Tag: malcolm roach

2024 Saints free agent report cards: Was letting Malcolm Roach go a big loss?

Taking a look back at the 2024 offseason, was letting Malcolm Roach go a big loss? Here’s the New Orleans Saints report card grade for this free agent decision:

The NFL offseason is nearly upon us, as the only thing standing in the way between teams and beginning their roster management is the Super Bowl, held in New Orleans. This gives us a little bit of time to look back in retrospect and cover the New Orleans Saints free agent signings from 2024, but also take a look at those players they let walk.

One of the more intriguing players they let go was defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, who was an exceptional run defender with them, but they chose not to pay and he would move on to the Denver Broncos. Here is how things have played out for his career so far:

Free agent contract

Given the price tags on some of the premier defensive line talents across the league in recent years, Roach signed for a pretty good contract all things considered. He is on a two-year $7 million deal, $3 million of which was guaranteed at signing, and the remainder will come in the form of bonuses and incentives.

He was able to hit one of his performance incentives in 2024, playing more than 40% of snaps which gave him an extra $250,000 this year as well.

Snap counts

The snap counts for Malcolm Roach have been extremely consistent throughout his career, as he is predominantly a run defending rotational defensive tackle who gets on the field in late down scenarios. Here are his snap rates by season, only including games he played in:

  • 2020: 37% (233)
  • 2021: 42% (193)
  • 2022: 37% (315)
  • 2023: 37% (290)
  • 2024: 42% (489)

2024 season review

2024 was a strong season for Roach, as he would accrue his highest snap total of his career, while also posting career highs in total tackles (43), tackles for loss (5), forced fumbles & fumble recoveries (1 each), sacks (2.5), and QB hits (8). Funny enough, he actually had one pass come his way as the closest defender, and it was an incompletion 13 yards down the field, pretty impressive. Overall a good year for the former Saints undrafted free agent.

Report card grade

Grading this loss is relatively easy. The Saints lost a run-stopping defensive tackle who had the best year of his career, while they had one of the worst run defenses in the early half of the year and never fully recovered. Roach was a player that in retrospect they absolutely should have retained, and especially so at the price tag he received.

Saints grade for allowing the departure: D-

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Final projection opens the door for Saints to get multiple 2025 comp picks

The New Orleans Saints may receive another compensatory pick in the 2025 NFL draft, pending whether or not Willie Gay Jr. is deemed a compensatory free agent:

The New Orleans Saints have stocked up on a decent amount of NFL draft picks so far heading into the 2025 offseason. They currently sit on seven selection, with an additional compensatory pick likely to be added in the seventh round. That corresponds to the loss of cornerback Isaac Yiadom in free agency. The Saints won’t get compensation for losing linebacker Zack Baun to the Philadelphia Eagles after signing defensive end Chase Young.

However, they could potentially pick up another compensatory seventh-round pick (for defensive tackle Malcolm Roach going to the Denver Broncos) pending the contract incentives and offseason of Willie Gay Jr.

In an article from Over The Cap’s Nick Korte, he explains the current situation regarding this pick and Gay’s involvement, and the flip that could happen so the Saints gain a selection from the Kansas City Chiefs:

“Having just missed playing 25% of the snaps, his contract got no boost in that regard, drawing it very close to the qualifying cutoff. Should he not become a CFA, Kansas City would be completely shut (out) of 2025 comp picks, and New Orleans would go from getting one 7th rounder to two.”

Ultimately this is a wait-and-see game, as we’ll learn in March whether the incentives in his contract qualified for a compensatory free agent status. Regardless, a ninth pick would be nice (even in the draft’s final round) whether it is used as a trade piece or spent on a late-round gem.

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Broncos safety P.J. Locke fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness vs. Bengals

Broncos safety P.J. Locke was fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness against the Bengals in Week 17.

Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke was fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness in the team’s 30-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, according to multiple reports.

Locke used his helmet when tackling Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki in the third quarter. The infraction was not penalized during the game, but the NFL handed down a fine after reviewing the film.

Elsewhere on the fine front, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach lost his appeal to have his fine for a “violent gesture” reduced. Roach says he was gesturing to show a seatbelt against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. The NFL interpreted it as showing a gun, and the league upheld his $14,069 fine.

Locke ($41,916) has been the team’s most-fined player this season, followed by Roach ($36,579), safety Brandon Jones ($28,138), pass rusher Nik Bonitto ($17,582), Cooper ($12,668), cornerback Pat Surtain ($11,255), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653), center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872), tight end Lucas Krull ($5,083), running back Blake Watson ($4,463) and safety Devon Key ($4,417).

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.

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3 Broncos players fined for infractions vs. Chargers on ‘TNF’

Three Broncos players were fined for infractions against the Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football’ last week.

