The NFL Free Agency legal tampering period begins Monday and the new league year opens Wednesday at 2 p.m. MT. Free agent mania is always a fun event and with the Denver Broncos having an open championship window, they should be aggressive this year.
We started with the offensive needs in free agencynow we’re going to talk about defense. Here’s where we think their top priorities should be on defense next week.
Broncos are FA’s top defense needs
Tim Lynch: Losing JFM is going to hurt, but I don’t think they can afford to go big at that position right now. The project there is going to be important.
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The biggest need is really at inside linebacker and part of me is excited to re-sign Alex Singleton as a backup and look for a quality ILB in the draft.
Replacing a guy like Singleton as captain of the defense isn’t very easy, so I’m OK with going back.
Christopher Hart: There is an obvious hole in Denver’s defense and it’s at inside linebacker. With Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad set to become free agents, the Broncos are looking at replacing nearly 1,500 snaps.
My gut tells me Denver will end up keeping one. There have also been rumors that the team might move on from Dre Greenlaw. The position group is loaded with quality free agents. Maybe they make an outside addition there since most entry-level caliber players would be upgrades.
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Like everywhere else? I think they are good. The secondary is set, on the outside perhaps kicking the tires on a PJ Locke replacement at safety. Catching up to John Franklin-Myers’ production won’t be easy, but I believe the hope within Dove Valley is that some combination of Sai’vion Jones and Eyioma Uwazurike can replace his snaps for next year.
Scotty Payne: Linebacker is the biggest need. Singleton and Strnad are FAs and Greenlaw is injury prone. We either need to keep one of the Singleton/Strnads and/or add depth to the position. Their depth is green and not proven either.
After that? Keep adding to the DL if you can and to safety depth.
Ross Allen: The main deficiency was highlighted by their defensive shortcomings over the course of the season and by these responses as well. I don’t think the Broncos have had a true MLB since Brandon Marshall. At least that’s what it feels like. If they could land a true centerpiece for this defense, it would make them absolutely deadly defensively.
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And it’s never a bad thing to strengthen the interior defensive line and then maybe get some depth at the safety position.
Sadaraine: The biggest need for this defense to take a step forward is to improve the inside linebacker position. Rerolling him with Singleton or Strnad is not an option in my mind. It’s just about kicking down the road and holding the defense back. I like our depth everywhere else and I would only sign another defenseman in free agency if it was a lot, honestly.
Ian St. Clair: It seems like we can all agree that inside linebacker is the biggest need for this defense. As others have noted, coming back with what the team had last season won’t be enough. No, it wasn’t a problem last season, but it’s not something you can count on. The Broncos tried with Greenlaw, but he couldn’t stay on the field. Singleton is a great leader, but it’s clear he’s the weakest link in this defense. Reminds me of John Elway and right tackle when he was general manager. That was his blind spot, it seemed, for this current regime, middle linebacker. After that, depth along the defensive line and secondary.
Adam Malnati: I’m just going to pile on here with love from ILB. It’s always a situation of need.
Well, it was a lot of talking with the linebackers. Honestly, I think the linebacker market is a little thin in terms of free agency and keeping Singleton while drafting a rookie might be the smartest move the Broncos could make here. Denver’s defense is generally in good shape and was one of the best units in the NFL last season. Going back with Vance Joseph remaining on the team isn’t a bad idea.
Where are you in this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on defense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.
