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2011 NFL Offseason: Denver Broncos

Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents

Denver Broncos (Last Year: 4-12) - Buy Tickets

2011 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
HC John Fox, DC Dennis Allen, RB Willis McGahee, WR David Anderson, TE Daniel Fells, TE Dante Rosario, DE Derrick Harvey, DE Jeremy Jarmon, DT Ty Warren, DT Brodrick Bunkley.
Early Draft Picks:
OLB Von Miller, FS Rahim Moore, OT/G Orlando Franklin, ILB Nate Irving, S Quinton Carter, TE Julius Thomas.
Offseason Losses:
HC Josh McDaniels, DC Don Martindale, RB Correll Buckhalter, WR Jabar Gaffney, TE Daniel Graham, OT Ryan Harris, DT Justin Bannan, NT Jamal Williams, NT Ronald Fields, S Renaldo Hill.

2011 Denver Broncos Offense:
It's amazing. Josh McDaniels is gone, yet the stupidity continues. Kyle Orton, whom many presumed would be traded this offseason, was named the starting quarterback after one week of training camp. Orton's salary was too high, Denver's trade demands were too great, and Tim Tebow's early struggles were too apparent, all of which prompted this ridiculous decision.

Here's the issue - Orton might be out-performing Tebow now, but there's no future with him. He's the most mediocre quarterback in the NFL, and just doesn't have the physical tools to lead a team deep into the playoffs. Orton has a weak arm, and really struggles in the red zone. He's also abysmal on third down, unwilling to stand in the pocket and wait for his receivers to run past the first-down marker. Sure, he can lead a team to an 8-8 or 9-7 record, but what's that going to accomplish? Tebow is the potential future, and he should at least have a shot before the front office decides to pull the trigger on one of the three elite quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft (Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Landry "Lance" Jones.)

The mediocrity will continue with Orton, though one player who has to be thrilled with this decision is Brandon Lloyd. Considered a bust prior to last season, Lloyd came out of nowhere to haul in 77 receptions for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns. While Lloyd won't match those numbers this year - a result of Josh McDaniels' departure - he'll still be a legitimate No. 1 receiver as Orton's preferred target. Lloyd reported to training camp in great shape and has drawn praise from new head coach John Fox.

The rest of Denver's receiving corps leaves much to be desired. Eddie Royal, who has done nothing since his fabulous 2008 rookie campaign, and Eric Decker, a second-year player, will be Orton's Nos. 2 and 3 wideouts - at least until 2010 first-round pick Demaryius Thomas returns. Unfortunately, the Broncos could be waiting a long time for that to happen. Thomas is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, and may not be ready to play until December. Rookie tight end Julius Thomas has shown flashes in training camp, but probably won't contribute much until 2012.

Of course, that probably doesn't matter all that much to Fox, who is more interested in establishing the same type of strong rushing attack he utilized in Carolina. That could be an issue, however, given Denver's personnel. Knowshon Moreno, the 12th-overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, has disappointed in his first two seasons. Moreno hasn't been able to stay healthy, and his heart and motivation have recently come into question.

Fox said earlier this offseason that the running back position was the team's "No. 1 priority," but he couldn't sign DeAngelo Williams because of financial constraints. That doesn't bode well for his confidence in Moreno, so it's plausible that newly signed Willis McGahee could eventually take over the starting running back job. McGahee is 29, and has only carried the ball 378 times the past three seasons, so he could still have fresh legs.

Part of the reason why Williams and Jonathan Stewart were so successful under Fox was Carolina's monstrous offensive line. Moreno and McGahee won't have that same luxury in 2011. The lone bright spot up front is left tackle Ryan Clady, who will really have to anchor a front comprised of unproven youngsters and a mediocre veteran.

The rawest of the linemen is right tackle Orlando Franklin, who was chosen in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Franklin has talent, but like all rookies in this shortened offseason, it's going to take him quite a while to adjust.

Two second-year players man the interior; left guard Zane Beadles and center J.D. Walton, chosen in the second and third rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft, respectively, struggled as rookies, but should be better by default this season. The guy who probably won't improve is right guard Chris Kuper, who was guilty of six penalties and five sacks in 2010 - both being high numbers for a player at his position.

2011 Denver Broncos Defense:
Denver's selection of linebacker Von Miller with the second-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft was extremely ironic. In his first draft with the Broncos, Josh McDaniels made the mistake of obtaining a 4-3 player in Robert Ayers for his 3-4 defense. Ayers predictably struggled. With McDaniels gone, everyone assumed Denver would utilize better logic, yet the new front office took a 3-4 player for its new 4-3 defense.

