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Denver Broncos Contracts: Offense 2013-2015

While doing the roster prep for the draft, I noticed a disturbing trend. The Broncos are gonna face a lot of expiring contracts the next couple of seasons. I'm going to take a look at each player to see who's contract comes up when. Hopefully we get a better understanding on what the Broncos might attempt to do and also be better prepared to face the situation as a fanbase.

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

I'm going to use some specific language in these charts, here is an explanation:

Signed: Will have more years on the contract after that year

Contract Year: Final year of current contract

UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent, means the player is free to test the market

RFA: Means that any team can tender an offer, but the Broncos have the right to match OR the signing team must pony up some draft picks.

ERFA: Exclusive Rights Free Agent, The Player may be tendered a salary at the vet minimum for their position. Only the Broncos can negotiate.

Franchise Tag: Means that player is with the Broncos for that year, his contract once signed becomes fully guaranteed.

Below is a chart for both the offensive starters and backups

Offense-Starters

Player

POS

2013 status

2014 status

2015 status

Peyton Manning

QB

Signed

Signed

Signed/dependent

Willis McGahee

RB

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Knowshon Moreno

RB

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Demaryius Thomas

WR

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Eric Decker

WR

Contract Year

UFA

---

Wes Welker

WR

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Joel Dreessen

TE

Signed

Contact Year

UFA

Jacob Tamme

TE

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Ryan Clady

LT

Franchise Tag

UFA

---

Zane Beadles

LG

Contract Year

UFA

---

J.D. Walton

C

Contract Year

UFA

---

Louis Vasquez

RG

Signed

Signed

Signed

Orlando Franklin

RT

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Chris Kuper

RG

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

2013

Four starters are in their contract years. Eric Decker, Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, and J.D. Walton. Decker and Clady project to get big paydays. Beadles could be in line for one as well with another pro bowl season. Walton is a question mark.

2014

Decker, Clady, Beadles, and Walton become UFA.

McGahee, Moreno, Thomas, Welker, Dreessen, Tamme and Franklin are in their contract years. McGahee will be gone, Moreno likely will be as well. Dreessen and Tamme will be on the wrong side of 30, I don't expect either would be difficult to resign at a discount if the Broncos choose to. Franklin should get a decent contract. Welker will probably be done or will be signed to the vet minimum after this point.

2015

McGahee, Moreno, Thomas, Welker Dreessen, Tamme, and Franklin are all UFA.

Chris Kuper is in his contract year

If Manning is still healthy and productive, the Broncos can choose to pick up his contract for 2015. In that case he would be paid 19 million guaranteed.

Overall

11 out of the 14 starters on the roster will become UFA between now and 2015

Offense--Backups

Player

POS

2013 status

2014 status

2015 status

Brock Osweiler

QB

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

Ronnie Hillman

RB

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

Lance Ball

RB

Contract Year

UFA

---

Jacob Hester

RB

Contract Year

UFA

---

Andre Caldwell

WR

Contract Year

UFA

---

Trindon Holliday

WR

Contract Year

ERFA

---

Virgil Green

TE

Signed

Contact Year

UFA

Julius Thomas

TE

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Chris Clark

T

Contract Year

UFA

---

Phillip Blake

C/G

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

C.J. Davis

C/G

Contract Year

RFA

---

Manny Ramirez

G

Contract Year

UFA

---

2013

Ball, Hester, Holliday, Caldwell, Clark, Davis, and Ramirez will all be in their contract year. No one from this group will demand a big payday.

2014

Ball, Hester, Caldwell, Clark, and Ramirez all become UFA, Trindon Holliday is an ERFA. Davis is a RFA.

Virgil Green and Julius Thomas will be in their contract year. It will depend whether or not these guys will garner a big payday.

2015

Green and Thomas become UFA

Osweiler, Hillman, and Blake will be in their contract year.

Overall

7 out of 12 offensive backups will be UFA between now and 2015

Broken down by position groups, these are the players that will become UFA between now and 2015:

0/0 QB's (Manning's 2015 is dependent on the Broncos exercising that option)

4/5 RB's (Moreno, McGahee, Ball, Hester)

4/4 TE's (Tamme, Dreessen, J. Thomas, Green)

5/5 WR's (D. Thomas, Decker, Welker, Caldwell, Holliday)

6/10 O-Linemen (Clady, Beadles, Walton, Franklin, Clark, Ramirez)

In total, 19/24 or 79% of the offensive starters will become UFA between now and 2015

The most important ones to resign will be Virgil Green, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, and Orlando Franklin.

The Broncos will face many tough decisions regarding their roster over the next couple of seasons. This is where we will really get to see what our FO is made of.