As we head into the month of March, free-agent news is going to start rolling in across the NFL. Questions of who will end up where is always an exciting time for fans.
Over the last few weeks, I have discussed options at several positions for the Denver Broncos, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end. Still, most fans have voiced their opinion that the Broncos’ main issue is the offensive line.
So how will John Elway choose to address the line, which we can all agree was next to atrocious a year ago? Is free agency the best route to take? Let’s find out.
For a look at all of the players who will be available as unrestricted free agents this year, make sure to click here.
Offensive Tackle
The Broncos need at least one new offensive tackle this year. Donald Stephenson struggled and Ty Sambrailo had a terrible second year in the league. Last week, the Broncos also decided to move on from Russell Okung after just one season.
1. Andrew Whitworth: One option on the free-agent market would be Andrew Whitworth, the tackle who has spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Whitworth was a second-round pick out of LSU in 2006 and has spent 11 solid seasons with the Bengals. He’s a three-time Pro Bowl selection, including in each of the last two years.
But at 35 years old, the Broncos shouldn’t overspend for a guy who will likely get several offers on the open market.
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2. Ryan Clady: One of the best offensive lineman the Broncos have ever had, Ryan Clady’s best football is behind him. After spending one season with the New York Jets after being traded from Denver last April, Clady will be available as an unrestricted free agent.
The Broncos would have to be pretty desperate to entertain the thought of bringing him back.
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3. Riley Reiff: This might be the guy for the Broncos. Players like Whitworth, Clady, Okung, Sebastian Vollmer and Matt Kalil could all get more attention than Riley Reiff, which could allow the Broncos to target Reiff, who made much less than all of those players last year.
Reiff was a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2012 and after starting 55 games for them, he is still just 28 years old, younger than all of the players listed above aside from Kalil.
There is no doubt the Broncos need to address the tackle spot, but it needs to be the right fit. Is one of the players listed above the right fit?
Offensive Guard
4. T.J. Lang: The Green Bay Packers are crazy if they don’t re-sign this guy and personally, I’m surprised that a deal hasn’t been reached already. The team has enough money to do it.
But if you’ve followed the Packers over the years, you’d know that they’re one of the more frugal teams when it comes to the free-agent market. So if Lang hits the market, the Broncos should absolutely be interested.
Lang has spent his entire eight-year career in Green Bay, where he has become one of the league’s best guards while protecting Aaron Rodgers. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time last season.
Guard isn’t as pressing a need as tackle for the Broncos, but Lang would be an upgrade over any player they have at the position.
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Ronald Leary: This is another situation of a team likely not letting one of their better players go, and the Dallas Cowboys will probably make a big offer to Ronald Leary to keep their stout offensive line intact.
Undrafted out of Memphis in 2012, Leary has started 47 of 48 career games for the Cowboys after serving his rookie year on the practice squad.
Leary held out of the Cowboys’ offseason program last year while requesting a trade as the team also has La’el Collins on the roster. If a team throws big money at him, he likely won’t feel compelled to stay in Dallas.
Luke Joeckel: An interesting name, but only because he was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.
Luke Joeckel was actually drafted as a tackle but was moved inside to guard after struggling with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent much of the 2016 season on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Joeckel is still young at 25 years old and with the right coaching, could be the player we saw at Texas A&M. But the Broncos shouldn’t be in the market for him, let another team take that risk.
Other names to consider at guard: Chance Warmack, Kevin Zeitler, Jahri Evans
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Center
Though the Broncos offensive line was porous last season, that wasn’t due to the play of Matt Paradis at the center position. Paradis has been terrific over the course of the last two seasons, coming out of nowhere to win the starting center spot and then showing he can hold that spot for many years to come.
As a result, the Broncos don’t need to address this position in free agency.
Elway will have a difficult decision to make at the tackle position, and it will be among the most important choices he makes this offseason. If you ask me, it comes down to what he wants to do with his first-round draft pick. If he feels he can get Ryan Ramczyk out of Wisconsin at No. 20 overall, than that is the best route to take. If not, I feel that signing a guy like Reiff would be a better move than drafting a guy like Grant Bolles.
What do you guys think the Broncos should do with the offensive line? Let us know in the comments section below.
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