A trio of Denver Broncos players were fined for infractions against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was fined $12,668 for a horse collar tackle, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach was fined $11,255 for taunting and running back Blake Watson was fined $4,463 for illegal use of his helmet, according to the Denver Post‘s Park Gabriel.

Any potential fines from the Broncos’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 will be announced next week.

Roach ($36,579) has been the team’s most-fined player this season, followed by safety Brandon Jones ($28,138), safety P.J. Locke ($27,944), pass rusher Nik Bonitto ($17,582), Cooper ($12,668), cornerback Pat Surtain ($11,255), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653), center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872), tight end Lucas Krull ($5,083), Watson ($4,463) and safety Devon Key ($4,417).

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.

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This Malcolm Roach play has to be a first in NFL history

This has to be a first, right?

During the Denver Broncos‘ game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach lost his helmet during a play.

Typically that wouldn’t be a problem, he could simply retrieve it and put it back on before the next play. In this particular instance, however, the Raiders were rushing up to the line to snap the ball so they could spike it and stop the clock. Roach couldn’t go back across the line to retrieve his helmet and risk being penalized for lining up offsides at the snap.

So the lineman waited at the line while a teammate — it appears to be linebacker Justin Strnad — grabbed his helmet and ran back across the line. Strnad tossed the helmet to Roach and he got it on just before the snap.

Vic Lombardi of AltitudeTV captured the moment and shared it on his Twitter/X page:

Losing his helmet was incidental and he got it back on before play resumed, so Roach was not penalized for the incident. Roach finished the day with three tackles and a sack in a 29-19 win.

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Broncos DL Malcolm Roach appealing outrageous fine from NFL

The NFL fined Broncos DL Malcolm Roach $14,069 for a “violent gesture” against the Saints in Week 7. Roach is appealing the fine.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Malcolm Roach went viral during a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 after he dropped back in coverage, broke up a pass and celebrated by pretending to strap on a seatbelt.

The NFL mistook that celebration for a gun reference — something the league has been cracking down on — and Roach was fined $14,069 for a “violent gesture.” The lineman is now appealing the fine.

“Roach raised his shirt to show his seatbelt was locked and the NFL thought he was making a gesture of showing a gun,” Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reported on Monday.

Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace was also fined $7,181 for a hip-drop tackle against the Saints.

Roach ($25,324), safety P.J. Locke ($27,944), defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers ($14,069), safety Brandon Jones ($11,255), outside linebacker Nik Bonitto ($8,791), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653) and center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872) have received fines from the NFL this season.

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.

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OK, the truth is out: Playing Saints ‘meant a lot’ to Sean Payton

“I’m thankful for it,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after Thursday’s game against the Saints. “It was kind of emotional.”

Leading up to the Denver Broncos‘ game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football, coach Sean Payton admitted that there would be some emotions when facing his old team, but Payton said he was keeping his focus on just getting another win.

Broncos players downplayed it as “just another game.”

Clearly, that wasn’t true.

After a 33-10 win, Payton received a game ball from Denver’s ownership group and he got emotional while delivering his postgame speech. It was anything but just another game for Payton.

“It meant a lot,” Payton said in his postgame press conference when asked about getting a game ball. “There were a lot of moments here. You get to see a lot of old players that were here and to be with this team and this ownership group. It’s the reason that you miss it. The one year out. You miss relationships and making memories.

“It’s like I told them a couple of weeks ago. [Pat] Surtain’s interception right in front of our bench. There will be a time that I won’t remember his name and I’ll be having apple sauce out of a straw, but I’ll remember that play. That part about being around young people and having a chance to be a part of their journey and coach them is a pretty good job. I’m thankful for it. It was kind of emotional.”

https://twitter.com/Scotty_G6/status/1847131360516780264

The players knew what Thursday meant to Payton. They downplayed it leading up to the game, but it was a special night for the coach.

“It was awesome,” quarterback Bo Nix said. “The Saints mean a lot to him. He was there for a while (and) had amazing success. It’s tough to go back to a place where you called home for that long and you fought for, and now you are playing against. It was special. It was a great moment. I’m happy for him.

“I’m happy for everybody that has been a part of that organization for so long. There was a lot of guys that came over with him that we are just (as) happy about (the win). It was a good team win. Everybody contributed. Everybody was on their toes with a short week and came our prepared and ready to roll.”

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman is one of eight former Saints who now play for Payton in Denver.

“It meant a lot,” Trautman said. “It probably couldn’t have gone any better, to be honest. He talked about ‘next game,’ but, obviously everyone knew that it meant a little something to him and we wanted to win it because it is the ‘next game,’ but, we knew how special it was to him. There are 22 guys here from New Orleans. So, just doing it for everyone (was special). Getting to 4-3
was the goal.”

