Denver Broncos Free Agent Review: Brodrick Bunkley

by KaptainKirk on Feb 18, 2012 1:00 PM MST in 2012 Denver Broncos Offseason

Ryan Mathews of the San Diego Chargers loses his helmet to Brodrick Bunkley of the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2011. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Defensive Tackle Brodrick Bunkley is the next Denver Bronco we will review. Bunkley was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1st round (14th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft after a stellar 4 year college career at Florida State. Brodrick appeared in 15 games as a rookie and in 2007, he moved into the starting Defensive Tackle spot alongside Mike Patterson. He made 30 Tackles and 3 Sacks that season. After becoming the starter, Bunkley started 52 straight games up until Week 5 of the 2010 season, when he suffered ligament and nerve damage to his left elbow. He totaled 262 tackles (146 solo), six sacks (25 yds.) and three fumble recoveries in his 5 seasons with Philadelphia. On July 30, 2011, Brodrick was traded to the Browns in exchange for a 5th-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but the trade was nullified after Bunkley didn't show up in Cleveland. Instead, the Eagles swapped him to the Broncos for an unspecified pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Brodrick Bunkley

#77 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 306

Born: Nov 23, 1983 (Age: 28)

College: Florida State

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2011 - Brodrick Bunkley	13	0	0	0	0	0	33	10	43

He also had 3 Tackles for a Loss, 1 Quarterback Hit and a Forced Fumble in the regular season.

2011 Season Highlights:

Brodrick was a consistent producer in the middle of the Defensive Line with two 5 Tackle games and five 4 Tackles games in 2011.

On Monday Night at home vs. Oakland, Bunkley started the season opener after missing the final preseason game due to injury. In Week 2 vs. Cincinnati, his lone Tackle in the game came on a 3rd down stuff on Cedric Benson for no gain during Cincinnati’s first offensive drive of the game. That play elucidated a funny little "Sack Dance" that was imitated by Marcus Thomas in another game.

He added 6 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Tackle For a Loss and a QB Hit in the postseason.

Scouting Report

Bunkley is an above-average defensive tackle who brings an aggressive style to the interior line, mixing spin moves and a quick first step to stuff the run and occasionally break into the backfield. A very intense competitor. He has ample strength to dominate in the middle, having Bench pressed 225 pounds 44 times at the 2006 NFL Combine in one of the top performances in the history of the event.

At 6-2, he's a little shorter than you want in an interior lineman. Brodrick prefers to go after the ball rather than drop back in coverage, a sometimes gambling style that might occasionally get him burned.

Free Agent Options

There is a mutual feeling between Bunkley and the Broncos for him to return and I suppose like everything else, it all comes down to money. In 2011, he drew a salary of $635,000, As an Unrestricted Free Agent going into his 7th year, the minimum wage under the new CBA would be $825,000. I believe it is safe to say that Bunkley will make much more than that. Marcus Thomas made $1 Million last season and Brodrick had similar stats. There has also been talk that he might be Franchise Tagged. The projected Franchise Tender will be in the range of $7.89 - $8.193 million and the projected Transition Tender will be around $6.613 - $6.867 million. That is a little steep for the service that Bunkley provides though. In my opinion, he should be getting Cullen Jenkins type money which is in the $2.75M - $3.5 Million range. One thing for sure is that Bunkley makes things easier for the Broncos Pass rushing tandem of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. In fact, Elvis has spoken.

"We haven't had a guy like that, not since I've been here. He's been like a monster in there."

Go Broncos!

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Poll

Should the Denver Broncos re-sign Brodrick Bunkley?

Yes

275 votes

No

7 votes

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Comments

If we can lock him up for 4 years at 3-4 million per year we should do it.

Bunkley is a pro. Very few stupid penalties (I’m looking at you McBean) and solid production. With Vick, Thomas, and Bunkley I think the DT position is in pretty good shape.

Oh, you were finished? Oh, well, allow me to retort!
--Jules Winnfield

by GrizBronc on Feb 18, 2012 1:14 PM MST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

I agree. Don't break the bank for him but that would be a good option IMO.

Tim Tebow wears 3WM and drinks Tuscan whole milk.

by BroncoMath101 on Feb 18, 2012 1:39 PM MST up reply actions

We are so lacking in talent at DT

Even if we draft a DT early, Bunkley is a must re-sign.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on Feb 18, 2012 1:52 PM MST reply actions

Exactly.

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

by rubincarterrocks on Feb 18, 2012 8:09 PM MST up reply actions

bunkley should be priority one

Sure, the kickers are important but that’s probably already a lock. Bunk is a lot better than average. Add two sacks to his stats and he’d have made the pro-bowl. I’m not saying stats matter, just that his lack of pass rush gets him over-looked a little bit. He was a starter for I think three years with the Eagles – a perennial top-ten team against the rush. That says something. This kid is in his prime. Me thinks it’ll cost 4M per year to make him or long-term run stuffer

By drafting the same position to fill the same need in back-to-back years, you lose the ability to gain two starters with two picks. And that's the goal of every draft.
It's time to give Nate Irving and Julius Thomas their first offseason... not draft their replacement.

by Rodney A on Feb 18, 2012 3:27 PM MST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

+1

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².

by Fabio Broncos on Feb 18, 2012 4:06 PM MST up reply actions

Agree...

keep him.

by idahobronc on Feb 18, 2012 4:15 PM MST up reply actions

+2

I'm so optimistic I'd go after Moby Dick in a row boat and take the tartar sauce with me.~Zig Ziglar

by timmaybronco on Feb 19, 2012 10:03 PM MST up reply actions

I don't care if he gets many sacks

his worth lies in the fact that he controls the middle of the line of scrimmage and gives us a solid presence at DT, keep him around, one of my favs for sure

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by the new Bradfather on Feb 20, 2012 12:44 AM MST up reply actions

That play elucidated

I didn’t get the rest of that thought, or was that a complete sentence?

by Baghdad on Feb 19, 2012 1:04 AM MST reply actions

Sorry

I didn’t finish that thought. I think I nodded off right about there. :)
It is complete now. Thanks.

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by KaptainKirk on Feb 19, 2012 6:39 AM MST up reply actions

Keep him

The man’s a beast. Tag him or pay him but don’t let him leave.

That Robert Ayers bullrush against the Steelers scared Chuck Norris.
A long time from now, people will look back to these years and say "That was when history was being made". And I will say, "Yep, I remember The Pass and all the Super Bowls that followed."

Let me tell you a little about myself...been reading Mile High Report for a while, figured I'd get an account and join the conversation. Member since: 2012. Broncos Fan since: Day 1 of my life.

by BroncosFanForLife on Feb 19, 2012 9:09 AM MST reply actions

Keep him buttttt

We have to either change scheme a bit or get someone who can rush the passer from the middle. This is a huge glaring need and if you go back and watch the tape of the last few games, our two DT stood up at the snap and made no push up the middle at all. This lets good qb’s like Brady eat our lunch when they just step up to get away from Doom and Miller.

by kimbertr on Feb 19, 2012 9:22 AM MST reply actions