Let the Drew Lock era commence.
Now that the Denver Broncos have their quarterback of the future, John Elway and the front office can begin to fill the pieces around him. The line we have often heard over the last month or so is the Broncos will buy the defense and build the offense through the NFL Draft.
With legal tampering now open, all teams have the right to negotiate all aspects of an NFL player contract with the certified agent of an impending free agent. Figures can be exchanged on a deal, but nothing can be agreed to or announced before the start of free agency at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
On the MHR Radio Podcast, Adam Malnati and I analyze the Broncos moves in free agency and think they’re better now than when the 2019 season ended and actually put them in playoff contention.
The first piece of the puzzle was put into place when Denver traded a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback A.J. Bouye.
As for the rest of the pieces, we will keep Broncos Country up to date on the latest news, reports and rumors on who Elway and Vic Fangio are looking to sign. Check back often for all of the updates.
Here is where we sit.
Broncos 2020 free agency
Broncos cap space: $17,716,854 (Top 51).
Broncos unrestricted free agents: Chris Harris Jr., Derek Wolfe, Ron Leary, Shelby Harris, Theo Riddick, Casey Kreiter, Adam Gotsis, Billy Winn, Cyrus Jones, Jeremiah Attaochu, Corey Nelson, Devontae Booker, Connor McGovern, Dymonte Thomas, Will Parks, and Dadi Nicolas.
Broncos free agent signings
March 16: Legal tampering period begins.
March 16: Mike Klis reports the Broncos are signing offensive lineman Graham Glasgow. Details are four years, $44 million, with $26 million guaranteed.
March 17: Brandon Krisztal reports the Broncos will sign Jeff Driskel as their backup quarterback. It was confirmed by Klis.
March 18: The league year opens at 2 p.m. MT.
March 18: Benjamin Allbright reports the Broncos are signing cornerback De’Vante Bausby to a one-year deal.
March 18: Here are the contract details for Driskel.
March 18: Klis reports Denver will give a second-round tender, $3.25 million, to Mike Purcell.
March 20: Looks like the Broncos are finalizing a deal with running back Melvin Gordon. Ian Rapoport reports Denver signed Gordon to a two-year deal worth $16 million, with $13.5 million guaranteed.
March 20: The Broncos made the signing of Bausby official.
March 20: Here are Gordon’s contract details with the Broncos.
March 21: Klis reports the Broncos have signed tight end Nick Vannett. Rapoport adds that it’s a two-year deal. Here are the contract details.
March 21: The Broncos bring back linebacker Joe Jones on a one-year deal. Troy Renck had the news first.
March 22: Here are Bausby’s contract details with the Broncos.
March 23: The Broncos made the signing of Glasgow official.
March 23: Adam Schefter reports the Broncos are signing Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal.
March 24: Mike Garafolo reports Denver will sign punter Sam Martin to a three-year deal.
March 25: Here are Martin’s contract details with the Broncos.
March 26: Denver made the signing of Gordon official.
March 26: The Broncos made the signing of Driskel official.
March 27: Denver made official the signings of Jones and defensive lineman Joel Heath.
March 27: Krisztal reports the Broncos will sign Shelby Harris to a one-year deal. Nicki Jhabvala confirmed it.
March 30: The Broncos made the signing of Attaochu official.
March 30: The Broncos made the signing of Martin official.
Broncos trades
March 3: Broncos trade fourth-round pick for cornerback A.J. Bouye.
March 17: Mike Klis reports that the Broncos have traded Andy Janovich to the Cleveland Browns for a 2021 seventh-round pick.
March 18: Klis reports Denver is trading a late-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans for defensive lineman Jurrell Casey. The compensation is a seventh-round pick (that is straight criminal).
March 18: The Broncos made the trade for Bouye official.
March 19: Denver makes the trade for Casey official.
Broncos free agency news and rumors
March 2: Broncos place second-round tender on offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson.
March 13: Contract options for Von Miller, Todd Davis, and Brandon McManus picked up by Broncos. Team declines option for Ronald Leary.
March 14: Chris Harris admitted that the door to returning to Broncos has been closed.
Monday
March 16: The Miami Dolphins may go after Connor McGovern when legal tampering opens.
March 16: Cecil Lammey thinks D.J. Reader, Graham Glasgow and Nick Kwiatkoski will be the top targets for the Broncos as legal tampering opens.
March 16: Now that the negotiation window is open, Josina Anderson reports the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders are showing interest in Harris.
March 16: According to Allbright and Pro Football Network, the Broncos are “all-in” on Reader.
March 16: The Broncos won’t tender restricted free agent quarterback Brandon Allen. Though Denver will try to re-sign him.
March 16: Klis reports the Broncos are working on a one-year deal with restricted free agent cornerback De’Vante Bausby.
March 16: Sure looks like Kwiatkoski is headed to the Raiders. And it’s been confirmed by Ian Rapoport.
March 16: According to Klis, keep an eye on the Broncos and the running back market. Denver had preliminary interest into David Johnson.
March 16: Seems like Derek Wolfe could be saying good bye and thank you to the Broncos and Broncos Country. Troy Renck talked to Wolfe and it’s just a thank you.
March 16: Klis reports the Broncos officially placed a second-round tender on Wilkinson.
March 16: Klis reports Denver has given exclusive rights FA tenders to Diontae Spencer, Tim Patrick, Shakial Taylor and Trey Marshall,
March 16: Klis reports the Broncos are signing offensive lineman Glasgow. Details are four years, $44 million, with $26 million guaranteed.
March 16: Allbright said some targets for the Broncos: Reader, Prince Amukamara, Mike Remmers, and Jordan Howard.
March 16: Klis reports that the Broncos did make an offer to McGovern but pulled it after they signed Glasgow. McGovern will be moving on.
