#91 Ebenezer Ekuban

Before Ebenezer Ekuban is released or allowed to leave through Free Agency later this month, I wanted to make my argument for keeping him on the roster. During the 2008 season, the one guy on the defensive line that seemed to have the most consistent motor was Mr. Ekuban.

Ekuban didn't even become the starter until near the bye week, yet he tied Elvis Dumervil to lead the defense in sacks with five and came up with some key tackles in some of our wins later in the season. He also provided some valuable leadership to our young guys while possibly playing on the worst defensive system ever deployed in Denver Bronco history.

He has also been a model of consistency throughout his years with the team. Ekuban registered eight sacks in his final season with the Browns, then grabbing four in his first season with the Broncos. He picked up seven in 2006 and five in 2008, after missing the entire 2007 season with an injury. He may not be a starter on defense and if he is willing to be paid around twice the veteran minimum for his position then his value on our defense would more than warrant consideration for keeping him on the roster.

Ebenezer Ekuban registering his second sack of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 of the 2008 season.

I understand that we are purging the defense, but realistically we will need at least a few veteran leaders on our young team and E.E. has always been a positive force on the team. More than likely he will walk and we will find the veteran leadership we need elsewhere, but out of all the soon-to-be former Broncos that are going to be hitting the street in a couple of weeks, Ebenezer Ekuban is the one guy I want to see come back and sign with us.

I also understand that five sacks to lead the team is a joke, but if I was given a choice between a guy like Tim Crowder and Ekuban, I'd pick Ekuban. I know Crowder is one of the young guys and all that but his potential is about what we already have in Ekuban. Crowder isn't a long-term solution for our team, so why not stick with the short-term sure thing in Ebenezer and part ways with Crowder now?

As for Jarvis Moss, he is still developing. In our instant-gratification culture, we tend to expect instant results from first-round draft picks as well.  Even so, I am impressed with how Moss has carried himself in his first two seasons and I am also satisfied with his progression thus far. He is going to have a place on our team in the future, and having a good role model he can relate to like Ebenezer Ekuban will only help our rebuilding cause.

For these reasons, I consider Ekuban to be the only must re-sign defensive free agent on our roster. I acknowledge that this probably won't happen, but I will be more than pleased if it does.