Miller is not Ayers though. He's a freak athlete who figures to have a great career as a Bronco. He'll fit right in as Denver's new strongside linebacker. However, he won't be nearly as effective as he would have been in a 3-4. His forte is rushing the passer, yet he won't be able to do that unless the Broncos are in second-and-long or third-and-intermediate situations. Given the Broncos' struggles against the run, Miller won't enjoy many opportunities to get after the quarterback.

Denver had a massive void at defensive tackle entering this offseason, but didn't address the position in the 2011 NFL Draft. Instead, the front office waited until the lockout was over to land Brodrick Bunkley via a trade and Ty Warren as a cheap signing. That looks good on paper, but both players have major injury red flags. Bunkley was initially dealt to Cleveland, but the move was nullified because the Browns had medical concerns with the former Eagle. Warren, meanwhile, was discarded by the Patriots because he failed a physical. Warren can play on a Pro Bowl level when healthy, but he's coming off hip surgery.

Speaking of injuries, defensive end Elvis Dumervil missed the entire 2010 campaign with a torn chest. Dumervil had 17 sacks in 2009, and was obviously missed by a stop unit that managed a league-worst 23 sacks. Dumervil should once again post a double-digit sack figure, but like Miller, he won't be as effective in the 4-3. Dumervil's deficiency against the run was masked in the 3-4, which should make everyone wonder if this new regime is doing the right thing by transitioning to the 4-3. One player who will benefit from this, however, is Ayers, who is currently the favorite to start at left end. It'll be interesting to see if he can finally live up to his potential.

Even though Dumervil will get eaten alive in the running game, his pass rushing will be a welcome sight for a secondary that ranked 30th in terms of YPA last year (7.8). That statistic will improve, but not by much. Both starting cornerbacks, Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman, are 33. Bailey played at an extremely high level in 2010, but a decline could realistically occur given his age. Goodman, meanwhile, is a huge liability. He's forced into the starting lineup because Perrish Cox was a arrested for a double felony in December, in which he was accused of raping and impregnating a woman after drugging her. Unlike the Ben Roethlisberger situation, there's hard evidence against Cox, prompting the Denver Post to predict that the Broncos will part ways with the troubled corner.

It even gets more geriatric at strong safety, where Brian Dawkins, 38 in October, is slated to start. Dawkins is a future Hall of Famer, but he can no longer play effectively. He's an enormous liability in coverage. Rahim Moore will have to provide some stability at free safety, which is a lot to ask from a second-round rookie in a shortened offseason.

The linebacking corps is undoubtedly the strength of Denver's defense. Joining Miller is D.J. Williams, a well-rounded weakside linebacker coming off a great year. The third player in the group is Joe Mays, who can be effective as a two-down run-stuffer.

2010 Denver Broncos Schedule and Intangibles:
Freezing temperatures and thin air should create a hostile environment for opponents, which explains why Denver had an NFL-best 70-18 home record from 1995 to 2005. However, the team is just 20-20 as hosts the past four seasons. Is the Mile High magic dead? It certainly appeared that way when the Raiders marched into Denver and walked away with a 59-14 victory on Oct. 24.

After a rocky rookie campaign, Matt Prater has been great the past two years, nailing 46-of-53 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 50-plus. He was 16-of-18 in 2010.

Punter Britton Colquitt was pretty solid last season, maintaining a 44.6 average. However, he had just 19-of-86 attempts go inside the opposing 20.

Eddie Royal scored on two special-teams touchdowns in 2009. He didn't find the end zone last year, but still maintained an impressive 11.9 average on punt returns. Unfortunately, the Broncos surrendered a return touchdown themselves, which gives them a total of eight in the past four years. That's not good.

The Broncos could begin the year 3-0, as their first three opponents are the Raiders (home), Bengals (home) and Titans (road). Other winnable games include Oakland again, Kansas City twice, Miami (road), Minnesota (road) and Buffalo (road). Of course, Denver isn't very good, so don't expect too many victories to come out of those "winnable" games.

2011 Denver Broncos Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

Quarterbacks	Offensive Line	Secondary
Running Backs	Defensive Line	Special Teams
Receivers	Linebackers	Coaching

2011 Denver Broncos Analysis: John Fox is an upgrade over Josh McDaniels in the long run, but not this year. Like every team that has brought in a new head coach, the Broncos will struggle in the early going because of the shortened offseason, especially considering the fact that they'll be running a new defensive scheme - one that doesn't suit two of the better players on the team.

