Which position do the Broncos have to ‘win’ to call it a successful free agency?

Andrew Mason asked a really interesting “fill-in-the-blank” on 1st and 10 @ 10 today during the crew’s conversation with Arnie Stapleton of Associated Press.

So I’m going to ask you:

“If the Broncos do not find starters at _________ position in free agency, then they failed in free agency.”

If I were answering it, I’d also have to add a qualifier (because I want to, not because Andrew Mason would allow it):

“If the Broncos do not find starters at the cornerback position in free agency, then they failed IF they can’t/didn’t find a starter at that position in the draft.” (and I’d also consider this the case if the chosen “position” were inside linebacker).

Although that may seem like a “duh” kind of qualifier, by requiring the player to be a starter (in the hypothetical question), it almost ensures that any drafted player is the Broncos’ first-round pick.

And so only if the Broncos are able to secure that position as their first-round pick would they be off the hook if they didn’t get that position in free agency.

There are a lot of “ifs” with the draft, and although I like the idea of C.J. Mosley in free agency as much as the next fan, I’m so high on LSU’s Devin White at inside linebacker as the Broncos’ first-round pick, I think the free agency barometer falls on the cornerback position.

Because that is an even bigger need right now in my opinion, and although there are some great cornerbacks in the draft, an experienced up-and-comer would be better for the Broncos’ dwindling secondary.

It is imperative for the Broncos’ defense to shore up at cornerback and give Chris Harris Jr. some help back there. Some quality help, so quarterbacks cannot just ignore Harris’ man.

Depending on what VIc Fangio & Co. want to do with Harris, Bryce Callahan from the Bears or Pierre Desir of the Colts could be a good fit across from ‘Strap’ Harris.

But who cares what I think...what’s your barometer position for whether the Broncos will have succeeded or failed in free agency?

Bonus Listen

Ryan Edwards, Steve Atwater and Mason also talk about the rumor/report today that the Broncos could be one of the teams interested in Steelers’ star wideout Antonio Brown. Edwards likes the Broncos being in the conversation if the Raiders are, if only to not let an AFC West opponent get him, and Atwater doesn’t want Brown’s entrance to mean Emmanuel Sanders’ exit, so he’s not too big on the idea. Mason believes there are just way too many needs “on the shopping list” to spend the kind of cash it will take for Brown. And then, of course, there’s the question of whether Brown can fall in line with Fangio’s “death by inches” mantra.

So basically, Brown should be a big “No” for the Broncos (if you’re asking me).