2018 Disaster Draft: The Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos roster is a F R E A K I N G mess. They have nearly $68 million locked up in five players for 2018, and not a single one of them is a quarterback… and two are corners. The disaster draft for the Broncos comes at a time where they’ve continuously swung and missed on draft picks since winning the Super Bowl. Now several years removed, and without Peyton Manning, the Broncos have one plan in mind: try to keep as much of the defense together as possible, and give whoever ends up at quarterback some weapons and protection, if they can. Without further ado, the worst protected roster so far.

Lost in free agency: Jared Crick, Brock Osweiler, Donald Stephenson, Jamaal Charles

 

The No Doubters:

Player POS. 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Von Miller OLB $22,400,000 $20,900,000 $21,400,000 $18,000,000 UFA
Demaryius Thomas WR $12,033,333 $17,533,333 UFA
Aqib Talib CB $12,000,000 $8,000,000 UFA
Derek Wolfe DE $10,768,750 $10,925,000 UFA
Chris Harris CB $10,366,666 $8,766,668 UFA
Ron Leary G $8,796,875 $9,375,000 $9,375,000 UFA
Bradley Roby CB $8,526,000 UFA
Brandon Marshall ILB $7,000,000 $9,000,000 $9,500,000 UFA

Demaryius Thomas stays on the roster since he’s still the best receiving option they have. He’s going to have to sign a rejiggered deal in 2019 or find himself searching for employment elsewhere, given his QB-level cap hit. Ron Leary is by far their best offensive lineman, and may be their best player on offense. The rest is keeping the core of a very good defense together, including the $20 million man, Von Miller.

The More-Than-Likely Staying:

Maybes POS. 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Emmanuel Sanders WR $10,937,500 $12,937,500 UFA
Domata Peko DT $4,200,000 UFA
Darian Stewart FS $5,900,000 $6,400,000 $6,900,000 UFA
Garett Bolles LT $2,507,250 $3,008,700 $3,510,154 UFA
C.J. Anderson RB $4,500,000 $4,500,000 UFA
Zach Kerr DE $1,671,875 UFA
Jake Butt TE $630,234 $720,234 $810,236 UFA
DeMarcus Walker DE $1,153,150 $1,383,780 $1,614,410 UFA

This is a sad, sad state of affairs for the Broncos, who were just in the gosh darn Super Bowl a few years ago. Their maybes are a good WR2, a decent (old) run stuffer, a good safety, some decent linemen and a tight end that has literally never played an NFL snap. Oh, and a running back that can’t stay healthy to save his life.

The Leftovers:

The following players are the Mile High Goodbyes, they don’t make the cut and are on the block for the Arches or Conquistadors to scoop right up.

Player POS. 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Menelik Watson RT $7,177,083 $7,458,334 UFA
Shane Ray OLB $2,901,467 UFA
Paxton Lynch QB $2,584,444 $3,015,185 UFA
Brandon McManus K $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,250,000 UFA
Adam Gotsis DE $1,073,973 $1,252,971 UFA
Donald Stephenson LT $1,000,000
Jeff Heuerman TE $875,203 UFA
Justin Simmons SS $805,355 $896,355 UFA
Carlos Henderson WR $795,496 $885,496 $975,496 UFA
Max Garcia G $791,423 UFA
Cyrus Kouandjio RT $790,000 UFA
Brendan Langley CB $754,572 $844,572 $935,072 UFA
Devontae Booker RB $725,848 $815,849 UFA
Trevor Siemian QB $718,198 UFA
Stansly Maponga DE $705,000 $805,000 UFA
Deiontrez Mount OLB $705,000 UFA
Connor McGovern G $695,975 $785,975 UFA
Will Parks S $655,089 $745,089 UFA
Riley Dixon P $650,002 $740,003 UFA
Jeremiah Poutasi RT $630,000 $720,000 UFA
Kyle Peko DT $630,000 RFA
Michael Hunter CB $630,000 RFA
Isaiah McKenzie WR $613,961 $703,961 $793,961 UFA
De’Angelo Henderson RB $591,288 $681,288 $771,289 UFA
Chad Kelly QB $571,067 $661,067 $751,069 UFA
Jamal Carter SS $558,333 $648,334 RFA
Matt LaCosse TE $555,000 ERFA
Austin Traylor TE $555,000
J.J. Dielman C $555,000 ERFA
Marcus Rios CB $555,000 ERFA
Dymonte Thomas S $555,000 ERFA
River Cracraft WR $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Jordan Leslie WR $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Tim Patrick WR $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Brian Parker TE $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Paul Boyette Jr. DT $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Jhaustin Thomas DT $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Marcus Rush OLB $480,000 $570,000 ERFA
Jordan Moore S $480,000 $570,000 ERFA

 

 

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