2013 NFL Free Agency: The Best of the Rest

The 2013 NFL Free Agency period has survived it’s first week and seen the majority of the high dollar players snatched up. Approximately 150 out of 400 or so Free Agents have signed new deals. That’s only 38%. The market has definitely slowed down as teams are looking for the best deals available. If they remain patient, there could be a bargain or two, especially at the more flooded positions (Cornerback).

The Denver Broncos have made a decent splash, picking up five new faces and re-signing a couple others. (G) Louis Vasquez, (LB) Stewart Bradley, (WR) Wes Welker, (DT) Terrance Knighton, and (CB) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie were picked up, while (S) David Bruton and (DT) Kevin Vickerson signed on for another hitch.

With the status of DE Elvis Dumervil up in the air, the Broncos have room to obtain a few more players as a second option, if Elvis is truly not coming back. Take a look at some of the positions that Denver need to upgrade and the best of the rest in the Free Agent arena. I’ve assembled a list from this site.

Note: The "street" Free Agents and players without qualifying offers are denoted by the (ex-) before their most recent teams.

RUNNING BACKS

Name/Age/Team

• Ahmad Bradshaw.......27.....N.Y. Giants

• LaRod Stephens-Howling...25....Arizona

• Beanie Wells........24.....ex-Arizona

• Michael Turner...31.....ex-Atlanta

• Felix Jones..........25.....Dallas

• Cedric Benson.....30.....Green Bay

• Peyton Hillis........27.....Kansas City

• Brandon Jacobs...30.....ex-San Francisco

• Jackie Battle.........29.....Kansas City

• Kevin Smith.........26.....Detroit

• Bernard Scott.......29.....Cincinnati

• Javon Ringer.......26.....Tennessee

Not a very attractive list is it? It is probably a better idea to fill this area through next month’s Draft. At least a draft pick will have less mileage anyway.

With the signing of Wes Welker, the depth at the Wide Receiver position for the Broncos is likely to be filled by a late round pick. There are also a few options left on the roster like Andre Caldwell, Gerell Robinson and Greg Orton among others. I could even see Brandon Stokley’s possible return. So let’s move over to the other side of the ball.

Note: Defensive lineman and linebackers marked with an asterisk have proven ability to play in 3-4 defenses.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Name/Age/Team

• Sen'Derrick Marks.....26.....Tennessee

• Alan Branch...............28.....Seattle

• Sedrick Ellis................27.....New Orleans

• Dwan Edwards...........31.....Carolina

• Casey Hampton*.......35.....Pittsburgh

• Antonio Johnson*.....28.....Indianapolis

• Richard Seymour*.....33.....Oakland

• Ma'ake Kemoeatu*....34.....Baltimore

• Justin Bannan............33.....Denver

• Derek Landri...............29.....Philadelphia

• Rocky Bernard...........33......N.Y. Giants

• Corey Williams...........32.....Detroit

• Sione Po'uha*.............34.....ex-N.Y. Jets

The Broncos should try to pick up a Defensive Tackle through the draft, but they could spend money here on another Free Agent and attempt to select a pair of Defensive Ends next month.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Name/Age/Team

• Elvis Dumervil*...29.....ex-Denver

• John Abraham.....34.....ex-Atlanta

• Dwight Freeney...33.....Indianapolis

• Osi Umenyiora....31.....N.Y. Giants

• Vaughn Martin*..26.....San Diego

• Israel Idonije.......32.....Chicago

• Frostee Rucker*...29.....ex-Cleveland

• Kyle Moore..........26.....Buffalo

• Lawrence Jackson.....27.....Detroit

• Trevor Scott......28.....New England

• Darryl Tapp......28.....Philadelphia

• Andre Carter.....33.....Oakland

• Juqua Parker....34.....Cleveland

• Dave Tollefson..30.....ex-Oakland

Obviously, Elvis Dumervil would be the first choice for everyone and we’ll continue to hold out hope for his return. The next three on the list; Abraham, Freeney and Osi Umenyiora can each apply a measure of pressure and would end up as a situational player in the short term. The Defensive End position is another position of depth in this year’s draft as well.

INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKERS

Name/Age/Team

• Brian Urlacher..34.....Chicago

• Brad Jones*.......26.....Green Bay

• Karlos Dansby*..31.....ex-Miami

• Nick Barnett*.....31.....ex-Buffalo

• Larry Grant*......28.....San Francisco

• Takeo Spikes*.....36.....ex-San Diego

• Bradie James*....32.....Houston

• Bart Scott*..........32......ex-N.Y. Jets

• Paris Lenon*.......35.....Arizona

• Zac Diles..............27.....Tennessee

• Chase Blackburn..29.....N.Y. Giants

• Tim Dobbins* ......30.....Houston

• Barrett Ruud*......29.....Houston

There are some of us here at MHR, who would like to see the Broncos address the Middle Linebacker position. That thought has been held ever since Al Wilson was forced into a premature retirement due to a Neck injury. Others hold that, because the NFL is a passing league, the Nickel package becomes more prevalent, and Linebackers Wesley Woodyard and Danny Trevathan fill that need. For now, new acquisition Stewart Bradley will act as insurance for the Training Camp battle between Nate Irving and Steven Johnson, who the Broncos would like to take the starting Mike spot.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Name/Age/Team

• James Harrison*.....34.....ex-Pittsburgh

• Justin Durant ........27.....Detroit

• Daryl Smith............31.....Jacksonville

• Shaun Phillips*.......31.....San Diego

• James Anderson.....29.....ex-Carolina

• Michael Boley ......30.....ex-N.Y. Giants

• Victor Butler*........25.....Dallas

• Calvin Pace*..........32.....ex-N.Y. Jets

• D.J. Williams* ......30.....ex-Denver

• Rocky McIntosh*..30.....St. Louis

• Thomas Howard....29.....Cincinnati

• Akeem Jordan........26.....Philadelphia

Outside Linebacker D.J. Williams was released last week, opening up a roster spot for a replacement. The question is, will the Broncos sign a player or draft one?

SAFETIES

Name/Age/Team

• Ed Reed.....................34.....Baltimore

• Kerry Rhodes.............30.....ex-Arizona

• Bernard Pollard.........28.....ex-Baltimore

• Gerald Sensabaugh...29.....ex-Dallas

• Dawan Landry..........30.....ex-Jacksonville

• Charles Woodson......36.....ex-Green Bay

• Quintin Mikell...........32.....ex-St. Louis

• Michael Huff.............30.....ex-Oakland

• Ronde Barber............37.....Tampa Bay

• Tom Zbikowski.........27.....ex-Indianapolis

• Atari Bigby................31.....ex-San Diego

Who wouldn’t want Ed Reed or Bernard Pollard patrolling the Bronco Defensive backfield? But seriously, Pollard is three years younger than Mike Adams and definitely more feared throughout the league.

I purposely omitted the other positions simply because Denver likely wouldn’t be interested in filling them through the Free Agent pool.

So what do you think. Is there a player you’d like the Broncos to obtain?

Go Broncos!

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