This 2011 campaign is a throw-away year for the Broncos. They won't progress until they find themselves a franchise quarterback - whether that's Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Landry Jones... or Tim Tebow.

Projection: 3-13 (4th in AFC West)

2011 Fantasy Football Rankings

More 2011 NFL Season Previews

*** 2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES, OFFSEASON NEEDS BELOW COMMENT BOARD ***

denver 06-17-2013 01:09 pm xxx.xxx.xxx8.49 (total posts: 1)

every guy drafted will play his role this season.
the most talked about guy will be tavarres king - nobody even mentions him now though. with manning at qb, every wr on the roster will shine and nr. 4 spot is up for grabs.

@ Charlie Murphy 06-16-2013 06:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.105 (total posts: 1)

LOL. Clearly you know nothing about football. Do yourself a favor Charlie Murphy, stop talking about football and go back to being Rick James' whipping boy

rb 06-16-2013 08:02 am xxx.xxx.xxx.196 (total posts: 1)

denver needs the running backs to block first and run the ball second. usually rookies need time to learn the first. i was pleased with moreno's play last year - he might be healthy for half the season and thus give more time to ball to learn the pro game. hillman hasn't shown much yet - but he is a young guy and should improve.

Westcoast 06-15-2013 07:13 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.155 (total posts: 1)

Look at all the rbs in the league that had a lot of carries they are among the top backs. Peterson,Ray Rice they had just about as many carries as Ball their tread was just fine . Everone will see Lacy was a product of the best line in college just like Ingram. Not to mention at Balls pro day he was clocked at 4.46 in the 40. Anyone with as many TDs as ball in college oviously run fast enough.

3-4 06-14-2013 07:48 pm xxx.xxx.xxx8.32 (total posts: 1)

I'm not a Broncos fan but they definitely should go back to a 3-4 defense. Wolfe and Sly Williams can play DE while Knighton mans the NT. That leaves Von Miller to play 3-4 OLB, thus rushing the passer on every down...deadly.

Charlie Murphy 06-14-2013 07:15 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.222 (total posts: 1)

107

I say Broncos take a step back. 13-3 teams who get 1st round byes then lose in their first playoff game usually win 9 games the next season and certainly never duplicate what they did last year. Sorry Broncos fans

Terrell Davis 06-14-2013 03:48 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.236 (total posts: 1)

Yo Walt, I ran a 4.72 forty.

Live 06-14-2013 02:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.118 (total posts: 1)

Montee BallSoHard is a power running with great agility. He will prove you wrong Walt. I think you need to watch his tape with the Badgers again. No fail in that dude. Would you REALLY have Moreno or Hillman start over him? NOPE! I still think he should have declared from last year.

Caveman 06-14-2013 01:42 pm xxx.xxx.xxx8.21 (total posts: 1)

I think Walt has hated on Montee Ball since he was in grade school.

Adrian 06-14-2013 10:58 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.54 (total posts: 1)

Yeah! I love this season previews =)
Keep it up!

Nick Thompson 06-12-2013 01:16 am xxx.xxx.xxx.137 (total posts: 1)

I love that people say I'd of loved to have gotten Ball in the third, but that's the point of the draft, you don't know where they'll fall so sometimes you take a guy when you're picking in case he doesn't make it to your next pick which from what GB said, he wouldn't have made it to them in the 3rd... Kayvon has 4.4 speed, sorry but the scouting report did acknowledge defensive schemes as a reason for his lack of success at the college level... He wasn't a deadbeat, and was one of the better players on the team, he also has 4.4 speed, I doubt he'd of made it past halfway through the 5th round... Lastly how does Walter say we need to focus on our defensive backfield, (secondary), then say Webster is going to have a tough time finding a roster spot? Q is coming back and was hurt all last season, he showed promise in 2011, and so they didn't feel they needed to draft a safety, along with having jammer in the mix... I have no problem taking guys a round to soon, especially where if a team with a pick high in the 3rd round wouldn't have gotten any guff for picking ball... Everyone gets to caught up in the round business, a late second round pick isn't far off from an early 3rd!

@danny 05-05-2013 04:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.95 (total posts: 1)

i think people make out of the loss of dumervil a bigger deal than it is. while miller can bring it almost all the time, dumervil has been known to collect his stats against poor opponents or in garbage time. he is also not that good against the run. but i agree with you that we ned to find someone to replace his presence so that miller has more breathing room. combined effort from the 4 guys you mentioned should do it. also - these 4 guys get about half the money dumervil got. and that is what this deal was all about - we still have enough money to bring in another veteran pass rusher.
runnig backs are there to block first and run the ball second - mcgahee and moreno (who improved a lot in the last season) can do that, we will see about ball and hillman.

