their respective positions.

Simmons is just the fifth safety in franchise history to earn AP All-Pro recognition, joining Steve Atwater (three times), Brian Dawkins (one time), Dennis Smith (one time) and Billy Thompson (one time).

Simmons was also named to Pro Football Focus’ first-team All-Pro squad this week. The safety’s two All-Pro nods emphasize how ridiculous it is that Simmons isn’t even an alternate for the Pro Bowl.

Simmons will become a free agent in March. Denver plans to bring him back, either on a franchise tag or multi-year contract extension.

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Broncos safety Justin Simmons named to PFF’s All-Pro Team

Broncos safety Justin Simmons made the All-Pro Team put together by Pro Football Focus.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons might have been snubbed by Pro Bowl voters but he hasn’t been snubbed by Pro Football Focus. PFF, a website that tracks advanced NFL stats and grades players on a 0-100 scale, announced their All-Pro Team earlier this week and Simmons made the cut.

“The best-graded safety in the NFL this season, Denver’s Justin Simmons has been a stellar performer in all areas,” PFF’s Sam Monson wrote. “Simmons wasn’t in primary coverage for any touchdowns given up in coverage but had four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.”

Earning accolades from PFF isn’t much of a consolation for Simmons after missing out on the NFL’s All-Star game but earning a big contract extension would be. Simmons is expected to receive an extension from the Broncos this offseason. A one-year franchise tag remains a possibility but Denver hopes to give the safety a multi-year extension.

Simmons, 26, had a breakout year this season, totaling 93 tackles and a career-high four interceptions. He owns 11 career interceptions.

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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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Top 10 Broncos moments from the past decade

The 2010s are just about behind us. Here is a look back at the top moments of the decade for the Denver Broncos.

With the close of the Denver Broncos’ 2019 season, we also get set to close out an entire decade.

Between 2010 and 2019, the Broncos had some very up-and-down seasons, experiencing the ultimate success and some of the worst years in franchise history across the past decade.

Over the past 10 seasons, the Broncos had an 89-71 win-loss record, which is pretty good considering they closed the decade with three straight losing seasons.

But here, we’re only going to focus on the positive and give you a chance to relive the best moments from the past 10 years. With that, we present the top 10 Broncos moments from the past decade.

Honorable mention: Von Miller becomes sack king

For nearly 25 years, Simon Fletcher sat atop the team’s record book, finishing his playing career with 97.5 career sacks. It became clear years ago that as long as he stayed in Denver, Miller would break that record.

He accomplished the feat in December 2018 with a sack of Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns, taking Fletcher out of the top spot.

This likely would have made the top 10 if it didn’t occur during one of the worst Broncos seasons in franchise history, a fact that really seemed to take from the moment.

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