Broncos defensive lineman Malcolm Roach, another ex-Saint, said the game brought back a lot of memories and “meant a lot” for him.

https://twitter.com/scotty_g6/status/1847132976536080579?s=46

Payton joined the Saints in 2006, one year after Hurricane Katrina. They immediately made the NFC Championship game in the coach’s first season and won a Super Bowl in his fourth season. Payton’s tenure in New Orleans was about more than just football.

“I think (about) what happened here and I’m going back to 2005 before any of us have arrived,” Payton said. “A lot changed with this city and more than any player and any coach from 2006 and on that it was bigger than football. There were schools and hospitals not opened. There were a lot of things up in the air.

“So you appreciate those people that came when they didn’t necessarily had to. That was a unique time. None of us were prepared for that. We were all anxious and excited about our new job opportunities, but none of us understood what it would mean and how big it would become. That part of it is different and kind of special.”

Because the Broncos and Saints play in separate conferences, they don’t meet often. Their last game before Thursday was back in 2020. After last night’s win, Payton was asked if it was the last time he’ll coach at the Caesars Superdome.

“I don’t think this is the last time that I am ever going to coach in this place,” Payton said, “[but] this was the last team I hadn’t beaten.”

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Everyone loved Malcolm Roach dropping into coverage on ‘TNF’

“I always like to talk trash with the DBs and tell them I’m a real DB at heart,” Malcolm Roach said after the Broncos’ win on ‘TNF.’

In the third quarter of a Thursday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph called a play that had defensive tackle Malcolm Roach drop back into coverage.

Hilariously, it worked.

“Malcolm Roach nearly had an INT in coverage 15 yards down the field LOL,” Zac Stevens of DNVR wrote on social media.

Ryan McFadden of the Denver Post said the play “might be the highlight of the night.”

“I can’t stop laughing at VJ truly going [expletive] it mode and throwing Malcolm Roach into coverage and it worked,” a fan said on Twitter/X. “He really became a defensive madman after the Dolphins massacre.”

Check it out:

https://twitter.com/BrandonPerna/status/1847142168797794521

Everyone had similar reactions: “Malcolm Roach in coverage😭.”

Another fan wrote: “MALCOLM ROACH FOR PREZ.”

Everyone loved his celebration:

https://twitter.com/LTB_Muse/status/1847108027112927300

Even the Broncos’ official account chimed in with a meme:

“Malcolm Roach cele has me cryin,” one fan wrote. Added another fan: “Bro pulled the strap 😭.”

It looked like a play straight out of a video game.

“Me when I play madden and college football 25 🤣,” a fan commented. “gotten so many picks with linemen.”

Roach was asked about his celebration after the game.

“Yeah, it’s a little joke,” Roach explained. “We’ve been — I always like to talk trash with the DBs and tell them I’m a real DB at heart. So when I got the opportunity and made the play with the PBU, you know I just had to give them something. And I was over there by the sideline.”

https://twitter.com/Scotty_G6/status/1847133902659285140

Roach was officially credited with a pass breakup, giving him this stat line in a 33-10 victory: one tackle, one PBU. That’ll do.

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Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers fined $14,069 for poking Raiders player in eye

Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers was fined $14,069 for poking Dylan Parham in the eye in Week 5. JFM says Parham poked him in the eye first.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was fined $14,069 by the NFL on Saturday after he poked Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Dylan Parham in the eye during last week’s game.

Franklin-Myers claims that Parham poked him in the eye first. If that’s true, the NFL apparently didn’t notice because Parham was not fined. Franklin-Myers plans to appeal hisfine.

Franklin-Myers has totaled 12 tackles (three behind the line of scrimmage) and two sacks through five games with the Broncos this season.

In addition to JFM, fullback Mike Burton ($7,653) and defensive lineman Malcolm Roach ($11,255) were both fined for unnecessary roughness against the Raiders. Burton was fined for a blindside block and Roach was fined for a late hit.

Earlier this season, Denver safety P.J. Locke ($27,944), center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872), safety Brandon Jones ($11,255) and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto ($8,791) also received fines from the NFL.

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels.”

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Broncos roster series: No. 97, DL Malcolm Roach

After posting the best run-stop percentage (17.4%) in the NFL last year (per PFF), Malcolm Roach signed with the Broncos.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fifth-year defensive lineman Malcolm Roach, No. 97.

Before the Broncos: Roach (6-3, 290 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas with the New Orleans Saints in 2020. He dressed for nine games as a rookie, totaling 16 tackles. Roach was healthy for seven games in his second season and he recorded his first career interception that year.

Over the last two seasons, Roach played in 25 games with the Saints, totaling 64 tackles, three quarterback hits, three pass breakups and one sack.

Broncos tenure: Denver signed Roach to a two-year deal this spring. He should provide a boost to the defense after posting the best run-stop percentage (17.4%) in the NFL last year, according to PFF.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Near lock. It would be a big surprise if Roach does not end up on the active roster. He’s not a favorite to start, but Roach should be a key part of the defensive line rotation in 2024.

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