Danny 05-04-2013 07:10 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.106 (total posts: 1)

Pretty dull draft from the Broncos. Sylvester Williams is good value and fills a need.

Disappointed they didn't take a pass-rusher to replace Dumervil. Ayers, Wolfe, and Phillips are not good enough to fill that void. It will negatively effect Von Miller as well, as offenses can now focus their pass protection schemes to his side of the field.

I don't see Ball being very effective in the NFL. Just not enough burst or explosiveness. Ever since Shanahan left, this team has no clue how to evaluate running backs. Sad considering that is the easiest position to evaluate.

HELP! 05-01-2013 01:05 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.123 (total posts: 1)

28. Sylvester Williams was a good pick.
He filled a need.
58. Montee Ball. I much preferred Eddie
Lacy.
90. Kayvon Webster. Are you kidding Me?!
Alex Okafor, you idiots!!! He takes
over for Elvis Dumervil. Now signing
Dwight Freeney is an absolute
necessity if we hope to go to the
Super Bowl.
146. Quanterus Smith. Here they could
have added a nice DB like Micah
Hyde or Josh Evans.
161. Tavarres King. I liked this pick. He
adds depth. Ryan Swope and Cobi
Hamilton were also available.
Amazing!
The last two picks were OK.

gregony 04-30-2013 09:16 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.203 (total posts: 2)

The problem I have is that NFL.com had grades on all of Denver's draftees that had them a round below where Denver took them. Walter isn't saying that Denver's draft picks are terrible, he's saying that Denver could have gotten them all a round later. The Kayvon Webster pick is awful (borderline draftable player). I love Montee Ball, I would have loved him a lot more in the third round. Elway has a record of drafting well, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, (not that he or anyone else cares), but this is a comment board, and that's my comments.

Pages: 12 3 4 ...24 25

2011 NFL Draft Grades:

Let me make something clear - Von Miller can play in the 4-3. I never said he can't. What I did say was that his pass-rushing talents (his best attribute) would be wasted in the 4-3. In Denver's scheme, Miller can only rush on third down and second-and-long. He's going to have to learn how to play SAM otherwise.

Now, this is all well and good if the Broncos could stop the run and force the opposition into obvious passing downs. But they couldn't last year, and they certainly won't be able to in 2011. Where are the defensive tackles? As my friend Hunter Ansley of DraftZoo.com joked on Twitter (@draftzoo), "Denver is going to look odd when they roll out a 2-5-4 defense that doesn't utilize any defensive tackles."

Having said all that, Denver's 2011 NFL Draft was not a disaster. John Elway was able to acquire some talented prospects, including Miller, Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter. I also liked the two late selections, Virgil Green and Jeremy Beal, both of whom were projected to go much earlier than the seventh round.

Overall 2011 NFL Draft Grade given on 5/1/11: C+

2011 NFL Draft Individual Grades:

2. Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
As I wrote in my mock draft, I don't understand why the Broncos are going to pick Von Miller for their new 4-3. Miller's best quality is rush the passer, but he's not going to be able to do that on first and second down. He's also going to have to learn a brand new position. If they want Miller so badly, why don't they just stick with the 3-4? Miller will play well in their defense, but they won't be able to maximize his talents.

The decision to pick Miller deserves an F. However, Miller is a phenomenal A-type talent. Average the two grades together and you get... (Pick Grade: C)

45. Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA
I like that the Broncos traded down and still obtained Rahim Moore, whom they could have easily selected at No. 36. Moore definitely fits the range and potentially upgrades the secondary. This is a really good pick. (Pick Grade: A)

46. Orlando Franklin, OT/G, Miami
I don't like this second-round pick nearly as much. Orlando Franklin fills a need, but he's a bit of a reach here. Franklin may not be able to play right tackle, and he has some injury concerns. He attended the medical re-check on April 8. (Pick Grade: C)

67. Nate Irving, ILB, N.C. State
This is a lot like Denver's previous pick, Orlando Franklin, minus the injury concern. Nate Irving is a slight reach atop Round 3, but the Broncos are desperate for 4-3 personnel. (Pick Grade: C)

108. Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
Another safety? It's not like the Broncos didn't need two safeties, and Quinton Carter is one of the top players available. This is a solid pick. Defensive tackle still hasn't been addressed, however. (Pick Grade: B)

129. Julius Thomas, TE, Portland State
I thought John Fox didn't like pass-catching tight ends? Julius Thomas has immense upside. He won't contribute much in 2011, but he could be a big part of the offense the following year. (Pick Grade: B)

189. Mike Mohamed, ILB, California
More 4-3 personnel. Mike Mohamed was projected to be selected in Rounds 6-7, so this is a solid choice at No. 189. (Pick Grade: B)

204. Virgil Green, TE, Nevada
Again, I didn't think John Fox liked pass-catching tight ends. Two weren't needed, but Virgil Green is a major steal atop Round 7. He was projected to go in the fourth round. (Pick Grade: A)

247. Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma
It's about time. Jeremy Beal was once a second-round prospect, but a poor 2010 season really hurt him. The Broncos are getting great value at the end of the 2011 NFL Draft. (Pick Grade: A)

Season Summary:
In less than two years, Josh McDaniels destroyed everything Mike Shanahan built. The Broncos are in shambles, but there is one glimmer of hope - Tim Tebow. Despite starting just three games, Tebow invigorated the team and the fans with his tremendous energy and leadership. The Broncos went 1-2 in his starts, but had a shot to win all three contests. With unbelievable work ethic and determination (not to mention his natural ability), there's a very good chance Tebow can fix his mechanical flaws and serve as Denver's franchise quarterback going forward.

Offseason Moves:

Broncos sign DT Ty Warren

Eagles sign OT Ryan Harris

Broncos acquire DT Brodrick Bunkley from Eagles for 2013 late-round pick

Broncos sign DE Derrick Harvey

Broncos re-sign DT Marcus Thomas

Broncos sign TE Daniel Fells

Broncos sign TE Dante Rosario

Titans sign TE Daniel Graham

Dolphins sign NT Ronald Fields

Broncos sign WR David Anderson

Broncos cut S Renaldo Hill

Rams sign DT Justin Bannan

Broncos sign RB Willis McGahee

Broncos re-sign K Matt Prater

Broncos acquire DE Jeremy Jarmon from Redskins for WR Jabar Gaffney

Broncos sign QB Adam Weber

Broncos cut RB Correll Buckhalter

Broncos sign WR Mark Dell

Broncos cut DE/DT Justin Bannan

Broncos cut NT Jamal Williams

Broncos tender OLB Wesley Woodyard

Broncos cut TE Daniel Graham

Broncos re-sign CB Champ Bailey

Offseason Needs:

Three Defensive Tackles: The Broncos need multiple defensive tackles; Justin Bannan, Jamal Williams and Ronald Fields are all gone. Signed Ty Warren; traded for Brodrick Bunkley
Cornerback: Champ Bailey is a free agent, and at 33, he'll want to go to a contender. Perrish Cox, meanwhile, could be headed to prison on a rape charge. Denver will really need to upgrade the corner position if Bailey leaves. Patrick Peterson is a viable option at No. 2 overall. Re-signed Champ Bailey
Strong Safety: Denver has a massive hole at strong safety, as Brian Dawkins just doesn't have it anymore. Drafted Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter
Two Linebackers: D.J. Williams is moving back to weakside linebacker. The Broncos will have to find two other linebackers unless they want to roll with some sort of combination of Joe Mays, Wesley Woodyard and Mario Haggan. Drafted Von Miller, Nate Irving and Mike Mohamed
Right Tackle: The injury-prone Ryan Harris is a free agent and probably won't be retained. There will be plenty of right tackle prospects to choose from in Rounds 3-5. Drafted Orlando Franklin
Defensive End: One of Josh McDaniels' fatal mistakes was drafting Robert Ayers for his 3-4 defense. Ayers was miscast as a rush linebacker, when his natural position is 4-3 left end. With the move to the 4-3, Denver could use some competition for the unproven Ayers. Ayers could really benefit from the shift, but remember, the Broncos' new regime won't have any sort of allegiance to McDaniels' first-rounder. Signed Derrick Harvey; traded for Jeremy Jarmon
Running Back Depth: Denver might just have the most injury-prone running back corps in the NFL (though the Colts might have something to say about that). Signed Willis McGahee

2011 NFL Free Agent Signings:

Ty Warren, DE/DT, Patriots. Age: 30.
Signed with Broncos (2 years, $10 million)

