The free-agency signing period does not officially begin until Wednesday, but with a two-day legal-tampering period, it truly begins Monday.
Two positions are of particular need for the Broncos: edge rusher and right tackle. Here are some names to monitor as free agency opens:
EDGE RUSHERS
CHANDLER JONES, ARIZONA CARDINALS
No edge rusher in the NFL has as many double-digit-sack seasons since 2015 as Jones, who notched his sixth such campaign in the last seven years this past season. (The only player at any position with six seasons of 10-plus sacks since 2015 is Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, who works on the defensive interior.) In that span, he has 149 quarterback hits — fifth-most in the NFL. And over his 10 seasons, he has posted at least 10 sacks in every year in which he played at least 14 games — seven of his 10 seasons in all, including six of the last seven. His hit-plus-sack rate last year of one every 19.3 pass-rush snaps (per Pro Football Focus) was 13th among 94 edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps.
With 107.5 career sacks, two All-Pro nods, four Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring (from New England in 2014), he will go into his new contract knowing that another two double-digit sack seasons — and perhaps a Pro Bowl or a Super Bowl appearances — could earn him the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s gold jacket.
The potential downside? Nearly half of his 10.5 sacks last year were in Week 1. Further, his pressure rate last year — one every 10.66 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus — ranked 65th of 94 edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps last year.
VON MILLER, LOS ANGELES RAMS
The signals are mixed as to whether Miller wants to return. His Instagram stories drop messages of fondness for Broncos fans and speculation about whether he would wear jersey number 58 or 40. But Miller has also expressed a desire to run it back with the Rams after posting 9 sacks in eight games to close out the 2021 campaign — including four sacks in the Rams’ four playoff games. Miller had more sacks in the 12 games he played with the Rams — 9 — than he did in his last 14 games as a Bronco (8.5).
The potential downside? Miller’s best work comes with a complement, shown by his higher sack rate when paired with players such as Elvis Dumervil, DeMarcus Ware and, in Los Angeles, Aaron Donald. Unless Bradley Chubb returns to his rookie-year form — before injuries led him to miss 24 of a possible 49 games — it’s fair to wonder whether the Broncos have the kind of compliment that will maximize what Miller can be as he marches into his age-33 season.
HAASON REDDICK, CAROLINA PANTHERS
After three seasons playing out of position at inside linebacker, Reddick moved to the edge with Arizona in 2020 and had 12.5 sacks. He followed that with 11 sacks in Carolina in 2021, allowing the 27-year-old former first-round pick to show that his first explosion wasn’t a fluke. Last year, among 94 edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, he had a quarterback hit or sack once every 19.9 pass-rush snaps, placing him 16th, according to the data compiled by Pro Football Focus.
The potential downside? In Carolina, he benefitted from having Brian Burns on the opposite side; he went to the Pro Bowl this past season and got the attention from opposing pass-protection schemes that such status merits. But he also racked up 12.5 sacks in 2020 with the Cardinals despite Jones being out for all but one game.
RANDY GREGORY, DALLAS COWBOYS
Suspensions limited Gregory to just 28 of a possible 80 games from 2015-19, but in the last two years, he’s been able to play more — and show what kind of player he can be. Although his sack totals aren’t eye-popping — he had 3.5 sacks in 10 games in 2020 and 6 sacks in 12 games last year — he generates consistent pressure; last year, only 11 of 94 edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps had a better pressure rate than Gregory, who recorded one pressure every 6.98 pass-rush snaps, per the data compiled by Pro Football Focus.
The potential downside? He has been suspended three times by the NFL for violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. But he has stayed clean for the last two seasons. Further, his path back to the field — and his demeanor and presence in the locker room after he returned in 2020 — earned him a place on the Cowboys’ leadership council.
UCHENNA NWOSU, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Chargers’ trade for Khalil Mack — which is expected to become official Wednesday — leaves no room in the starting lineup for Nwosu, with Joey Bosa penciled in as the starting edge rusher on the opposite flank. In raw sack numbers, his production doesn’t stack up to the rest of the names on this list, and he didn’t become a full-time starter until last season.But at 25 years of age, he is also one of the youngest free agents on the market,
The potential downside? Without a track record of elite production, the Broncos would be betting on potential. His pressure rate last year of one every 10.2 pass-rush snaps was also 58th of 94 edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps.
RIGHT TACKLES
DENNIS KELLY, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Free agents from Green Bay will likely get a long look, and Kelly, who stepped in at right tackle for the Packers with five games left in the regular season last year, could give the Broncos an option who has deep familiarity with what offensive coordinator Justin Outten and head coach Nathaniel Hackett want to do. He was also efficient last year; among 83 offensive tackles who played more than 200 pass-protection snaps last year, the pressure rate allowed by Kelly was 20th-best, according to the data compiled by Pro Football Focus.
The potential downside? Paton has discussed wanting to solve right tackle for the long term, but Kelly is likely a 1-to-2-year solution who might not even be guaranteed the starting job, with Calvin Anderson returning on a one-year, $1.5-million deal. But the situation — and the Broncos’ cap space, as well as their draft capital — has changed.
MORGAN MOSES, NEW YORK JETS
After seven seasons with Washington, Moses started 16 of 17 games for the Jets last year. He had a career-best penalty rate — just three infractions called against him in 1,022 snaps. (Moses averaged 6.7 penalties per season in six campaigns — 2015-20 — as a starter in Washington). Moses is dependable and durable; he hasn’t missed a game in the last seven seasons.
The potential downside? His pressure rate last season was the worst of his career last year — one every 13.86 pass-protection snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Of course, working in front of a rookie quarterback (Zach Wilson) didn’t help.
GERMAIN IFEDI, CHICAGO BEARS
If the Broncos want an experienced right tackle familiar with Russell Wilson, Ifedi would be the choice. He started 60 regular-season games over four seasons (2016-19) for the Seahawks before joining the Bears in 2020. A knee injury limited him to just nine games — including seven starts — last season, but in the games he played, he allowed one pressure every 24 snaps, 21st among 83 offensive tackles with at least 200 pass-protection snaps last year, per Pro Football Focus.
The potential downside? Although Ifedi returned from the knee injury by the end of the season, it could remain a concern. Also, his pressures-allowed rate of one every 14.6 pass-rush snaps in four seasons with Seattle (per Pro Football Focus) was far worse than his rate of one pressure allowed every 27.7 pass-rush snaps in two Bears seasons.
AT ANOTHER POSITION …
DL SEBASTIAN JOSEPH-DAY, LOS ANGELES RAMS
As with Packers hitting free agency, one should keep a close eye on players from the reigning champions hitting the market – particularly on the defensive side. Joseph-Day has steadily improved, and this past season, he posted the best pressure rate of his career — one every 22.4 pass-rush snaps.
The potential downside? In Los Angeles, he had Donald to take the pressure and attention off of him. He won’t have that luxury with the Broncos. But Joseph-Day’s success won’t be measured by statistics — except in the number of interior offensive linemen he can occupy on a regular basis
