:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45624682/usa-today-8355850.0.jpg)
Good late-morning, Broncos Country!
I'm just here so I won't get fined - haha!
OK, not really, but I am just here to start the conversation :)
And what better way to do that than to pull out some of the best thoughts from others regarding the Broncos!
ESPN's Jeff Legwold is talking salary cap and player contracts this morning, and his projections may make a lot of fans happy. With 17 players listed as restricted or unrestricted free agents, the Broncos have a lot of decisions to make. But as Legwold points out, Broncos GM John Elway is not looking to let as many current players walk as he did last year.
"We like our roster, we like where we are with the moves we've made,'' Elway said. "We're always looking to improve and will bring in any player we think is an improvement over guys we have, but we have some of our own guys coming up and we want to do what we can there.''
The NFL reported just before the end of the season that the 2015 salary cap was expected to be between $138.6 and $141.8 million per team, more than $5 million more in cap space per team than last year.
According to Legwold, if the cap is near those projections, the Broncos "would (conservatively) have about $25 million in projected workable salary cap space," taking into account the team's top 51 salary cap figures right now.
"@BMarshh54 and @JusSayNate." #BroncosTopShots LOOK: [http://t.co/q4l2tguVcl] pic.twitter.com/HtmnoxncZd
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) February 4, 2015
Elway is anticipating "about eight draft picks," which will have to be factored into that number too. And if Manning is on the roster March 9, that's another $19 million chunk out.
With minimal player bonuses and dead money to account for, Legwold sees the Broncos aiming to keep many of their free agents, possibly tagging Demaryius Thomas (in 2014 that was just north of $12 million) if a long-term deal can't be reached, and looking to restructure Ryan Clady's contract.
It all means the Broncos' focus will be largely on their own free agents. The top priority is wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, whom the Broncos would certainly like to sign to a long-term deal, but at minimum will be poised to use the franchise player tag on him for '15.
Julius Thomas and Terrance Knighton are high on the list but with JT's vocal request to be among the highest paid tight ends (around $10 million) in the NFL and Knighton likely to be wooed by Jack Del Rio and the Raiders, Elway will have to choose whether the favorites deserve the money they want.
What do you think, Broncos Country ... Assuming Manning, Clady and DT are on the roster, who are the next top priorities. Where do you rank the Broncos' priorities in signing JT, Virgil Green, Brandon Marshall, Orlando Franklin?
Horse Tracks
Broncos will run in 2015 - Denver Broncos Blog - ESPN
ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold talks about Gary Kubiak’s offense and its reliance on the run game.
D-line looks to build with smooth transition to 3-4
The Broncos' defensive line coach is no stranger to helping a team change from a 4-3 defensive scheme to a 3-4. We sat down with him to discuss the future of the Broncos' defensive line.
John Elway: The man with the golden gut - Fortune
John Elway displays the same instincts, hard work, and swagger as a GM that he did as an NFL player.me.
Broncos Mailbag: How to interpret Peyton Manning's second-half slump? - The Denver Post
In the Broncos Mailbag, Mike Klis tackles nine questions, including one about the possible return of quarterback Peyton Manning next season.
Inspired by others and by her own near tragedy, a snowboarder steps up - Edge - SI.com
You can take this to the bank: writers would rather tell the story than be the story -- and Kim Constantinesco is no exception. This athlete, writer and Purpose2Play founder is much more comfortable behind the scenes, chronicling stories of triumph for her online sports publication, and shining a spotlight on the countless unsung heroes who have climbed mountains, run marathons and achieved seeming miracles, despite their physical limitations.