Ty Warren would be ranked much higher than this if he weren't coming off a hip injury. I guess the Patriots weren't optimistic about his recovery.
Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens. Age: 29.
Signed with Broncos (4 years, $10 million)

Ray Rice's touchdown vulture is finally gone. Willis McGahee turns 30 in October, but he's carried the ball only 378 times in the previous three seasons, so he could sign somewhere like Miami or Denver and earn a starting gig. McGahee is also an effective pass-catching option, so he could be a very effective second option to Steven Jackson or Michael Turner.
Derrick Harvey, DE, Jaguars. Age: 24.
Signed with Broncos

Derrick Harvey was the eighth pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He's been a huge bust, but he's still really young, so perhaps he can develop into a solid pass-rusher with a better coaching staff.
Daniel Fells (RFA), TE, Rams. Age: 27. -- Signed with Broncos (1 year)
Nick Bellore, ILB, Central Michigan. Age: 22. -- Signed with Broncos
David Anderson, WR, Texans. Age: 28. -- Signed with Broncos
Dante Rosario, TE, Panthers. Age: 26. -- Signed with Broncos

Denver Broncos Free Agents:

Salary Cap: No cap.

Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos. Age: 33.
Re-signed with Broncos (4 years, $43 million; $22 million guaranteed)

Champ Bailey turns 33 in June, but hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. He's still erasing elite receivers week in and week out.
Matt Prater (RFA), K, Broncos. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Broncos (1 year)

Matt Prater nailed 16-of-18 field goals (2-of-3 from 50-plus; 4-of-5 from 40-49) in 2010 before going on IR with an injured groin. Prater was 30-of-35 (2-of-3 from 50-plus; 8-of-10 from 40-49) the year before, so last season was no fluke.
Ryan Harris, OT, Broncos. Age: 26.
Signed with Eagles (1 year)

A young, decent, zone-blocking right tackle, Ryan Harris struggled in Josh McDaniels' new offense. Harris will probably be heavily pursued this spring, though he's been injured a lot in the past two years.
Justin Bannan, DE/DT, Broncos. Age: 32.
Signed with Rams (3 years)

Justin Bannan had a solid year for the Broncos, which makes you wonder why they released him. Bannan can play in both the 4-3 and 3-4.
Wesley Woodyard (RFA), OLB, Broncos. Age: 25.
Tendered by Broncos

Wesley Woodyard played well in Mike Shanahan's 4-3 back in 2008, but was lost in Josh McDaniels' 3-4 ever since. I'd like to see him get a chance with a Tampa-2 defense next year.
Jamal Williams, NT, Broncos. Age: 35.
Jamal Williams had a decent year as a two-down run-stuffer in 2010. He turns 35 in April, however.
Renaldo Hill, S, Broncos. Age: 32.
Renaldo Hill is still solid in run support, but at 32, he's a liability in coverage.
Ronald Fields, NT, Broncos. Age: 29. -- Signed with Dolphins
Marcus Thomas, DE/DT, Broncos. Age: 25. -- Re-signed with Broncos (1 year)
Daniel Graham, TE, Broncos. Age: 32. -- Signed with Titans (3 years)
Laurence Maroney, RB, Broncos. Age: 26.
Correll Buckhalter, RB, Broncos. Age: 32.

2011 NFL Free Agent Rankings Coming Soon

Divisional Rival History:
Kansas City Chiefs: The home team always wins. Well, almost always. The host has claimed 16 of the previous 20 matchups. Unfortunately, Todd Haley and Josh McDaniels won't be able to have awkward non-handshakes anymore.
Oakland Raiders: The Raiders swept the Broncos in 2010, winning the two matchups by a combined score of 98-37.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have won eight of 10, with the two exceptions happening because of poor officiating. In 2008, it was the Ed Hochuli Bowl. The following year, the dirtiest referee in the business, Scott Green, was calling phantom penalties all night.

Features to be Posted This Offseason:

2011 NFL Draft Grades (Pick-by-Pick NFL Draft Grades as well - Live on Draft Day!)
Detailed season preview
Fantasy football projections
Positional rankings
Daily updates on free-agent signings

More 2011 NFL Offseason Pages:

DAL / NYG / PHI / WAS /
CHI / DET / GB / MIN /
ATL / CAR / NO / TB /
ARZ / SEA / SF / STL /
BUF / MIA / NE / NYJ /
BAL / CIN / CLE / PIT /
HOU / IND / JAX / TEN /
DEN / KC / OAK / SD /

2011 NFL Offseason Pages

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 19

2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2011 NFL Offseason: Denver Broncos Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents