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According to multiple reports, the Denver Broncos traded a conditional 2019 7th round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for guard Allen Barbre.
Eagles traded OL Alan Barbre to broncos for conditional 2019 7th-round pick, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2017
Barbre is a 6’4", 310lb offensive lineman who is entering his 10th season in the NFL. He has spent the last few years with the Eagles, but before that was a bit of a journeyman with stints with the Seahawks twice, Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers.
He has played in 76 career NFL games and has totaled 36 career starts during his 10-year career. 28 of those starts came during the past two seasons when he started all 16 games for the Eagles in 2015 and 12 games for them last season.
Barbre is coming off a very impressive 2016 season where he received an 82.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. He was an excellent run blocker for the Eagles and was ranked as the 16th best guard in the entire NFL last season. So the Broncos potentially have a great pick up here and are giving up very little in exchange for him.
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Now Barbre will create an interesting battle between him, Max Garcia and Michael Schofield for a starting guard spot and potentially a roster spot as well.
Barbre can play both guard spots. This will likely create an interesting competition between Barbre and Max Garcia.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) July 26, 2017
Barbre became available after Isaac Seumalo won the Eagles starting left guard job this offseason. This led to the Eagles moving on from Barbre. There were initial reports that they released him but the Broncos swooped in and swapped a conditional 2019 7th round pick for his services.
Barbre is entering his final year of his four-year contract and comes rather cheap to the Broncos which makes this deal even better.
If Barbre can return to his 2016 form, especially as a run blocker, the Broncos now potentially have two of the better run blocking guard tandems in the entire NFL. Ronald Leary the Broncos big free agent signing was excellent in that area last season and so was Barbre according to Pro Football Focus.
This just shows the emphasis on the run game is something the Broncos are focusing on this offseason. All of the Broncos additions to the offensive line are known for their run blocking. Leary, first-round pick Garett Bolles, tackle Menelik Watson, and now Barbre. So hopefully all these additions help improve a Broncos run game that has been lacking the past few seasons.
I love this addition and think it could pay huge dividends for the Broncos this season. Low cost, high reward trade for the Broncos.