March 16: Klis reports that Denver remains in discussions with Reader.
March 16: Allbright said on Broncos Country Tonight that the Broncos are in the final four for Reader, but a team could sneak in.
March 16: Allbright also said on Broncos Country Tonight that Denver is looking at Jarran Reed.
March 16: Klis reports the Broncos are trying to work out a deal with restricted free agent Mike Purcell. If no agreement is reached the team will tender the nose tackle, though it’s unclear if it will be a second-round tender or an original-round tender.
Tuesday
March 17: Klis reported in his Glasgow story the Broncos are in the market for defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson and cornerback Kevin Johnson.
March 17: The Broncos officially announced they placed a second-round tender on Wilkinson and tendered four exclusive rights free agents.
March 17: Nicki Jhabavla reports Denver is looking for a backup quarterback, and it could find it in free agency or by re-signing Allen. She also said Joe Flacco is still on the roster but the June 1 designation is back in play with the new CBA.
March 17: Joe Schobert, a potential linebacker target for the Broncos, has signed with the Jaguars.
March 17: Howard is closing in on a deal with the Dolphins. Howard had been linked to Denver.
March 17: Reader, the Broncos top target on the defensive line, is headed to the Bengals. Sounds like the total value between the Bengals and Denver on the Reader deal was “fairly significant.”
March 17: Jeff Legwald tweeted that Denver could still look at defensive line and running back on a short-term deal. He also said there is some value among cornerbacks as well.
March 17: McGovern is headed to the New York Jets, according to Manish Mehta. Tom Pelissero adds it’s a three-year deal worth $27 million.
March 17: Klis reports that the Broncos have traded Andy Janovich to the Cleveland Browns for a 2021 seventh-round pick.
March 17: Jefferson is signing with the Bills. Klis reports Denver made an offer on Monday night but moved on Tuesday.
March 17: Brandon Krisztal reports the Broncos will sign Jeff Driskel as their backup quarterback. It was confirmed by Klis.
March 17: Klis reports that the Driskel signing all but guarantees Denver moves on from Flacco — either by release or trade. And it could happen by week’s end.
Wednesday
March 18: Benjamin Allbright reports the Broncos are signing cornerback De’Vante Bausby to a one-year deal.
March 18: Allbright says that cornerbacks Amukamara and Nickell Robey-Coleman are still in play for Denver.
March 18: Klis reports Denver is trading for Jurrell Casey from the Tennessee Titans for a Day Three draft pick. The compensation is a seventh-round pick.
March 18: Here are the contract details for Driskel.
March 18: Linval Joseph, who had been linked to the Broncos, is signing with the Los Angeles Chargers. With the addition of Casey, doubtful Denver would have signed him.
March 18: Klis reports Denver will give a second-round tender, $3.25 million, to Mike Purcell.
March 18: The Broncos will also tender Jake Rodgers.
March 18: The Chargers and New Orleans Saints are in the mix for Chris Harris.
March 18: Josina Anderson reports that Harris is headed to the Chargers.
March 18: The Broncos made the trade for Bouye official.
March 18: Troy Renck reports the Broncos will bring back linebacker Joe Jones on a one-year deal. Renck adds that Denver will look to add another cornerback in free agency.
March 18: Pierce is headed to the Vikings. Since the Broncos traded for Casey and tendered Purcell, they probably bowed out.
Thursday
March 19: Wolfe has had discussions with the New England Patriots.
March 19: The Broncos informed Flacco that he is being waived with a failed physical designation, according to Adam Schefter. Here’s an update on Denver’s salary cap after the Flacco cut from Klis.
March 19: Update and clarification on linebacker Joe Jones.
March 19: Sounds like Melvin Gordon and the Bills have mutual interest. There have been rumors linking Gordon to the Broncos. And then Mike Garafolo shoots that down.
March 19: Denver makes the trade for Casey official.
March 19: Kevin Johnson is headed to the Browns. The cornerback had been linked to the Broncos.
Friday
March 20: Looks like the Broncos are finalizing a deal with running back Melvin Gordon. Ian Rapoport reports Denver signed Gordon to a two-year deal worth $16 million, with $13.5 million guaranteed.
March 20: The Broncos made the signing of Bausby official.
March 20: Here are Gordon’s contract details with the Broncos.
Saturday
March 21: Broncos are interested in XFL quarterback P.J. Walker.
March 21: Will Parks is signing a one-year deal the Philadelphia Eagles.
March 21: Klis reports the Broncos have signed tight end Nick Vannett. Rapoport adds that it’s a two-year deal. Here are the contract details.
March 21: The Broncos bring back linebacker Joe Jones on a one-year deal. Troy Renck had the news first.
Sunday
March 22: The Broncos restructured the contract of Bryce Callahan to free up $1.8 million in cap space.
March 22: Here are Bausby’s contract details with the Broncos.
Monday
March 23: The Broncos made the signing of Glasgow official.
March 23: Schefter reports the Broncos are signing Attaochu to a one-year deal.
Tuesday
March 24: Mike Garafolo reports Denver will sign punter Sam Martin to a three-year deal.
Wednesday
March 25: Here are Martin’s contract details with the Broncos.
Thursday
March 26: Denver made the signing of Gordon official.
March 26: The Broncos made the signing of Driskel official.
Friday
March 27: Denver made official the signings of Jones and defensive lineman Joel Heath.
March 27: Krisztal reports the Broncos will sign Shelby Harris to a one-year deal. Nicki Jhabvala confirmed it.
Saturday
March 28: Wolfe is signing with the Baltimore Ravens.
Monday
March 30: The Broncos made the signing of Attaochu official.
March 30: The Broncos made the signing of Martin official.